Library Info

 Opening hours:  Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm

The library is closed on weekends.

Access and Membership

The library is open to Bristol Zoological Society staff, trustees, volunteers and students.

When you visit for the first time, the Librarian can create a library account for you. If you are a student, please bring your student ID plus another form of ID. If you are staff, please bring your staff ID.

The general public can access the library by prior arrangement. For regular access to the library facilities, you may be required to apply for a researcher pass. Please email library@bzsociety.org.uk to make an enquiry.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the library. There are 3 computers and a printer/scanner for student/staff use.

 Conduct

All users are required to behave considerately and to respect the study needs of others. The Librarian reserves the right to ask someone to leave the library if they are disrupting other library users.

• Mobile devices may be used only in silent mode and we recommend using headphones with your laptop.

• Users must not mark, deface or damage library books, furniture and fittings in the Library.

• Drinks are allowed if they are in lidded containers.

• Snacks are allowed - as long as they’re not too smelly or noisy!

• All users must leave the library by closing time or when requested to do so by library staff.

• In the event of a fire alarm or animal escape, please follow the instructions of the Librarian.

Borrowing 

Staff, volunteers and students can borrow:

•        Up to 10 items for 1 month

You may be able to extend your loan by renewing your items. 

Renewing

You can renew items you've borrowed by:

•  Renewing items online. 

• Contacting the Librarian.

You can renew items an unlimited number of times. However, your renewal may be blocked if:

• The item has been reserved by another user

• If you received a request from the Librarian to return the item.

To check when your loans are due, you can ask the Librarian or check your online account.

Reserving

If the item you require is on loan, you can reserve a copy for you when it is returned.

To reserve an item, please ask the Librarian or reserve it online via the library website. 

When the reserved item has arrived, you will be notified by e-mail. You can pick up a reserved item when the library is open.

The reserved item is kept for 10 days. If you are unable to pick up the item within the specified period please contact the Librarian.

 Returning

You can return your items to the Librarian when the library is open. 

If you are unable to visit the library, you can return items by post. We recommend that you send items back via a recorded delivery service. Library items which are lost in the post will be charged to your account.

For the library's address, please see the ‘Contact details’ section below.

Overdue Items

Email reminders will be sent to you 3 days before your items are due back. Please renew your items if you are still using them.

If your items are overdue, further email reminders will be sent. Failure to renew or return items will result in suspension of your borrowing rights, and the replacement costs for the items being applied to your library account. An invoice for these charges will be posted to you.

Inter-library loans (ILL) 

Bristol Zoo Library operates an inter-library loan service with ZSL (London Zoo) Library. If our library doesn't have the book or journal article you need, but it is available at ZSL, you can request it via the library website. 

ZSL books are not available for loan to students and volunteers, but can be consulted within the library.

This service is free for zoo staff, volunteers and students who are studying at the zoo. Please check Bristol Zoo Library's and ZSL Library's catalogues before requesting items.

If Bristol Zoo Library or ZSL Library don’t hold an item you need, the Librarian may be able to make an inter-library loan request from other libraries. Please ask the Librarian for more details.

Contact details

Bristol Zoo Library 

Bristol Zoo Gardens

Clifton

Bristol

BS8 3HA

Tel: 0117 428 5514 

E-mail: library@bzsociety.org.uk