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Library Services

Using our Libraries

Who Can use Cardiff Met Libraries

You can use Cardiff Met Libraries if you are:

  • A student at Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • A member of Cardiff Met staff
  • A Franchise Student at a Partner Institution
  • A member of Franchise Staff at a Partner Institution
  • An External User with:
    • Community Borrowing membership
    • Reciprocal Borrowing membership
    • SCONUL Access membership
  • A member of the public over the age of 18

Your library card and account

Students: Your MetCard is your library card. Your account is created automatically at the beginning of your studies. You need your MetCard to borrow items and access the 24-hour study spaces and Study Rooms

Cardiff Met Staff: Your MetCard is your library card. Your account is created automatically at the beginning of your employment. You need your MetCard to borrow items.

External Users: Your MetCard is your library card. Your account is created when you register. You need your MetCard to borrow items and access the library spaces.

Franchise Student at a Partner Institution: You will be set up with a Cardiff Met logon.

Franchise Staff at a Partner Institution: You will be set up with a Cardiff Met logon.

Accessing your library account

You can access your library account in MetSearch: in the top right corner, sign in with your Cardiff Met credentials and then navigate to My Library Account.

In your account you can view:

  • Current loans and their due dates
  • Recalled items
  • Loan history
  • Status of requested items
  • Loan blocks and restrictions

You can also access your library account through the self-service kiosks in Llandaff and Cyncoed Learning Centres: Select Account on the display screen for details of your current loans and requests.

What can I borrow?

Students and staff can:

  • Borrow up to 30 print books, DVDs or kits at once.
  • Download or read online an unlimited number of electronic books and journals.
  • Borrow a laptop (students only) for either up to 24hrs or up to 4 weeks.

External users can:

  • Borrow up to 5 print books or DVDs at once.
  • Access a selection of electronic resources through the Walk-in Access scheme.

Franchise students from UK based Partner Institutions can:

  • Borrow up to 30 print books or DVDs at once.
  • Download or read online an unlimited number of electronic books and journals.

Franchise students from overseas Partner Institutions can:

  • Download or read online an unlimited number of electronic books and journals.

Franchise staff from UK based Partner Institutions can:

  • Borrow up to 30 print books or DVDs at once.
  • Download or read online a selection of electronic books and journals online.

Franchise staff from overseas Partner Institutions can:

  • Download or read online a selection of electronic books and journals online.

How do I find items?

The best way to find books is to use our library catalogue MetSearch which is also the best way to access our extensive collection of eResources.

Dedicated MetSearch PCs can be accessed in the library on both campuses but you will not be able to sign into your account or access eResources on these PCs.

For full access to MetSearch, log into your account using your Cardiff Met credentials. You can do this either directly through the web or through the Cardiff Met app.

If the Library does not hold the resource you need for your studies or research, you can request it via the Interlibrary loan service or by placing a Purchase request.

Enhance your search and discovery skills by referring to our informative Discovery@CardiffMet guides.

How do I borrow items?

The quickest way to borrow books is to find them on the shelves and take them out using our self-service kiosks located on the ground floor of the Llandaff and Cyncoed libraries.

You can also reserve books you need in MetSearch and collect them from the Help Desk when you’ve received a confirmation that we’ve processed your request. Alternatively, you can reserve a book and request a postal delivery.

 
Why can't I borrow items?

You won’t be able to borrow books if:

  • You don’t return a recalled book by its due date.
  • You lose or damage a library book and do not respond to our correspondence.
  • You have completed your studies.
  • You are no longer employed by Cardiff Met.
  • Your Community Borrowing, Reciprocal Borrowing or SCONUL Access membership has expired.

If you are no longer a student or employee of the university you can apply to continue using the library under the Community Borrowing Scheme and access the electronic library through the Walk-in Access Scheme.

 
Are there any charges for using the library?

The library does not charge any fines or fees. However, if you have overdue items requested by another user, your account will be blocked and you won't be able to borrow any more items until they are returned.

How do I reserve items?

To reserve books:

  • Sign into MetSearch with your Cardiff Met credentials.
  • Find the book you’d like to reserve and click on the title link.
  • In the Get it section, click on Reserve @ Cardiff Met.
  • Select your collection preference:
    • Cyncoed Library: 24-Hour Collection from the Reservation shelves.
    • Llandaff Library: From the Help Desk during staffed hours.
    • Post: Add your home address to the Comment if you want it posted. (PLEASE NOTE: The postal delivery service is not available to Franchise Staff and Students at Partner Institutions, or External Users).
  • Click on Send Request.
  • When the reservation has been processed, we’ll notify you via email.
  • We aim to process reservations within two working days if the requested book is available.
  • If the book is on loan, one copy will be recalled for you and reservation will be processed when the recalled book is returned.

How do I renew items?

Most books are loaned for 1 week and your loans will renew automatically unless they have been recalled or your library account has expired.

You can also renew your books in MetSearch – My Library account. Ensure you sign in first. Books with a recalled status cannot be renewed. You need to return them by their due date.

 
Recalled Items
  • You will receive a notification when an item is recalled.
  • A recalled item is an item that you have on loan that has been requested by another borrower.
  • You will need to return recalled items by their due date.
  • If you don’t return a recalled item, your library account will be blocked seven days after the due date.

How do I return items?

You can return books at either Cyncoed or Llandaff library.

Cardiff Met items can be returned via the self-service kiosks, at the library Help Desk or dropped into the book return box outside each library. You can also return books by post, Contact Us for more information about our free postal service.

Inter-Library Loan items have to be returned in person to a member of staff at a Library Helpdesk.

You don’t need your library card to return books. You should return borrowed items when you've finished using them or when an item has been recalled.

 

What happens if I lose or damage an item?

If you lose or damage any of the books you have borrowed, please contact us as soon as possible.

How will the library contact me?

Students & Staff: The library sends you important notifications about your library account to your Cardiff Met email account.

External Users: You will receive notifications via the email provided on the registration form.

Email notifications include:

  • A monthly summary of items on loan.
  • Notifications that your request has been processed.
  • Recalled item notifications.
  • Overdue notifications.
  • Notification of an account block.

If you have any questions which are not answered on this Using Our Libraries page, please contact us.