Borrowing, Returns & Renewals

Borrowing, Returns & Renewals

It can take up to six weeks from placing your request to the item becoming available.

On arrival, books and theses are usually loaned for a period of two to four weeks. The lending period is dependent on the lending Library and will be advised at the point of collection.

Patrons will receive a notification via email when their items are ready for collection. Please keep an eye on your University of Galway email account if you have placed a request. You can also monitor the status of your request via your Library Account.

Where to Collect Items

Both books and articles may be collected at the Library and IT Service Desk.

Books should be returned to the Library and IT Service Desk. Articles do not have to be returned.

Failure to return books on time may result in substantial fines being charged to the Library or, in extreme cases, partner institutions suspending the facility to our Library. Patrons must return items on or before the return date as displayed on the lending sleeve.

Renewing Items

Inter-Library Loans cannot be renewed.

Before requesting an item from another Library please ensure that you will have time within the loan period to read the item before it's sent back.

Conditions of Borrowing

Many items may be borrowed and consulted outside the Library. However, some Libraries stipulate that any book we order from them must be consulted in our Library only.

The procedures for borrowing in each case will be made clear to users at the point of borrowing. Items which cannot be removed from the Library may be put behind the Customer Services Desk if required for further consultation within the loan period.

The terms of lending stipulated by an external Library will be strictly enforced, and any attempt to remove restricted items from the Library may result in the withdrawal of future ILL privileges.

Theses and special collection materials borrowed from an external Library may never be removed from the Library, except for theses which come in microfilm format.