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Cambridge University Library

 
Two doors in the UL leading to the Anderson Room and the Aoi Pavilion. The doorways have intricate stone surrounds
Tuesday, 21 June, 2022

Arrangements for accessing material stored in the Aoi Pavilion basement have changed this year. 

It is no longer possible for readers to access the basement of the Aoi Pavilion. We made this change following a review of library spaces which is helping us to improve the security of our collections and to ensure that public areas of the building are suitably accessible for our users.   

At the moment, when you find details of a borrowable item stored in the Aoi Basement using the iDiscover catalogue, you will find that iDiscover directs you to find the item yourself. This isn’t possible, and we ask for your patience as we work to change these directions in the catalogue.  

In the meantime, please follow these steps: 

  1. locate the item you need in the iDiscover catalogue 

  2. if iDiscover shows that the item is borrowable and stored in the Aoi Basement, submit a fetching request form. You can do this in two ways:  

  • During hours where the East Asian Reading Room is staffed, submit a paper request form to the Enquiries Desk in the East Asian Reading Room. Your book will then be fetched to the East Asian Reading Room on your behalf. If you wish, you can specify on your request form that you will instead collect the item from the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall (for instance if you are collecting when the East Asian Reading Room is unstaffed, or if you wish to borrow the item immediately.) 
  • When the East Asian Reading Room is unstaffed, submit a paper request form to the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall. Your book will then be fetched to the Reader Services Desk on your behalf.  

  1. you may then use the item in the Library or borrow it if your membership permits. 

Most of the borrowable collections are stored on the ground floor of the Aoi Pavilion, where it remains possible to browse the shelves in person. You are welcome to use the stairs or lift in the Aoi Lobby to access the ground floor bookstacks.  

Should you need any help with finding items, library staff in the Music Department Office (accessed via the East Asian Reading Room) or at the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall are happy to assist. 

Visit the webpages of the East Asian Reading Room for further details about accessing the collections and services.