The College Libraries
Memorial Court, Clare College, Cambridge CB3 9AJ
01223 (3)33202, Fax 0111223 (7)65560), clarelib@hermes.cam.ac.uk
Invigilators:
Fourth-year undergraduate and postgraduate students act as invigilators during
Full Term, from 4.45 pm on weekdays and from 2pm at weekends.
Invigilators have authority to act in place of staff at all times.
Student Representatives:
Full Term:
- Michaelmas and Lent Terms
- Daily: 7 am - 12.00 midnight
- Easter Term
- Daily: 7 am - 2.00 am
Term (outside Full Term), and Vacations:
- Monday to Friday, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm (or as advertised)
The Library is closed:
- throughout August and September
- during the Christmas vacation, as advertised
- during the Easter vacation, as advertised
The Forbes Mellon Library
Access to the Library and the Lipstein Law Reading Room is by means of the College Access Card. Please do not allow access to anyone other than college members.
The Forbes Mellon Library was opened in 1986 and is named after two major benefactors, Mansfield Forbes, a former Fellow, and Paul Mellon, an undergraduate at Clare, 1929-31. It is situated in Memorial Court in a building of considerable architectural interest designed by Sir Philip Dowson. The building also houses a student common room, three music practice rooms, and a lecture recital room.
The library is open to all members of Clare College currently in residence, and, in common with other college libraries, forms part of the tripartite library provision within the University, complementing both the specialist libraries found in faculties and departments and the Cambridge University Library.
The Forbes Mellon holds about 30,000 books. They are arranged in subject order within the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme. Although the stock is primarily that required by undergraduates, many postgraduate texts are kept, together with general reference works, Tripos papers, encyclopaedias and dictionaries. Multiple copies of many essential texts are available. A restricted access collection of one or more copies of the books that are most in demand is kept in the library office; these books have to be signed for and are for use in the library only. Requests for the library to purchase books should be entered in the Suggestions Book on the display table in the library (include your name and email address with the recommendation)
The Clare law library is in the Lipstein Law Reading Room in Ashby Court. Access is restricted to students reading Law. All books in this room are for reference use only and may not be removed. A dedicated terminal in the Lipstein Law Reading Room allows access to the catalogue via Newton, the University Library catalogue. There are two networked PCs in this room. Requests for the library to purchase law books should be entered in the Suggestions Book in the room (include your name and email address with the recommendation)
The Fellows' Library, Old Court
Rare books and manuscripts are kept in the Fellows’ Library in Old Court. The Fellow Librarian is Dr Hubertus Jahn (hfj21@cam.ac.uk) to whom all enquiries concerning the Fellows’ Library should be addressed.
Heritage
The Heritage computerised library system contains records for all the books in the library. It is
available on the two dedicated terminals next to the main desk. Search here to see if
a book is in the library and to check if it is available for use. The class number on the top right
of the book record will enable you to locate the book on the shelves. In case of difficulty
in finding a book, please ask the staff for assistance.
Newton
Adjacent to the ramp on the ground floor are two terminals linked to Newton, the University
Library catalogue. Newton can be used to locate books and periodicals in the University Library,
the faculty and department libraries, and most of the college libraries in Cambridge. Although
undergraduates can use the University Library, only third years and above can borrow books from
there. Access to other college libraries is normally restricted to members of those colleges
only; if a student wishes to consult a book that is unavailable anywhere other than the library
of another college, then application must be made direct to the library concerned. The staff
of the Forbes Mellon will give you a contact name and telephone number.
Library staff are happy to demonstrate how to use any of the catalogues on request.
Up to 20 books may be borrowed for a period of two weeks.
The computerised library system (Heritage) enables you to:
- Check that the material you require is in stock and available
- Locate the material on the shelves
- Borrow and reserve items
- Check your existing loans
- Check the amount of fines you might have accrued
To borrow a book
- Double click on ISSUE from the ENQUIRY menu.
- Using the hand held scanner, scan in the barcode form the front of your College
card, or type in the five digit barcode number (reader code)
- Press return orclick on OK
- Your reader details will appear on the screen with a box labelled ISSUE below them
- Ensure the ISSUE box is highlighted
- Scan in the barcodes of the books you wish to borrow (the barcodes are found inside the front cover)
- As you scan in each book, a small green light will appear on the left hand side of
the Plescon security device attached to the top of the scanner
- Pass the attachment firmly over the barcode, ensuring that it swipes it entirely. This will
deactivate the security system.
- As each book is issued to you, the details appear on your record and the due date (or stamp date)
is shown in the bottom right corner
- Enter the due date on the date label inside the book
- When you have finished, click on the back arrow (top left) to close your record
- Library staff will always demonstrate this procedure
- If your barcode is not recognised, please consult staff
- If you forget your card, you can still borrow material, but only via staff or invigilators
If the alarm is activated when you leave the library, you must go to a staff member or
invigilator, who may need to check your books
To renew a book on loan
- You may renew any book provided it is not required by another reader
- Renewals may be requested by email, telephone, letter or in person
- Renewals are processed by staff or invigilators
To return books
- Books should be returned through one of the two book boxes
- The inside box is at the foot of the stairs to the Bennett Room, off the library foyer
- The outside box is under the library office window
- Books may also be handed in at the library desk but never left on tables or trolleys
To reserve a book on loan to another reader
- Find the catalogue record for the item you need
- Click on RESERVE icon (top right)
- Highlight the RESERVE box
- Scan or type in your barcode
- Press return or click on OK
- There will be confirmation that the book has been reserved for you
- You can check your position in any queue by looking at the reservations page of your reader record
- Click on the back arrow (top left) to close your record
To check loans and fines
- Select READER INFORMATION from the ENQUIRY menu
- Scan or type in your reader code
- Click on the back arrow to close your record
Computers
There are two computer rooms within the library building. The first floor computer room is open 24 hours a day and is entered only from an external door using the college access control card. The ground floor room is accessed through the library during opening hours and contains four networked computers and a printer. Two additional networked terminals are situated in alcoves upstairs.
Other services
A photocopier, a microfiche reader, a fax machine and two electric typewriters are available for use.
Items such as staplers and hole punches may be borrowed from library staff. Computer disks and transparencies are available for purchase.
The library offers a lamination service and can comb-bind documents up to 75 pages in length.
Newspapers and journals
Four European newspapers are taken weekly during Full Term. Current British newspapers and periodicals are kept in the common room and are the responsibility of the UCS.
Electronic resources
Library users are strongly encouraged to make full use of electronic resources. Library staff will issue ATHENS passwords and advise on selecting appropriate information sources
Skeletons
The library has skeletons for the use of first and second year medical students. These are issued for a year and a refundable deposit is required.
Document lamination and comb-binding
are available on application to the Library staff.
Work in progress
Books and files may be left on library tables, providing they are left neatly and with a clear indication of who is using them. There are WORK IN PROGRESS slips on each table for this purpose.
Laptop computers may be used in the quiet room, providing no annoyance is caused to other library users
Mobile phones should not be used in the library.
Food and drink
No food or drink, with the exception of bottles of water are allowed in the library.
Security
Library users who leave personal possessions unattended in the library do so at their own risk. Laptops and other valuable items may be locked in the library office for short periods.
Lost property
Items left in the library will be taken to Memorial Court Lodge. Clothing will be deposited with the Housekeeper.
Communication
Staff can be contacted by email, phone, letter or in person. Library communication from staff to student will usually be by email.
Music practice rooms
These are underneath the library, bookable in Memorial Court Lodge and accessed externally by means of the college access control card.
Fire precautions
The ground floor exit is through the main door and the first floor exit is through the Neild Room. Music practice rooms exit through the main external door. There are fire extinguishers prominently placed throughout the building and at least one fire drill is carried out each term.
Smoking is strictly forbidden anywhere in the building
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