LSE Academic support staff

Using the Library

The online Library Catalogue tells you which items are in stock, where in the Library they can be found and which items are out on loan.

You can access the Catalogue via the Library website or the Catalogue-dedicated computer terminals throughout the Library.

LSE staff may borrow a total of 40 Library items at a time. This maximum quota can be all of one loan category from the Main Collection or spread across the various categories, as indicated below:

Category Label colour Maximum quota Loan period Fine if overdue
Main Collection:
Normal loans White 40 105 days 30p per day
Recommended texts Yellow 40 One week 30p per day
Periodicals Any 40 Overnight 30p per day
Course Collection:
One week loans Red 6 One week 30p per day
Three day loans and periodicals Blue 6 Three days 50p per day
Set Texts Orange 3 24 hours 50p per hour


NB. To place loans, renewals and requests using self-service, you will need your Library PIN (Personal Identification Number). To collect your Library PIN go to LSE For You and select this option from the Contents list.  Books are subject to recall if required by another user.

Dedicated staff machines are available in the Copy Shop (ground floor), the Course Collection and on the lower ground floor.

We also offer a binding service in the Copy Shop.

There is a dedicated scanner on the lower ground floor, and CD-writing facilities are available on computers located on the lower ground, ground and third floors. Both scanning and CD-writing are available free of charge.

EndNote bibliographic software is an invaluable timesaver. It enables you to store and organise references to books and journal articles, including downloads from electronic databases, as well as generate bibliographies in a Word document. Training sessions are run throughout the year. For more details see Information Skills Training|.