Using the Library

Submitted by lauranrichards on Thu, 2015-06-11 10:45

Christ Church Library for Students and Staff

The college library is open for study. From Saturday 9th October, the opening hours will be 9.00- 23.00 daily.

Using the Library safely

  • The Main Library building is open to members of College for study space, to return books, browse and borrow, and access the printer/copier/scanner daily from 9:00am to 11:00pm. For help and enquiries please email library@chch.ox.ac.uk.

  • 'Click and Collect' book request service is no longer available.

  • The Burn Law Library has now reopened.

  • Some Library staff are working remotely and will be happy to assist with any user queries and provide advice via library@chch.ox.uk.

  • Members of College will be advised by email of any changes to our opening times and services.

Face masks

  • We expect and recommend that you wear a face masks on arrival and at all times while in all Library spaces, regardless of whether or not you have been vaccinated, unless you are exempt.

Library study space

  • Study spaces are available in the West and East Library wings on a first-come-first-served basis on a daily basis from 9:00am to 11:00pm.

  • You do not need to pre-book to visit the Library but do bring your Bodleian card with you.

  • Please scan the QR code and present your Bodleian card to the member of Library staff on arrival.

  • Please use the sanitiser provided at the library entrance to sanitise your hands.

  • Please sanitise and clean your own study space before and after each use.  Hand sanitiser and wipes for cleaning shared surfaces are provided.

Browsing

  • You are welcome to browse the shelves. Please ask staff for help if you cannot find an item.

  • Please sanitise your hands before and after browsing.

  • We are no longer quarantining returned stock, so you should notice an increase in the amount of stock immediately available.

While you are in the Library, please remember to:

  • Avoid adjusting the doors or windows that we have opened to endure good ventilation.

  • Leave the seats where we have placed them to maintain social distancing.

  • Sanitise your hands on entrance to the Library, before and after using books and any shared equipment, such as the printer.

  • Email library@chch.ox.ac.uk with any questions.

 

Finding your books

SOLO is the online catalogue for Oxford’s libraries. SOLO can be accessed by clicking here.  Learn how to navigate SOLO and filter down to Christ Church Library collections via this slightly more accessible version of instructions which are available here.

The library will  no longer be running a ‘Click & Collect’ service. This means that you can now browse the library shelves at leisure or find the item you require by checking SOLO. Sign into SOLO with your SSO. Search for the book you need, click Find & Request and choose Christ Church Library. Click the ‘Request’ button. If the book is already on loan a due date will be displayed. By sending a request you will be placed in a queue for that item, and once that returns you will be notified.

The books are housed on the ground floor of the Library and in the Basement (staff access only). Most books are arranged by subject in a Roman numeral scheme. New purchases and the Music, Philosophy, Theology, Literature and British History sections are arranged using the Library of Congress classification scheme.

The East Library houses a few Roman numeral sections (Theology, French Literature, Art and Fiction), while the West Library houses Roman numerals XXV.2 - XLV (Biological Sciences) and the Library of Congress sequence. The West Library also contains Very Short Introductions covering a variety of topics, a welfare and study skills section, and a small DVD collection. A map of the East Library and West Library can be found here or on the doors to the reading rooms.

Please ask at the front desk for books that are located in the Basement according to SOLO. These items are stored offsite. On a case by case we will assess if a book retrieval is possible.

Library staff are happy to help if you have problems finding the books you need.

Borrowing

Undergraduates can borrow up to 20 items for 2 weeks during term, or for a full vacation. Postgraduates can borrow a maximum of 40 items for 1 term or vacation. College staff may borrow books for a fortnight. Tutors can borrow for up to a year (all books will be due by the end of the 10th week of Trinity Term). However, if you are in the Library, you can request an item on the spot, or you can collect this from the shelves yourself as browsing is now available. Come to the front desk with your Bodleian card and a list of the shelfmarks which you require written clearly (i.e. PA 3009 HOR 2018; XI.3.56D). Remember the item has to show available on SOLO in order for us to be able to fetch this and add it to your library account. Reference only material cannot be borrowed (books with a red dot on the spine).

Vacation loans begin on Friday 6th week and last until Wednesday 1st week of the following term.

Books can be renewed up to 4 times at the self-service machine or by signing into SOLO. Please check your account regularly to avoid fines when the loans expire, and take care of the books while they are on loan to you. You can get in touch if you encounter any problems by emailing library@chch.ox.ac.uk. If we do not hear back from you about long overdue loans you will be battled the item’s replacement cost plus a £10 administrative fee. The same applies if you have lost a library item or an item has suffered considerable damage while in your custody.

If you require extended loans, or any other help due to a disability please write to Gabriel, our College Librarian in confidence. This will only apply to Christ Church Library, to request extended loans at the Bodleian Libraries please fill out their electronic forms. 

Returns

Books can be returned to the College Library anytime during our opening hours (daily between 9am-11pm).

Please use the self-issue kiosk found in the entrance hall of the Library main building. Once items have been returned through the machine please place these in the space available underneath.

When returning items, please adhere to social distancing guidelines. In line with government and University guidance, you are expected to wear a face covering. Please sanitise your hands on entry to the Library building.

Book suggestions

If the library does not have a copy of a textbook on your reading list, if it is missing or if there are not enough copies of a set text then please suggest it for purchase. We encourage you to complete an online Book Purchase Request form.

Holds and recalls

If you need a book which is already out of loan you can sign in to SOLO and click ‘Request’ by the location details of the book. This means that the book will be reserved for you when it is returned. If you need it urgently a member of staff can recall the item so it is returned within three days. In both cases you will receive an email notifying you when the book is ready for collection.

Ebooks and eresources

You can check what ebooks, ejournals and databases are already available online using SOLO (sign in to get more search results). Resources with a green ‘Online access’ button allow remote access.

Many academic publishers are offering temporary free access to ebook collections and databases. A list can be found on the Bodleian Libraries’ Covid-19 ebooks guide.

If you can’t find an ebook you need, please email the College Librarian and we will look into purchasing access for you if possible.

Scanning and printing

A wireless multifunctional printer/copier/scanner is available in the entrance hall of the main library building. Print jobs can be sent from library PCs or from your own devices. To print visit the link https://print.chch.ox.ac.uk and login via your Single Sign On. Upload the documents you want to print then at the printer select 'Papercut' and tap your Bodleian library card on the sensor. Your documents will then appear and can be printed. You can print in mono, colour, single and double sided on A3 and A4 paper. 

Also, an additional printer can be found on the ground floor of Peckwater building, staircase 9.

Learning equipment

As well as books, we also have a range of study aids and assistive equipment available to help you.

The following items can be used within the library:

  • Apple and micro-USB charging cables
  • Daylight LED lamps
  • Book rests
  • Book snake weights
  • Gel wrist supports
  • Back/lumbar support cushions
  • Noise-cancelling headphones (disposable earplugs are freely available by the self-service machine)
  • Magnifying glass
  • Small whiteboards

The follows items can be borrowed:

  • Laptop stands
  • Ergonomic mice
  • Ergonomic keyboards
  • External DVD drive
  • Coloured acetate sheets
  • Reading rulers

To arrange to borrow any of these, ask at the front desk or send us an email. All loans are currently set to a single week to offer trials of equipment rather than long-term support.

If there is any equipment which you need, please let a member of staff know or send suggestions by email and we will be in touch.

Disability Support

We can offer additional support for those who have disabilities or specific learning disabilities, whether this has been formally disclosed to the University or not. Options include:

  • Extended library loans
  • Higher book limit on account
  • Extra email reminders
  • Book delivery service to the Library front desk, Lodge or room within college if health reasons prevent you from accessing the library
  • Assistive equipment requests
  • Range of books on welfare and study issues in the West Library central bookcases (books can be fetched by staff)

Please get in touch with Gabriel (College Librarian) to find out how we can help.

To arrange support from the Bodleian Libraries, please email the Bodleian's Disability Librarian. Alternatively, details of the disability contact for each individual library can be found here

Group study spaces

There are several rooms throughout college which can be booked as group study spaces. To make a booking please contact The Tutor's Administrator. 

Leaving your belongings in the library

During the COVID -19 outbreak current members of the House are asked to collect all personal belongings when leaving the library. Nothing is to be left in the library at the end of your visit.

Library rules

  • Please don’t bring food into the library. Water in a sports bottle and hot drinks in a lidded cup are allowed in the reading rooms downstairs. The library can provide you with one free Christ Church water bottle per student.
  • Books cannot be borrowed on behalf of non-members of the college and other students should not use your account to borrow. The account holder will be held responsible for all books and fines on their account. 
  • While on loan to you library items are your responsibility and students will incur charges for overdue, lost or damaged items. A fine of 25p per overdue book accumulates daily. More than 10 overdue books or £50.00 in fines will automatically block your Christ Church Library account, which will prevent you from borrowing or renewing books. Please speak to a member of staff if this happens.
  • Mobile phones should be on silent and phone calls taken outside the library building.
  • Smoking is not permitted in or around the library.

 

Visiting Readers to Special Collections

Access to Christ Church Special Collections will be again possible in the Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting from 7 September 2021. Opening hours: 10.30 am-1 pm; 2.30-4.30 pm (provided there is a member of staff available in the Upper Library). Please contact us in advance to arrange an appointment. Christ Church Library is open to bona fide researchers by prior appointment only. Readers should bring an institutional letter of introduction and a valid Bodleian or British Library reader's card to serve as identification. Postgraduate students should bring a letter of introduction from their supervisor. Since seating for external readers is limited, we cannot guarantee to accommodate external readers at very short notice. In particular, it is difficult to admit external readers during the months of May and June, when our undergraduates are preparing for their final examinations. Please contact us to make an appointment at least two working days in advance of your proposed visit. 

Please note that during winter months low temperatures are recorded in the reading room where special collections material can be consulted. We strongly advise to dress accordingly.
 
To contact the Keeper of Special Collections, please telephone or email:
cristina.neagu@chch.ox.ac.uk
Tel: 01865 276 265

To contact the College Librarian please telephone or email:
gabriel.sewell@chch.ox.ac.uk
Tel: 01865 276263

To contact the Archives, please telephone or email:
archives@chch.ox.ac.uk
Tel: 01865 276171