Click and Collect enables current staff and postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge to request books to be retrieved from the University Library’s modern collections. Undergraduates registered with the Disability Resource Centre are also welcome to use this service.
Request books through this form (you will be required to log in with Raven).
Click and Collect users can request five books at one time.
We anticipate that you will be able to collect books within 2 days (excluding weekends), although it depends on our availability. Once fetched, books will be held for 3 working days before they are eligible for request by someone else.
When your request has been fulfilled, you will receive an automatic email notification. You will not need to make an appointment to collect your books.
Once you have received an email notification, you are welcome to collect your books by visiting the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall with your University card. The Library is open 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4:45pm Saturday. If you nominate someone else to collect books on your behalf, please ensure they can show us a copy of the email notification.
We will contact you if we are unable to fulfil a request for any reason.
Please note that parking spaces are limited.
Who is eligible to use Click and Collect?
The service is available to the following current members of the University of Cambridge:
- staff
- postgraduate students
- undergraduates registered with the Disability Resource Centre
All library members can visit the UL without booking to Browse, Borrow and Read (borrowing is possible if your membership currently permits this). By using Browse, Borrow and Read if and where you can, you enable the Library to provide more services to more people - Click and Collect requires a large number of staff and lots of time to run.
To enable Click and Collect to run safely and consistently throughout the term, it is really important that you order only what you need and that your orders are collected on time.
How does the service work?
Begin by logging in to the webform. Please note that not all UL items are eligible for Click and Collect. You may request five items in total - please do not request more than five items as it will slow your order down considerably. The webform will not allow you to make more than five requests within 24 hours. If you require assistance please email: readerservices@lib.cam.ac.uk
Once the books are retrieved and processed, you will receive an automatic email notification. After this, you are welcome to visit the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall and show some photo ID (such as a university card, driving licence, passport). You can only collect five items per day.
Please show your ID; if you are collecting items on someone else’s behalf, please show the email sent to the requestor to confirm their collection slot. We recommend you use hand sanitizer before collecting your books.
How are you ensuring my safety and the safety of library staff?
If you are visiting our libraries in person, please read our current guidance on Staying safe ahead of your trip.
We are minimising handling of books and all other materials, and regularly clean surface areas.
We request that you do not use anti-bacterial wipes on any library books as this may cause damage.
What can I request?
You may only request books (monographs or journals) from the University Library’s modern collections. Reference books cannot be borrowed. You may request five items in total. Please do not request more than five items as it will slow your order down considerably.
Some of the items in our modern collections (published post-1990) cannot be taken out under normal circumstances. This material is marked on iDiscover as ‘not borrowable’ and is not eligible to be ordered through the standard Click and Collect service. To consult this material, you will need to request it on iDiscover.
How quickly can I collect the books?
We anticipate that you will be able to collect books within 2 days (excluding weekends) of requesting, although it depends on our availability. Once they have been fetched, books will be held at the collection point for 3 working days before they are eligible for request by someone else.
Can I return books at the same time?
Yes. You will be able to return books to the book drop (red telephone box) outside the front entrance to the University Library 24/7. During opening hours you are also welcome to return books to the Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall.
Can I collect books on behalf of someone else?
Yes. You will need to bring a copy of the email notification sent to the requestor.
Can I borrow books from other libraries?
Click and Collect is limited to items from the University Library’s modern collections. Details of services provided by Faculty and Department libraries can be found here.
A reminder of the important points!
- Use this service thoughtfully - by visiting in-person when you can, you enable the Library to provide more services to more people.
- Please order only what you need - demand for this service is high, and library staff are working very hard to get material to everyone who needs it.
- Ensure that your orders are collected on time - 3 working days after the books have been fetched, they will be returned to the shelf.
If you have further questions about Click and Collect, please email the library at library@lib.cam.ac.uk.