How do I borrow items?

Visitors can select items for loan in the Library, but most members order books online via the catalogue, by telephone or by email. Items requested before 3 pm on a weekday will be posted the same day, later requests will be posted the next working day.

Is the library catalogue available outside office hours?

The library catalogue closes down in the evening (approx. 9pm-3am) in order to run update programmes but should be availabale again afterwards. Your requests will be dealt with the following morning. 

What if I order something and it does not arrive?

The Library aims to respond to all requests within one working day. If you have not heard within two working days of ordering an item, please contact the Loans Librarian.

Is there a cost for the loan service?

The loans service is free, but we would be grateful if you could refund our postage costs. We do not keep a record of costs as the refund is voluntary, but average cost is about £2.00 for a standard sized book.

How can I refund the postage?

You can either send us stamps or, for amounts greater than £5.00, pay by cheque or credit card. You can also wait and pay for several loans at one time if this is more covenient.

How long is the loan period?

Books are normally lent for 3 weeks. If you know you may need them longer and will not be able to renew on the day, please phone and let the Library staff know in advance.

How do I renew my loans?

You can email, telephone or write to the Loans Librarian to renew your loans. You can also renew your loans online:

1. Select 'My Library' from the main menubar at the top of the Library catalogue screen.
2. Choose ‘Renew My Materials’. You will be asked to log in if you have not already done so.
3. Either:

• Select the 'Renew Selected Items' button and then tick the check boxes for the items you wish to renew.

  Or

• Select the 'Renew all' button, to renew all items issued to you.

4. Click 'Renew Selected Items'.

NOTE: You will not be able to renew a loan online if:

• it is overdue.
• it is reserved for another member.
• it has been renewed three times already.
• your record has been blocked or suspended.

In any of these cases, please contact the Library for more information.

How do I log in to the Library catalogue?

You can log in to the catalogue using your ICE membership number and your MyICE password as the ‘PIN’. You will need to be a Member of the ICE and to have registered with MyICE to create a password. Please note that even if you are currently logged in to MyICE, you will need to log in separately to the catalogue.

How do I get my PIN?

The PIN required to log in to the catalogue is the same as your MyICE password. Please not that the PIN must be 10 characters or less; a longer PIN will always fail to log in.

If you forget your PIN and are unable to retrieve it from MyICE, the Library staff will be happy to help.

Can I change my PIN?

You can change your PIN by changing your MyICE password, but changes are not copied to the Library catalogue until the morning of the following working day (Monday to Friday). Please be aware that it is limited to 10 characters maximum.

If you need your PIN changed immediately, please contact the Library staff.

How can I find out which books I have on loan?

1. Select the option 'My Library' from the main menubar at the top of the Library catalogue screen.
2. You will be asked to log in if you have not done so already.
3. Select 'Review My Account': a list of the items you have on loan will then be displayed.

What happens if I have lost a book?

If you lose an item, you will be expected to meet the cost of replacing it. As soon as you know there is a problem, please get in touch with the Library, as the sooner we learn about the loss the easier it is to do something about it.

How do I access e-resources, such as the Mcgraw-Hill Digital Engineering Library?

1. Select 'Other useful knowledge' from the main menubar at the top of the Library catalogue screen.
2. Click on the link you want.
3. You will be asked to log in if you have not done so already.

Are you open at weekends?

We are open only during weekdays, but you can return books by post if you cannot come in during opening hours. Also, a member of staff often stays until 6.30 pm, but if you are planning on visiting after 5.30 pm, we recommend that you contact us in advance to make sure the Library is open.

I'm having a problem with the ICE Virtual Library, can you help?

The Virtual Library is offered and operated by Thomas Telford Ltd., the ICE Group's publishing division. It has its own FAQ.

My (grand)father was an engineer, do you have information on him?

ICE is the world’s oldest engineering institution and has biographical information on large numbers of deceased professional engineers. The Archivist offers a research service, please contact her for details of access, prices and resources.