Our online help, services and resources remain available:

• Enquiry service: email, chat, phone  
• Search for ebooks, ejournals, databases  
• Book-a-librarian  
• Book a Library Guide  
• FAQs and guidance 

Our three site libraries are open to provide access to library services and study spaces (as advised by the Government). From the 8th March all students on practical courses can return to site to study too.  Those studying online are asked only to visit the libraries if they do not have access to appropriate study spaces or facilities in their accommodation.   

Just a reminder that to access the library buildings and to borrow items you need your ARU ID card.    

You can still browse, borrow, return, request books and use the socially distanced study spaces.  

At present the Cambridge and Chelmsford opening hours stay at:  
08:30 - 24:00 Monday to Friday  
10:00 – 24:00 Saturday and Sunday  

Peterborough continues to open 10.00-15.00 Monday to Friday.  

Please continue to use the study spaces to study individually and not as a group. Please wear a face covering at all times including when seated at study spaces even in individual study rooms.  

Please keep your distance from others, wash or sanitise your hands regularly and use surface wipes provided to clean the work area before and after use.  

Click and Collect   

You can use Click and Collect to request items from our physical collections.   

Our Click and Collect service is designed for those studying off site, although you can still browse and borrow. This service allows you to come in and collect books quickly to minimise your time in the libraries. Please only come on site for essential items. We will be collecting the books from the shelves Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, it will take up to 2 working days to fill the requests. Please only come in to collect when you get the email telling you the item(s) are ready for collection. You may request up to 10 items at a time.  

Only items available on the shelves will be reserved as items are not currently being recalled from other users. Available items from any site can be requested to collect at the site you are visiting.

Cambridge - Requested items can be collected from the shelves on the left side of the library near the lift door.   Please borrow items using the self-service machine before leaving the library. Please return items via self-service return and drop them into the nearby book-drop.  

Chelmsford -  Requested items can be collected from the shelves on the left after the shutter on the ground floor. Please borrow items using the self-service machine before leaving the library. Please return items via self-service return and drop them into the nearby book-drop.   

Peterborough -  Requested items can be collected from the shelves on the left side of the library as you enter.   Please borrow items using the self-service machine before leaving the library. Please return items via self-service return and drop them into the nearby book-drop.  

Request a book chapter to be scanned for you  

If you only want one chapter of a book held in the library that is not already available online, you can request it to be scanned and sent to you by email using the PDFScan service.  

Only one chapter of a book can be scanned under Copyright Law so we will cancel any requests for another chapter from the same book.

Just log into the library website, search for the item you want, and click 'Find in Library' under the item. If it's on the shelf at your library, then click ‘PDFScan’. 

Can I still request Interlibrary Loans?  

Yes, you can. However, as the British Library is currently closed we are only able to supply items that are already available as e-versions and we cannot obtain any physical items. Place your request as normal.