FAQs

Access to the Queen Mary Libraries

Borrowing from the Queen Mary Libraries

  • Do I have to return books to the Queen Mary Library I borrowed them from?
    • One Week Loan and Ordinary Loan books may be returned to any Queen Mary Library.
    • They will be cleared from your Library record when you return them.
    • Any fines due may be paid at any library.
    • Other items must be returned the library from which they were borrowed.

  • Do I need to bring my books into the Library to renew them?

    Not always.

    Providing:

    • you do not have fines of £12.00 or over
    • a hold has not been placed on the book

    Books can be renewed using either:

    • the Renew option on the Self-Service Kiosks in the Libraries.
    • the Renew Loans option in the Self Service area of the Library website
    • the automated Telephone Renewal and Information Service, which is available at all times on 020 7882 8800.

    You will need your College ID/Library card and PIN to use self-service renewals.

  • Can books be returned when the Libraries are closed?

    Yes, Mile End and West Smithfield Libraries have book return bins outside the Library which can be used to return books when the Library is closed.

    Don't use the book return bins when the Libraries are open - they are only emptied once a day, and the books will not be removed from your record until the next time the bin is emptied.

  • How much will the fine be on my overdue item?
    Loan type Fine rate per item

    One Day Loan

    50p per day or part day

    One Week Loan

    50p per day or part day

    Videos / DVDs

    50p per day or part day

    Ordinary Loan

    10p per day or part day

  • Can I still borrow items if I have a Library fine I have not yet paid?

    Yes, up to a limit of £12 worth of fines.

    Once you reach this amount, you will need to pay off your fines before you can borrow any further items from the Library.

  • How many books/other items can I borrow?

    The overall limits for borrowing are:

    • 12 items for undergraduates and associate students
    • 16 items for taught postgraduates
    • 20 items for research postgraduates and staff
    • 6 items for external borrowers and NHS library users

    Within these overall limits, there are smaller limits for various categories of material, as shown in the following table.

     

    Total Limit

    Ordinary Loan

    One Week Loan

    Maps

    Videos

     DVDs

    Exam papers

    One Day Loan

    Undergraduates and Associate Students

    12

    12

    12

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

    Taught postgraduates

    16

    16

    16

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

    Postgraduate Researchers

    20

    20

    20

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

    Staff

    20

    20

    20

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

    External borrowers

    6

    6

    6

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

    NHS library users

    6

    6

    6

    4

    2

    1

    2

    2

  • How long can I borrow videos and DVDs for?

    Videos and DVDs are one day loans. This means they must be returned at any time on the day after borrowing, except for items borrowed on Fridays or over the weekend, which must be returned on Monday.

  • I've forgotten my Library card. Can I borrow items?

    No. You must have your Library card to be able to borrow.

  • How do I pay library fines?

    Credit your Library account at one of the revaluation kiosks near the ground floor photocopiers at Mile End and Whitechapel.

    Use the credit on your Library account to make a payment by selecting the ‘Pay Fines’ option at a self-service kiosk.

     

PCs, printing and photocopying

  • How do I top-up my print credit?

    Print credit is topped up using your QM iPay account, which is also used for fines payment, wireless printing and photocopying.

    Your QM iPay account can be credited in two different ways:

    • Visiting the touch-screen kiosks on the ground floor of each library
    • Online using the QM iPay Webcentre

    To use the touch-screen kiosks in the Library, touch your ID card to the kiosk pad. The screen will display your name and your current balance. As coins or notes are inserted the balance updates. Once you have inserted the desired value you should select the 'finish' button on the touch screen.

  • Can I get change in the Library for the print and photocopier credit machines?

    Change machines are located close to the photocopiers at both Mile End and Whitechapel.

     

     

     

  • What do I need to access the PCs in the Library?

    IT Services provide workstation PCs and printers in all Library services buildings.

    To access these services you will need a student services account:

    • Undergraduates and Taught Postgraduates. You should be given your username during the registration process. If not, visit IT Services Help Desk, Room W209, Queens Building, Mile End.
    • Research Postgraduates and Staff. Contact Queen Mary IT Liaison on ext 5939 or visit the IT Services Help Desk, Room W209, Queens Building, Mile End, to register for the service.
    • NHS Staff.  Ask Medical Library helpdesk staff for registration form. Activation of accounts can take up to 48 hours after completion of the form.

    PCs are available until 15 minutes before closure and Library Staff are on-hand to offer assistance.

  • How do I photocopy?

    You can photocopy at any of the Library MFDs (Multi-function Devices), which can also be used for printing and scanning.

    Before using the MFDs you must top-up your Library account at one of the ground floor kiosks. Both the kiosks and the MFDs simply require you to touch your ID card to the reader.

    On touching your ID card to the kiosk pad, the screen will display your name and your current balance. As coins or notes are inserted the balance updates. Once you have inserted the desired value you should select the 'finish' button on the touch screen.

    Once credit has been added to your account, simply touch your ID card to the reader on the front of the MFD and you will be able to start copying. Your balance is displayed at the bottom left of the touchscreen at all times and decreases as each copy is made.

Inter-Library loans

  • What are the charges for Inter library loans?
    • Inter-library loans obtained from other libraries are charged to departments at a cost of
      • £8.00 per article
      • £12.50 for a book loan.
    • Users at the medical libraries are also welcome to pay in cash.
    • Charges are subject to change if necessary but users will be informed in advance.
       

     

  • How will I be kept informed of my inter-library loan request's progress?
    • We will keep you informed of any delays by e-mail.
    • We may ask you to provide more information if necessary for us to trace the material.
    • We will also contact you on arrival of items or if we need to recall items which you have on loan.

  • Where do I collect and return my Inter-library loans?
    • Inter-library loans are issued and returned at the Help Point at your home library during normal opening hours.
    • Please bear in mind that some items will be for reference use in the Library only. We will tell you this when emailing you.
    • Overdue items may be subject to a substantial fine which your department may pass onto you.

  • How do I renew Inter-library loan items?
    • To renew an Inter-library loan, please contact your home library.
    • If the item is not required for loan elsewhere we will arrange the renewal and let you know the new due date.
    • You cannot renew Inter-library loans via the Library Catalogue.

SFX

  • Why does SFX sometimes give more than one full text link?

    Electronic journal titles are often available via more than one source, and all subscribed sources will be listed.  The date ranges of available content may vary between different sources.

  • Why doesn't SFX provide a link to the full text?

    No full text links will appear if Queen Mary does not subscribe to the e-journal title, or, in the case of an SFX menu for a specific article, if Queen Mary does not subscribe to the year / volume in which the article appears.

    If no full text is available online, use the service options to locate a print copy in a Queen Mary library, or via another library using Copac, a union library catalogue incorporating the holdings of many major UK and Irish academic and national libraries.

  • Why doesn't anything happen when I click on the SFX link?

    Are you using a browser which disables pop-ups?  This will prevent SFX from functioning.

  • I clicked on a full text link but only got the journal's homepage. Why?

    Some e-journal providers do not allow article level linking via SFX, and only allow linking to either the table of contents or homepage.

  • Why doesn’t SFX recommend other articles every time?

    It only works if you are looking for a journal article and as SFX needs time to build up recommendations it is less likely to suggest other readings for articles which have only recently been published.

  • Why does SFX only download the first author for some articles?

    Some sources, such as Web of Science, only send SFX the first author even if there is more than one. You should always check the results of the download to ensure the bibliographic record is complete.

  • How do I report problems with SFX?

    You can report problems and provide feedback via the ‘Problems? Comments?’ SFX menu link. Alternatively, contact us to report any problems accessing e-journals or using SFX.

MetaLib

  • Is MetaLib the answer to everything?

    No.  MetaLib is good for gaining an overview of a topic or carrying out an introductory search.  In many other cases you should use the databases’ own search interface, if MetaLib’s searching is not sophisticated enough for your purpose.

  • What can I access if I don't log in?

    If you are using a computer on a Queen Mary, University of London campus, you will have access to most resources but may need to enter your Queen Mary username and password for some resources, when prompted.  If you are off campus your direct access to the resources in MetaLib will be restricted to those which are freely-available on the internet and you will need to log in to any subscribed resources via “institutional login”.  Note that you can choose to log in to MetaLib at any time, by selecting Log in from the top menu.

  • How do I find electronic journals?

    Electronic journals are listed in MetaLib, in the Find e-Journal option.  You can search by title, subject or publisher.  You can also search collections of e-journals (e.g. JSTOR, Science Direct) and link to articles in full-text journals, via SFX.  For more information see the e-journals and SFX FAQs pages.

  • How do I search on a specific subject?

    Click on Subject Search and select a subject set from the drop-down menu.  You can choose up to 10 resources to be searched at the same time.  If a resource has no checkbox it cannot be searched within MetaLib.

  • Why can't I see the results of searching this resource?

    Technical restrictions mean that some resources are only available via Search and Link – link out to the resource’s own interface to see the results.

  • How can I search resources from different categories together?

    Create your own set of resources in My MetaLib.

  • How can I search a single resource using all its features?

    Find the resource you want to search and then click on its name.  You will then be connected to the resource on the supplier’s website.

  • Can I search for the Library's print holdings using MetaLib?

    Yes, QMUL Library Catalogue is one of the resources listed.

  • My MetaLib: How do I save records from my search?

    Click on the Save Add to basket button.  To view the records you have saved click on My MetaLib in the top menu.  To save records permanently, click on the Save as Save as icon and enter a folder name when prompted. Folders and records can be managed in the Advanced interface.

    To email a record, or save a citation, view the record in full and click on the appropriate icon and format.

  • My MetaLib: How do I create my own search set containing the resources I use regularly?
    • Find the resource you want to add to the search set
    • Click on the Add to resources clipboard Add favourite sign under ‘Actions’
    • Go to My MetaLib and then My Resources
    • Create a new empty resource set by clicking on Create new set Create new set or select the existing set to which you want to add the resource
    • The resources you want to add to the set should be listed on the clipboard on the right
    • To copy these resources from the clipboard to the selected set on the left, click Move resource Move resource 
    • To search your newly created set, go to the Search page.  It is automatically displayed under My Resource Search Sets.  In the Subject Search option My Resources appears at the top of the lists to search.

  • My MetaLib: How do I save a search?

    After completing a search it is transferred to Previous Searches on the Subject Search tab.  From here you can save it by clicking on the Add to History Add to history icon next to the search.  Saved searches are transferred to My MetaLib and can be viewed by clicking on History.

  • My MetaLib: How do I re-run a saved search?

    To re-run a search within the same session click on the Subject Search tab, then Previous Searches and then on the name of the search.

    To re-run a search in a separate session you must save the search.  To re-run a saved search go to the History tab and click on the name of the search.

  • My MetaLib: How do I set up an alert?
    • Carry out the search you wish to set up as an alert
    • In Subject Search, click on Previous Searches
    • In the Actions column click on the Add to History Add to history icon
    • Go to My MetaLib
    • Go to History
    • In the Actions column against your search click on Alert Alert
    • Supply a name for the alert, your email address and the alert frequency
    • Click on Save

Secure Electronic Delivery (SED)

  • How do I register for Secure Electronic Delivery (SED)?

    You do not need to register for the service. You just need to use the ILL request form when you are ready to request a document.

  • What items can I request?

    You can request any document, article or paper that we do not hold in Queen Mary University Library.  We will only be able to supply it to you electronically if it is held by the British Library.

  • How do I receive the item?

    You will receive an email from the British library which will include a link to the requested article; this will also include information about how to install File Open if it is not already installed on your PC.

  • How long do I have to access and view the article?

    Once the British Library has sent you the email you have 30 days to access the file, once the file has been opened you have 14 days ato view the article.

  • How many times can I print this article?

    You can only print the article once due to copyright restrictions.

  • Can I save the article to my hard drive?

    No you are unable to save the article to your hard drive but you can view it for 14 days, it is therefore advisable to print the article the first time you open it.

  • Can I forward the article to another email address?

    Yes you can forward to another of your own email addresses but only if the email has not been opened first. You cannot forward the article to another user.

  • If I have problems who do I contact?

    If you have successfully installed the File Open plug-in on the machine you are using and are still experiencing problems viewing the article check our troubleshooting document.

    If you continue to experience problems please contact us.

     

  • How do I install the File Open Software needed to view SED articles?

    If you are accessing the article within the University please view the test document first.

    If you are unable to view this please contact your IT administrator to install the File Open Plug-In.

    If you are accessing the article from outside the University or at home go to http://plugin.fileopen.com/ to install the plug in. Once File Open has been downloaded to the machine please use a test document http://fileopen.bl.uk:8008/FileOpenFreeLink-1.0/entryPage.do to ensure it is working properly before you click on the link in the email.