Bodleian Libraries news for MPLS - September 2023
New Library Software
Thanks for bearing with us while we moved to new library software. Most of the changes are ‘behind the scenes’ but we have also taken the opportunity to make changes to some aspects of SOLO. Below are the most noticeable changes and improvements. For a full guide to using SOLO, please see the SOLO LibGuide.
Signing into SOLO
If you are not signed into SOLO you will only see whether an item is available or not, rather than whether an item can be borrowed or for how long. Once signed in you will now see loan periods personalised to you (e.g. 7 days; 28 days etc).
Auto-renewals
Bodleian Libraries lending copies will auto-renew for up to 112 days – unless somebody else places a hold. Find out more about the Bodleian Libraries’ borrowing policy.
Return of Services
All our services are now back and you can now request items through Scan & Deliver and InterLibrary Loan and you can order items from offsite.
If you need any help, please do get in touch with library staff who will be more than happy to help you. Here is how you can contact us:
- SOLO Live Chat (from SOLO front page)
- email reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
- email enquiries-rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk for queries regarding the RSL collections and services.
Changes to borrowing
Along with our new software there has been some changes to our borrowing policy that aim to provide an inclusive and consistent user experience in response to feedback. You can get more information from the Bodleian Libraries website.
The important thing to remember is to log in to SOLO. If you do that you will be shown the borrowing times for the item as they apply to you. So an undergraduate student can borrow up to 20 books at one time but a member of staff can borrow up to 40 books. Those with disabilities that have registered with the disability service may be eligible for extended loan periods.
This is a Bodleian Libraries policy; please check with college and departmental libraries about their borrowing policies.
Book move
After being out of the building for over two years the books and staff of the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) will be returning to our newly refurbished building for October 2023. can you tell we're excited?
Moving the books from the Vere Harmsworth Library (VHL) will take some time so we're going to begin packing up our books in early September. From 4th September until the end of the month we will be packing and moving books from the VHL to the RSL.
Staff will be able to fetch books if you can’t find them on the shelf. Full details on our blog.
We apologise for the inconvenience.