Reserve items on loan to someone else
If all of the copies of a book that you need to use are out on loan, you can place a reservation. This will prevent further renewals. You will be contacted by email when the book is ready for you to borrow.
Renew items
Items you have borrowed will be automatically renewed where possible, usually 1–2 days before the due date.
You can also manually renew items if you'd like to set the due date to a certain day of the week, either on SOLO, or at a library desk when the library is open. Read our guide to renewing your items on SOLO. Some libraries will also allow you to renew items by email or by phone. If you are not using SOLO, renewal requests must be handled by the library from which the item was borrowed.
Sign in to SOLO to view the items you have borrowed and when they are due back.
If a renewal is not automatically renewed, this may be because:
- the item has reached its maximum renewal period, usually 112 days (16 weeks)
- the item has been reserved by another reader
- your card has expired or is due to expire
If you think there may be a problem, contact the library from which you borrowed the item.
Maximum renewal period
All loans, except Same Day Loans, have a maximum renewal period of 112 days (16 weeks) from the date of the original loan. They cannot be renewed again after this period has elapsed. If you wish to continue using an item after this period, you will need to bring it back to the library to be re-issued.
If you are due to finish your course, your loans will be due back before your University card expires.
Request items
You can place requests for items that are out on loan or stored offsite. You'll receive an email when the item is ready to collect or consult. You have up to 7 days to collect your reservation. Please contact the library as soon as possible if you no longer need the requested item so it can be accessed by other library users.
You can have up to 20 requests at any one time across all Oxford libraries. (This is separate to the limit for Scan and Deliver, which is 2 requests at any one time.)
Return items
All books must be returned to the library they were borrowed from.
Please return your items promptly. Our library collections are often in high demand, and this ensures fair access for other library users to carry out their studies and research.
Overdue fines no longer apply. However, if you do not return your books within the due date when requested, you will be blocked from any further borrowing until the issue is resolved. If you are blocked from borrowing, this will apply across all the Bodleian Libraries.
Lost items
If you have lost an item borrowed from one of the Bodleian Libraries, contact the library from which the item was borrowed with the author’s name, the title of the book, the shelfmark (if possible) and your name and email address.
If the book is not found, you will usually be required to pay a lost book charge. The library will send you an invoice to cover replacement costs, which will include processing and administration charges, and instructions on how to pay. Some libraries allow payment for lost books through the University’s online store.
More services from the Bodleian Libraries
