Membership
The library is free for all to use. If you have a Gloucestershire County Library Card you can use it at Berkeley Books. Loan terms are the same as in Gloucestershire County Libraries. Berkeley Books uses the same computer system as Gloucestershire County and other Gloucestershire Community Libraries. You may borrow up to 20 items for up to three weeks. Books, DVDs etc. can be borrowed and returned across the Gloucestershire County network including the Gloucestershire Community Libraries. You can view your borrowed items online and renew at any Gloucestershire County or Community library, online or by phone. Items can be returned out of hours via the letterbox at any Gloucestershire County or Community library.
Berkeley Books Staff cannot join new members. You have to join on line; this is quite straightforward, but Berkeley Books Staff can help you do this if you wish. You will be sent a Gloucestershire County Library Card by post. This entitles you to use Berkeley Books and any Gloucestershire County or Community library. Membership is free. You can join the library at any age. In future, parents or guardians will NOT have to give permission for children under 16 to use the internet. If a child is not to use the internet a parent or guardian must accompany the child to the library. The onus will be on the parent or guardian.
How do I join?
Join a library online
If you apply online a library card will be posted to you in 5 working days. If you have given us your email address you will receive the PIN by email.
You will not need to provide proof of ID when you apply this way.
Join at a library
You can join in person, but only at any County (main) library. They will need to see proof of your name and address (proof of ID). Community (Volunteer) Librarians cannot "join" you, but can help you to join yourself online using one of our Public Access Computers. You can start borrowing immediately
What proof of ID do I need?
We need to see an official document with your name and address on it e.g. a utilities bill or bank statement. Only one proof of ID is needed. Alternatively you can also use a valid library card from any other library service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
What services can I use as soon as I have my Library Card?
- Borrow up to 20 books (including spoken word CDs or cassettes). Up to 6 DVDs or Videos and 6 Music CDs can be borrowed at any one time. The loan period for books and spoken word items is 21 days, and seven days or until the next time the library is open for music CDs, videos and DVDs.
- Search, order, renew and manage your account.
- Access computers and the internet. All Gloucestershire Community & County Council libraries have computers with free internet access and Microsoft Office software. You can book time on a library Public Access Computer on-line.
- Learn in libraries; and do online training courses at your local library.
- Borrow items from any Gloucestershire library
Get to Berkeley Books (Location) and find about more about facilities, activities and items for loan.
I have a friend/relative visiting Gloucestershire can this person use Berkeley Books?
If they have with them a valid library card from any other library service in England, Wales or Northern Ireland we will sign you in as a visitor. Your 'home' library card acts as your guarantee to us.
Visitors can also use library computers without joining the library.
Manage Your Borrowing
You can reserve any Gloucestershire County catalogue item i.e. books, DVDs, CDs etc. online or by request at the library for local pick up. If the item has to come via Inter Library Loan from another Library Authority, the on line reservation service charges are:
- It is free to reserve items using the library online catalogue. If you ask staff to place the reservation on your behalf at a library you will be charged. If the book that you wish to reserve is owned by another Community Library, you will need to ask a Library Volunteer to ring up the owning library to request a temporary loan to Berkeley Books. This is likely to be granted unless the book is much in demand or rare and of particular relevance to the owning library. You will be informed when the book is in the library at which you were when you reserved it.
- Plus £2.70, if we supply the book by Inter-Library Loan
- Children are exempt from these charges
- Normal charges and concessions apply
However, requests are free for those aged under 18 or over 64. Nevertheless, there is a cost if the notice to collect is sent by email. There is an additional postal charge if the notice to collect is sent by post. For all charges please see Library Charges
Search the Library catalogue
TO BORROW A BOOK AT BERKELEY BOOKS YOU MUST PRODUCE YOUR GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP CARD. Our librarians are not allowed to serve you without seeing you Membership Card first.
Browse over a million items on Gloucestershire's library catalogue, from books and DVDs to spoken word cassettes and videos. In Berkeley Books, you will be able to search books that are in Berkeley Books, other Gloucestershire Community Libraries and and in Gloucestershire County (Main) Libraries. If you find that the book is not in the Gloucestershire catalogue, you can order any book and Gloucestershire County Library Services Staff will be able to put out requests for loan to all County and Community Libraries. Anyone can access the catalogue to browse, but if you want to order or renew an item or check your current loans and charges, you must be a member and have a library card. If you wish to reserve a book owned by another Community Library, you will need to ask a Library Volunteer to ring up the owning library to request a temporary loan to Berkeley Books. This is likely to be granted unless the book is much in demand or rare and of particular relevance to the owning library. You will be informed when the book is in the library at which you were when you reserved it.
Already a member
- Sign into the catalogue with your library card number to order and renew items or check your account.
- Update your membership details or request a PIN number
If you have lost or damaged your library card please visit any county library to request a replacement card.
Renewing
You can:
- Renew online via the library catalogue. You will need your library card number to log into your account.
- Renew your items by phoning Berkeley Library - 01453 810 520 in our opening hours.
- Renew at Berkeley library.
Ordering
- Library members can reserve items free of charge through the online library catalogue or by visiting any Gloucestershire library (there is a charge at a library).
- We can request books from other library authorities for you using our inter-library loan service. Use the inter-library loan service to request a book that is not in the Gloucestershire Catalogue.
Make a suggestion
-
Read a good book etc. and think the library should have a copy? Let us know - Suggest a book, CD or DVD
What we charge for
We will make a charge for DVDs and if you don't return or renew your books on time. We also charge for some reservations and orders. Our Paying for library services page has all the details.
Search the catalogue before joining the library
If you don't have a library card but want to use the catalogue, you can search the Gloucestershire Catalogue before you join.
What does membership give you
At any one time you can borrow up to
- 20 books (including spoken word CDs or cassettes) and
- 6 DVDs and Music CDs
The loan period for books and spoken word items is 21 days, and seven days or until the next time the library is open for Fastback books, music CDs, videos and DVDs.
Policy for Acceptable Use of our Computers
Conditions of access
You may only
log in to computer sessions using your own library card or
as an "authorised visitor".
You must not use someone else's
account to log in or access information.
Use by
children aged under 16 is the responsibility of the named
Guarantor.
Customer use may be blocked owing to
outstanding fines
or overdue items.
Customer
access to the People's Network is
subject to
acceptable use as defined in this policy.
Storage
Customers are
responsible for saving work to a removable device, typically
a memory stick or re-writable CD,
alternatively customers should email work in order to
save a copy. Customers should be aware that some makes of
memory stick may not be accepted
by People’s Network PCs. Gloucestershire County Council take
no responsibility for work that is
lost.
Disclaimer
Gloucestershire County Council is not able to guarantee that
any transactions conducted over
the Internet will be successful and accepts no liability for
any goods
or services requested through the Internet.
Neither will we accept any liability for
identity theft that occurs during use of the People’s
Network.
Acceptable usage
Is principally defined as, but
not limited to:
Email
Online retail
Social
networking
Entertainment/video streaming/games/
television
School work/homework
If any of the above
involves listening to items,
including music or
soundtracks, then
this must be with the use of personal
headphones.
Internet access is
filtered. However, no filter can
guarantee 100%
coverage. All
activity on library computers is recorded
and
further action will be taken if a breach of
this
policy is suspected.
Unacceptable Use:
We ask
all customers to act responsibly when
using library
computers. The
following actions are not acceptable and
may
result in your access to the
service being
withdrawn and the police being
informed:
The
displaying, sending or retrieving of
material that may
reasonably be
deemed obscene, violent or offensive (text,
image or sound).
Participation in any activity
which violates
licensing or copyright law.
Any
activity which seeks to gain unauthorised
access to the
Gloucestershire
County Council Network or any external
networks nor any activity which seeks
to damage or
destroy computer hardware,
peripherals, software or data
belonging to Gloucestershire County Council.
Use of the
Internet for any threatening or
illegal activity, e.g.
libel or personal
harassment.
Causing a disturbance
while using the
computer or waiting for the computer
If you access information or receive
information
accidentally that is illegal or
will cause offence you
must disconnect
immediately
Copying of sound
recordings or film (including
use of such material in
presentations, broadcasts, websites).
Permission from
the rights holder has to
be sought for such use.