Reader services
Introduction
Admission, circulation, general enquiries, reference, and computer support are co-ordinated from the Service Desk on the ground floor of the Library. Service transactions (including the issue and return of borrowed material) cease fifteen minutes before the posted library closing time on any given day.
Circulation services
Borrowing entitlements depend both on the type of item and type of reader:
Readers with full borrowing rights may borrow up to a maximum of:
- 10 main collection items, of which at most 5 may be journal volumes (please note that journal issues from the current calendar year may not be borrowed)
- Books have a loan period of 4 weeks, and may be renewed for a further 4 weeks, but are subject to recall if required by another reader
- Journal volumes have a loan period of 1 day
- 3 reserve collection or non-book media collection items
- Reserve items have a loan period of 24 hours
- Non-book media items have a loan period of 2 hours (for use in the Library only)
Undergraduates may borrow up to a maximum of:
- 5 main collection items
- Books have a loan period of 2 weeks, and may be renewed for a further 2 weeks, but are subject to recall if required by another reader
- Journal volumes have a loan period of 1 day
- 3 reserve collection or non-book media collection items
- Reserve items have a loan period of 24 hours
- Non-book media items have a loan period of 2 hours (for use in the Library only)
Readers without borrowing rights may 'borrow' up to 3 reserve or non-book media items for use in the Library only for a period of 2 hours.
Items from the reference collection may not be borrowed.
Please note that all main collection items are due for return by Library closing time on their due date. So, for example:
- A main collection book due on a weekday in Full Term would need to be returned by 2100 that day.
- A journal volume due on a Saturday would need to be returned by 1300 that day.
Renewals. Borrowed items may be renewed, provided that:
- The item has not been recalled by another reader.
- The item is not overdue.
- The reader has no outstanding fines, account blocks, or overdue loans.
Such items may be renewed once only by:
- telephone (01223 765670) during Library opening hours
- e-mail (moore-circulation@lib.cam.ac.uk) between 0900-1700, Monday-Friday
- or using the 'your account' function in Newton
if desired. Readers wishing to renew any item a second time must bring it in person to the Library and have it returned and reissued.
Recalls. Borrowed items are subject to recall by other readers. This results in a shortening of the loan period for the item (of which the borrower will be notified), and an increase in the fines payable should the item become overdue.
Fines are levied on overdue material. Current fine rates are as follows:
| Main collection books (not recalled) | 25p per day (or part thereof) |
| Main collection books (recalled) | 50p per day (or part thereof) |
| Journal volumes | 50p per day (or part thereof) |
| Reserve collection books | 50p per hour (or part thereof) |
| Non-book media (e.g. CD-ROMs) | 50p per hour (or part thereof) |
Vacation borrowing is available to undergraduates during the Christmas and Easter vacations only. Main collection books (that would normally have a two-week loan period) issued on or after the final Monday of Full Term will not be due for return until the first Friday of the following Full Term, unless recalled by another reader, in which case the usual rules for shortening the loan period apply.
Library users fitted with pacemakers should be aware that the Library uses a book security system which generates electromagnetic fields.
Reference services
All staff at the Service Desk can assist with general enquiries, including guidance in the arrangement of the library and use of the library catalogue. Subject specific reference assistance and extended instruction in library systems and catalogues is provided by subject specialist librarians who are normally available for walk-in/phone/e-mail consultation between 0900 and 1700 Monday - Friday. Suggestions for new book, periodical or electronic acquisitions can also be directed to the subject specialist staff.
Document delivery services
If you cannot find the material you require within the Library, staff will be pleased to assist you in locating alternative sources.
Inter-library loans. If an item you require is not held anywhere within the University, you can make an inter-library loan request to have the item supplied by another library. Please ask staff for details of the procedure and of the charges involved.
Please note that while the Moore Library is happy to accept your inter-library loan requests, they will be passed on to the Central Science Library for processing. Consequently, you might prefer to place your request directly with the CSL in order to speed up the delivery process.
Please also note that any volumes supplied via inter-library loan must be collected from the CSL, irrespective of the library in which the request was placed. This restriction does not apply to photocopies of articles, which may be delivered to either library, or sent to you via the UMS.
Libraries please note: direct requests for the inter-library loan of Moore Library material should be addressed to the CSL.
Inter-site document delivery. An inter-site document delivery scheme between the Moore Library and CSL is available. Copies of journal articles held at one library may be requested for pick up at the other library within a target of 48 hours (during the normal business week).
Study rooms
There are two small study rooms on the lower-ground floor of the Moore Library, which may be booked by registered readers on a first-come, first-served basis for group or individual use. The rooms are available during normal staffed opening hours, and must be vacated no less than 15 minutes before the Library closes.
Bookings may be made in person at the Service Desk, or by telephone to 01223 765670. Please have your University Card / UL Card to hand. Whilst we are happy to offer immediate access to the rooms if they are free, we would recommend that advance bookings are made to avoid potential disappointment.
Both rooms have chairs, tables, and a white board with pens; and can accommodate up to c. 10 people each.