About the Library

Giving

Giving

The University of Glasgow Library is one of the most important and widely used facilities on campus.  Central to the student experience at Glasgow, and important to the wider community, it aims to provide exceptional services and resources.

In order to enhance its excellent work, the Library Fund has been set up to allow funds to be directed to the priority areas, and in particular those demanding expertise and resourcing beyond the capacity of core-funded operations.

Donor support can also assist with the work of Special Collections and Archive Services.

These examples are not exhaustive and philanthropic investment will help shape the future of this facility adding something extra to one of the best University libraries in the UK.  Please consider making a gift in support of our ambitions.

Donations

University of Glasgow Library will only accept donations which are relevant to current teaching and research at the University.

Our Archives and Special Collections department has a separate donations policy.

What we do not accept

We will not normally accept:

  • Duplicate copies of items we already have in any print or electronic format
  • Back runs of print journals
  • Textbooks
  • Material in obsolete or inaccessible formats
  • Items in poor condition
  • Items which require specialist skills or knowledge to process, house, or catalogue

Why are we so strict about what donations we accept?

Due to the size of our collections, space in the Library is very limited. Donations also require a substantial amount of staff time to process and catalogue. This means we can only justify accepting donations if they will clearly support the University’s research and teaching by strengthening our existing collections.

Offering a donation to the Library

If you would like to offer a donation of material to the Library, please contact us with a full list of the donation made using this template: Donations Title List (excel spreadsheet). 

Our Head of Collection Development and the relevant College Librarians will review the potential donation and make a decision about acceptance or rejection. If a donation is accepted, we would normally expect the donor to pay for uplift and transportation to the Library. It will be processed, catalogued, and made available to readers as part of our normal workflows. Due to ever-changing priorities we are unable to provide a timescale for this.

Conditions of donation acceptance

Once we have accepted and received a donation, the material becomes the property of the Library. It may be dispersed among our collections and discarded at any point in the future in accordance with our collections policies.

Alternative places to donate your books

If we do not accept your donation, there are several charities and social enterprises which accept donations of second-hand books, including rare books, these include:

  • Oxfam Bookshops - accepts all books regardless of age or topic, including academic and textbooks.
  • Betterworld Books - a social enterprise which donates books and some of its profits to literacy initiatives around the world.

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

Within the context of the University's arrangement of responsibilities and services, and in support of its corporate objectives, the Library undertakes:

  • to satisfy from its own resources or elsewhere legitimate information needs of the University in furtherance of teaching and research programmes
  • to preserve, promote and develop for the benefit of research and scholarship those parts of the national documentation heritage that are within its care
  • to extend access to information throughout the academic community by collaborating with other information suppliers within the University
  • to optimise the use of resources by collaborating with other institutions at local, regional, national and international levels
  • to offer services, based on those provided for its prime users, to assist business, industry and the professions

Users Charter

Users Charter

The Charter is a summary of your rights and responsibilities as a library user. It will help you to make best use of our services, facilities and collections.

  • Students and staff should use their university ID card to access the library. All other members should use their library card. You will not be able to access the building without it.
  • As a library member, you have access to our collections, facilities, services and support.
  • The library should be a safe place to study. You should be treated with respect by others using or working in the building, and you should also treat them with respect.
  • You should not ‘desk hog’ or leave items at study spaces to reserve them. Please be considerate of other students and help us make sure as many people as possible can study in the building.
  • This building and the associated services, collections and facilities are for the entire university community. By working together and being considerate of each other we can make the most of the opportunities this presents.

 

Regulations

Regulations

The basics

  • You should treat all Library users and university staff with respect, whether in person, on the telephone, via email or on social networks and can expect the same treatment in return
  • Students and staff should use their university ID card to access the Library. All other members should use their library card
  • It is your responsibility to have your card with you at all times. You will not be able to access the Library without it
  • You should never give your student/staff/library card to anyone else to use.  If you do you may have your access to the Library restricted
  • You should provide your card when a member of university staff asks for it
  • You are responsible for ensuring your contact details are up to date. You should supply an email address and a term-time and home address
  • You may only have one active Library account at any time
  • You should comply with copyright law when you use any of the Library’s resources, both print and electronic

Using the building

  • You should respect other Library users and observe the rules for each area of the Library
  • You should treat Library resources and facilities with respect.  You are responsible for any damage to Library property and if you damage anything you will be charged for the cost of replacement/repair
  • You should help keep the Library clean and tidy by disposing of rubbish responsibly
  • You should contact Library Services if you wish to put up posters or distribute flyers in the library
  • Do not reserve study spaces or PCs for yourself or for your friends.   Your belongings may be removed if you do
  • Unattended items may be removed by Library staff.  The Library is not responsible for any lost or stolen belongings
  • Announcements will be made 15 minutes before the Library closes. You should leave the Library promptly at closing time

 Borrowing

  • You must issue books using the self-service machines before taking them out of the Library
  • All Library items are issued subject to recall.  We will notify you of the new earlier return date if an item is recalled. You must return any recalled items by the new date
  • You can renew items up to a maximum of 5 times, provided they have not been recalled by another user
  • If you return Library items late you will be fined. More information about fines. Please note that as soon as an item becomes overdue, your borrowing privileges will be suspended until the item is returned or renewed
  • If you borrow an item through the inter-library loan scheme you should abide by the rules of the original lending library.
  • Some users may be charged for inter-library loans.  Any user wishing to renew an item borrowed through inter-library loan will be charged a renewal fee. More information on inter-library loans
  • Library stock is security-protected.  If the alarm sounds as you leave the building or the Short Loan area, security staff may ask to check your bags
  • You are responsible for all items borrowed on your Library account and will be charged for any items not returned or damaged
  • Library stock may not be taken out of the UK
  • Borrowing permissions
  • If you have fines or loans outstanding at the end of the year you will not be able to graduate

 Electronic resources and IT

  • Access to electronic resources is by GUID, which is available to registered students and staff of the university
  • You should never share your GUID and password or any other password with anyone else
  • The PCs in the Library are primarily for study.  Be considerate of other users at busy times of year

 Membership

  • Registered staff and students of the University of Glasgow have Library membership
  • Staff and postgraduate students from other UK universities may be able to join the Library through the SCONUL Access scheme.
  • Graduates of the University of Glasgow or of other UK universities may join the Library for a fee.  Corporate membership is also available. More information
  • Any other people interested in membership should contact Suzanne Hartley, Library Services Manager at Suzanne.Hartley@glasgow.ac.uk