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Part-time and distance learners

Some of our services are targeted at part-time staff and students, those on accredited distance learning courses or studying on placements.

Information about:

• using our UK libraries
• using the Copy Scan Direct service
• other library services

Using our libraries in the UK

You can study, borrow and return items, access IT services and print, copy and scan at any of our 11 libraries across the East Midlands. As a part-time or distance learner you are allowed 10 days to return items that have been requested by another user.

There are three library services you will find particularly useful:

Intersite loans

Ordinary loan items can be delivered to The University of Nottingham (UK) library of your choice via The University of Nottingham Online Catalogue (UNLOC ). Select the pickup location for the item from the drop-down menu.

Library members who are restricted to borrowing only from Greenfield Medical Library or Derby Medical School are NOT eligible to use this service.

Postal loans

This service allows students on accredited distance learning courses, part-time students, and those on placements of six weeks or more to request ordinary loan items to be posted direct to your UK address. Both this and the Copy Scan Direct service are available at the following libraries: 

How to request an ordinary loan item

You can have up to 10 postal loans per academic year and can keep books for their usual loan period unless they are requested by other readers. To use this service:

1. search UNLOC to check that we have the item in stock
2. send an email to DL Requests with the following information for each item:
   UK address to which you want the item posted

• author
• title
• classmark
• edition
• date published

Please note:

• all potential users will be asked to clear any outstanding fines and overdue items before they can use this service
• if there is a waiting list of requests for the item, it will be posted to you for 10 days only 
   

Renewing and returning items

To renew items by telephone, contact the library on the number listed on the postal loan information slip inside the book (see UNLOC for details on how to renew).

A return date will be stamped inside each book you receive. Items will be registered as returned on the date they are received at the library, not the date you posted them. To return your items: 

• you can return books in person to any University of Nottingham Library or via the book return box when the library is closed
• items returned by post must be sent using ‘Recorded Signed For delivery’ with the address label provided, well before the due date to allow for postal delivery time. It is your responsibility to pay for this

All items may be requested by other readers at any time and fines are payable on each item returned or renewed late. 

Copy Scan Direct

This service allows students on accredited distance learning courses, part-time students, and those on placements of six weeks or more to request scanned or faxed copies or photocopies of journal articles or book chapters from items in stock in the participating libraries listed above. These will be provided double sided and in black and white unless you request otherwise.

Please note:

• as with the postal loans service, all potential users will be asked to clear any outstanding fines or overdue items before they can use this service
• items are provided within copyright restrictions. Users may request up to 5% or one article (whichever is greater) from a single issue of a journal or up to 5% or one chapter (whichever is greater) from a book. 

How to request a Copy Scan Direct item

1. search UNLOC to check that we have the item in stock
2. print, complete and sign the relevant request form for each item:

• staff request form
• student request form
• account request form

Please note that we must have your handwritten signature for legal reasons before we can supply the article. We will accept a scanned pdf or faxed copy of the form as long as it includes your handwritten signature 

• Post, fax or scan the form(s) to us making sure that you use one of the payment methods listed below. Please either email scanned form(s) to Copy Scan Direct Request , or contact the relevant library if you wish to return your
  form(s) by fax.

 

Useful information

You can pay fines greater than £5 over the phone using a debit/credit card.

You can access a wide range of databases, eJournals and eBooks via the eLibrary Gateway. Module reading lists are also available with links to our stock on UNLOC. Further advice on finding material is available.

Our inter-library loans service offers electronic article delivery subject to copyright restrictions.  

As a student at The University of Nottingham, you can borrow items from up to 170 participating higher education libraries in the UK and Ireland through the SCONUL Access scheme.