Practical information

Make the most of your library! Anyone can use the library to search for information or to browse through books - but to borrow items you need to join the library.

Joining the library | Opening hours | Facilities | Fees and charges | Borrowing from our collection | Borrowing from another library | Acquisition suggestions | Gifts | Address

Joining the library

The library is open to all, and anyone can become a member. A membership card (lenerspas) is required to borrow books and other materials. To become a member, proof of identification will be requested. Accepting the membership card implies acceptance of the borrowing regulations of the ASCL Library. Membership is free for Leiden University staff, Leiden University students, and several other categories. Check the information about the library card of Leiden University Libraries.

Opening hours

Library desk opening hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 17:00

Library study area opening hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 23:00
Saturday and Sunday 9:30 - 22:30

Upcoming holidays and adjusted opening hours
2 October | Open from 9:00 - 17:00 (Library desk open until 17:00)
3 October | Closed
4 October | Regular opening hours (Library desk is closed)

See also: https://www.library.universiteitleiden.nl/about-us/library-locations/ope...

Facilities

  • Five user terminals
  • Study/reading room
  • Photocopier
  • Microfiche reader/printer
  • Microfilm reader
  • DVD player
  • External DVD Drive (can be borrowed together with a DVD)
  • Wheelchair accessible

Special services

  • Sending/faxing photocopies
  • Compiling literature lists (a brief overview of titles available on a specific topic in the collection will be sent on request via e-mail, this service is free)
  • Guided tour of the library for groups, by appointment.

Contact the library phone +31 (0)71-527 3354 or e-mail asclibrary@asc.leidenuniv.nl to make an appointment or to order photocopies.

Fees and charges

Payments can be made with a debit card or cash.

  • Copying/printing: € 0.05 per page (self-service photocopier)
  • Sending/faxing photocopies: € 0.50 per page ( + € 2.50 administration costs plus postage)
  • Fines: € 5 for each overdue book; a minimum of € 35 for a lost book or DVD

Borrowing from our collection

You need a library card to borrow publications from the ASCL.

The loan period is 3 weeks. The library will automatically renew loans for borrowed materials in 3-week periods, unless the book has been reserved by another borrower or a maximum loan period of 6 months has been reached. You can also renew your own borrowed items via the online library catalogue (sign into your account and select items under the loans/active loans tab). You can ask for an extension of the loan period by e-mail asclibrary@asc.leidenuniv.nl, at the library’s circulation desk or by telephone (071-527 3354) during library opening hours.

Borrowers are responsible for returning or renewing a book on time. Borrowers who fail to return books or renew loans on time will receive an overdue notice (rappel) from the library, usually via e-mail. Borrowers must return borrowed books (or extend the loan period) on receipt of the first notice (3 weeks after the loan date). A second notice will be sent 1 week after the first notice. It is no longer possible to extend the loan period via the catalogue once a second notice has been dispatched. Failure to return a book after the dispatch of a second notice will result in the suspension of the borrower’s library card and no further loans will be permitted. After the dispatch of the third reminder about overdue items, a fine of € 5 per book will be charged. If there is no response to reminders, a new copy of all overdue items will be purchased at the borrower’s expense.

Borrowing from another library

Books and articles that are not available at the ASCL and UBL Libraries can be requested from another library via interlibrary loans (ILL)
For more information on this option, see https://www.library.universiteitleiden.nl/using-the-library/borrowing/ca...

Acquisition suggestions

If you cannot find a title in the ASCL collection, please use this form to contact the library staff.

Gifts

The library receives and processes many gifts each year, including books, periodicals, videos and other library materials. These gifts help us to add depth to the collection and replace worn-out and lost books and journals.
To make a donation to the African Studies Centre Leiden library, please contact:

The library is particularly interested in gifts that fit into the collection profile. Gifts not retained are sent to affiliated libraries in The Netherlands or to Africa as part of our donation programme.

Gifts

Address

Visiting address
Witte Singel 27A
2311 BG Leiden

See the directions for how to reach the ASCL

Postal address
ASCL Library, Documentation and Information Department
PO Box 9515
2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 9.00 - 17.00 hours

Contact
Telephone: +31 (0)71 527 3354
E-mail: asclibrary@asc.leidenuniv.nl

Posted on 15 November 2011, last modified on 16 September 2024