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Library Services
  1. Library Services
  2. Using Library Services
  3. Borrowing Basics
  4. Borrowing

Borrowing Basics

Self-Service Borrowing

You can borrow items using the self-service kiosks located in Mile End, West Smithfield, and Whitechapel libraries. 
You will need your Queen Mary ID card and Library PIN.

Borrowing Allowances

• 40 items for undergraduates and associate students
• 40 items for taught postgraduates
• 40 items for research postgraduates and staff
• 6 items for interrupting students, eligible external borrowers.


There are maximum allowances for various categories of material, as shown in the table below.

The table shows borrowing rights according to the users' categories and the type of material being borrowed.
Each row provides details of the current loan limits for each category of borrower listed in the first column.
BORROWER TOTAL LIMIT ONE DAY LOAN ONE WEEK LOAN MAPS VIDEOS DVDs*
Undergraduate and Associate students 40 2 40 4 2 1
Taught Postgraduate students 40 2 40 4 2 1
Postgraduate researchers 40 2 40 4 2 1
Staff (including Honorary and Visiting Staff) 40 2 40 4 2 1
Interrupting students, Retired Staff, and eligible external borrowers 6 2 6 4 2 1

Additional Information – Film Students:
- UG Film Studies students are entitled to borrow up to 3 DVDs at any one time. The loans are due back at any time up to closing time on the day after borrowing
- PGT and PGR students, and Academic Staff within the Department of Film Studies are entitled to borrow up to 5 DVDs for one week

Loan Periods

• 7 Day Loan - continuously renewed up to 51 times unless reserved
• One Day Loan – due back at any time up to midnight on the day after borrowing
• DVD – One Day Loan due the next day
• Laptops (Queen Mary students only):
- Mile End Library: 8 hours – or by closing time on the day
- Whitechapel Library: return by closing time on the borrowing day

For further information please visit the Laptop Loan Service page.

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