Rules

In order to prevent damage to the collections please observe the following guidelines when working in the library:

 

• All items are for reference only; nothing may be taken out of the library.
• Please ask a member of staff for any books you require from the shelves, do not get the books yourself. (With the exception of the Colliery Guardian and the Mining Journal.)
• Please do not smoke in the library or anywhere within Neville Hall.
• There is no food or drink allowed in the library.  Staff can recommend good places to eat nearby or show you to another room to eat your packed lunch but please do not eat whilst using the collection!
• Please make your notes in pencil to avoid any accidental damage to the books and obviously never make any marks in the books themselves.  Digital cameras and laptop computers can also be used.
• Please do not handle items more than is necessary and do not lean on items, rest anything on them, pile one open book on another, or place open volumes face down. Permission must be asked to make tracings.
• Some items can be scanned or photocopied however this depends on the condition of the original item.  All copying must be done by staff and photocopies are charged at 30p/page.
• Please avoid placing strain on bindings, which are often fragile, do not try to force a book open wider than necessary.  Book cushions are available to support the book as well as covered weights to hold pages open.
• If you receive a book tied up with tape, please replace the tape if you can when you have finished with the book, tying it firmly in a bow over the open edge of the book. 
• Some books may have shelf mark slips inside them, please try to keep these with the relevant book and replace them after use.  If you are not sure which book a slip comes from, just ask a member of staff.  Please do not guess; we would rather spend a few minutes looking it up than hours hunting for a mis-shelved book later!
• Please tell staff about any damage which you discover in items you are using.

 

When in doubt, please ask the staff for advice

 

To avoid annoying staff and other users of the library, please switch your mobile phone to off or silent mode and go outside to the stairs to make or receive phone calls.