Shelving

• What we will do
• How this will be delivered

What we will do:

We will return books and other library materials to the shelves accurately and within 1 working day of return. This helps ensure collections are consistently available, accessible, and easy to find across all library sites. Items left on desks, in reading rooms, or returned via the ‘Request an Item’ service will also be shelved promptly. We will maintain clear shelf labels, signage, and floor plans to support browsing and discovery, and we will regularly tidy shelves to keep materials in the correct order. This service is free of charge. 

To help us keep collections organised, users should: 

• return books to designated return points or self-return machines
• avoid re-shelving items themselves—this helps us maintain correct shelf order
• handle library items with care
• let library staff know if an item appears missing, misplaced, or damaged.

How this will be delivered:

Shelving is carried out by the Library Collections team, with day-to-day operations managed by the Library Collections Officer. 

We will:

• reshelve all returned items within our standard timeframe
• monitor and maintain shelf order across all sites
• check and update signage, mapping, and accessibility as needed
• carry out regular inventory checks to ensure accurate item locations.