Quick Reference
Use our quick reference page below to find out about our books - how to search our catalogue, request books, access e-books, and how to return them. If your query isn't listed, please get in touch with us.
Searching
- In your library - subject headings are displayed at the end of each row of bookshelves. Library staff are always happy to help with any queries if you cannot find what you are looking for.
- Online Search Library Catalogue - enter key words or a book title below to search our online catalogue. Results will show from our library as well as healthcare libraries across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Each entry will show whether the book is currently available 'on shelf' or out on loan; links to e-books will be shown where applicable.
- Use our app - you can access the full catalogue using our app for Apple and Android devices.
- If you can't find a particular book, or are having trouble finding books on a certain subject, talk to a member of the library staff as we can usually track it down for you from other libraries in our network as an Inter-Library Loan. Books requested from within our own Trust libraries take 1 - 2 working days to arrive, and around 3 - 5 working days from libraries in our regional and national networks.
- Inter-Library Loans are usually free.
- In the Library - fill out a blue Book Request Card with the details of each book, and hand to library staff. Book Request Cards are on the front desk of the library, or ask a member of staff for one.
- Contact us - you can also email or call your library with the details of the books you are after.
Borrowing
You can borrow up to 8 items at any one time.
You can view your full check out history by logging in to your Library Account, then My Library Account > Personal Information > Preferences > check the box Show my Checkout History. Then go to Checkouts > Checkout History.
Renewing and Returning
- Log in to your Library Account at SouthEastLibrarySearch to manage your book loans.
- You can also renew by asking staff in your library, or contact us via email or phone with your membership details or book details.
In person - we're staffed 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, or you can post books in one of the Returned Books boxes - outside the reading room, the hatch at the enquiry desk, or the box in the Postgraduate Centre corridor
By post - you may return books by post but please be aware that you are responsible for them until they have been discharged from your account. Please send by recorded delivery if possible.
Reserving and Requesting
Log in to your Library Account at SouthEastLibrarySearch. Find the book you want to request and select Place Hold. Your request will be received by library staff who will let you know when your book is ready for collection.
Books borrowed from other libraries as Inter-Library Loans are free to you, no matter where we borrow from. The only exception to this is if we have no alternative but to request the book from the British Library - this is charged at £6 per book, per 28-day loan period. We will always check with you first if this is our only option.
- Requesting - if you can't find a particular book, or are having trouble finding books on a certain subject, talk to a member of the library staff as we can usually track it down from other libraries in our networks for you to borrow as an Inter-Library Loan.
- Book Request Cards - these can be found on the front desk of the library or ask a member of staff. Fill one out with the details of each book and hand to library staff. Alternatively you can email or call us with the details. Inter-Library Loans from libraries outside of our Trust take around 3 - 5 working days to arrive.
eBooks
- Wiley Online Library - two specialist collections are available here:
- Junior Doctor Collection - titles cover key aspects of working as a junior doctor, including specialties, mental health, and professional development.
- Leadership & Management Collection - titles cover developing effective teams, mentoring, recruitment, appraisals, and more.
- Joanna Briggs Institute of Evidence Based Practice - this collection looks at how to understand the appraisal of qualitative and quantitative research, and how to put the evidence into practice. View the collection on Ovid (once you have logged into your OpenAthens account, select Books from the Ovid toolbar).
Books borrowed from other libraries as Inter-Library Loans are free to you, no matter where we borrow from. The only exception to this is if we have no alternative but to request the book from the British Library - this is charged at £6 per book, per 28-day loan period. We will always check with you first if this is our only option.
- Requesting - if you can't find a particular book, or are having trouble finding books on a certain subject, talk to a member of the library staff as we can usually track it down from other libraries in our networks for you to borrow as an Inter-Library Loan.
- Book Request Cards - these can be found on the front desk of the library or ask a member of staff. Fill one out with the details of each book and hand to library staff. Alternatively you can email or call us with the details. Inter-Library Loans from libraries outside of our Trust take around 3 - 5 working days to arrive.
Fines
Reminders
- Yes, we send Due Alerts two days before the due date of a book, and we send Overdue Alerts every week that a book has gone past its due date.
- These alerts are emailed to you by default, but you can also choose to have them sent as free SMS text messages. If you don't already have this enabled on your account, please contact library staff and we can activate it for you.
Suggest a book for purchase
We welcome suggestions for titles to add to our stock! If you think a book would be beneficial to our library for departmental and staff use, just let us know - email or call with the details, or fill out a Book Suggestion Card in your library.
Become a library member to start borrowing
Join our Library to start borrowing books – you just need to fill out a short registration form to join.
You will be issued with a Library Membership Card and we will email the login details for your Library Account. Your Library Account enables you to log into our catalogue at SouthEastLibrarySearch and renew your book loans and request books, articles, and literature searches.
If you are already a member and unsure of your account details, please contact us.
Audio Books and Reading for Relaxation
As a collaborative service with our Medway public libraries we offer access to light reading and audiobooks. They include:
Crime|Thrillers|Romance|Humour|Biography | Science Fiction and Fantasy
Titles change every 3 months.
To find our current Audio Book list click here
To find our current Reading for Relaxation list click here
 If you would like to borrow any of these items, please get in touch.