Requesting from stores
Online requesting from stores
Most of the Library's collections are held in closed stores and are recorded in our catalogues. If you have a full Library Card, you can request items online for use within our reading rooms, where they will normally be kept for two weeks.
First-time visitors can call our enquiry line (020 7611 8722) to order up to five items in advance of visiting. Please give a minimum of two working days' notice.
A request can be made from any computer. Use the Library catalogue to find the books, pictures, and moving image and sound materials. Use the Archives and Manuscripts
catalogue to find Western manuscripts and archives. When you have found the item you require, click Request stores item. When prompted, enter the barcode number from your Library Card. Add your password, then click Submit (if you do not already have a password, leave this box blank and click Submit to create one). If offered
more than one, make your selection. Click Request selected item.
Video tutorial: Requesting materials from closed stores [Running time: 1 min 59 s]
Manual requests
Some material cannot be requested online. You will need to complete manual requests for:
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journals
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Medical Officer of Health reports
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some Asian manuscripts in languages other than Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Persian, Sanskrit, Sinhalese and Tibetan
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some archive collections.
Delivery times
Items requested from closed stores are generally ready for collection within two hours but can occasionally take up to four hours. You can keep track of your requested items though 'My Library account'.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Six deliveries per day, on the hour, at: 11.00; 12.00; 13.00; 14.00; 15.00; 16.00; 17.00
Thursday
Eight deliveries at: 11.00; 12.00; 13.00 ; 14.00; 15.00; 16.00; 17.00; 18.00; 19.00
Saturday
Five deliveries: 11.00; 12.00; 13.30; 14.30; 15.30
Please note, if you want to ensure that material is ready for you to use at 10.00 you need to submit your request at least one hour before the last daily delivery times cited here.
Archive delivery times
Please note that Archive and Manuscript collections are not produced according to the above timetable. They may take longer to be delivered from closed stores than other Library collections. Items are sometimes ready for collection within two hours but may occasionally take up to four hours. You can keep track of your requested items through 'My Library account'.
Orders for Archive and Manuscript collections must be placed by 3pm for delivery the same day (4pm on a Thursday). No Archive and Manuscript orders will be processed on Saturday. Orders for delivery on Saturday must be placed by 4pm on Friday.
Offsite serials
These items are normally delivered within two working days.
Make the most of 24/7 Online Requesting
Did you know that as a registered Library user, you can order material for viewing in the Library at any time of the night or day?
If you are planning your first visit to the Library, registering online will allow you to identify what you need and to request items online. Order Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
before 16.00 and on Thursday before 18.00 and your items should be available for you by 10.00 the following day.
See here for further information about our online requesting system.
Collection of requested material
Material requested from closed stores should be collected from the relevant enquiry desk. (When your online request has been successful, you will be told which enquiry desk to collect the book from.)
Returning material
Return all material from the closed stores to the relevant enquiry desk at the end of each day.
Closed stores material can be held on reserve for up to two weeks. Please tell the duty librarian if you wish to keep the item on reserve. Open access material can be left on the reserve areas in the reading room for two weeks maximum.
'My Library'
This service is available to registered users through the Library's online catalogue.
You can create a personalised account allowing you to:
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order items from stores
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view store requests, showing the title, status and pickup location
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save catalogue searches so you can re-run them
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get weekly email alerts for new items based on your saved searches
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modify your password.
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