Borrowing / Returning Materials

Loan Terms Based on Profile

Registration requirements, quotas, and loan terms vary depending on your status.

Your student ID or professional ID serves as your library card. You don't need to do anything to register.

Where can you borrow money?

You can borrow or read on site:

  • in all university libraries within the University of Montpellier network and in the libraries of partner institutions (Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier, University of Nîmes, University of Perpignan, ENSCM, IRTS, IPT);
  • within the network of affiliated libraries (departmental, academic unit, and laboratory libraries, as well as the School of Education—subject to certain conditions).

Quotas and Loan Terms

StatusNumber of documentsLoan Term*
Undergraduate and graduate students10 documents21 days
Doctoral students20 documents28 days
Students with disabilities**20 documents42 days
Faculty members, researchers, administrative staff20 documents28 days
Faculty members, researchers, and administrative staff with disabilities**20 documents56 days
* Excluding short-term loans (codes, textbooks, exam prep materials, etc.): 14-day loan period.
** For more information, contact the Handiversite service or one of the university libraries.

Affected Institutions

  • Montpellier National School of Chemistry (ENSCM)
  • Protestant Institute of Theology (IPT)
  • Regional Institute of Social Work (IRTS)
  • Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier (UMPV)
  • University of Nîmes (UN)
  • University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)

How do I sign up?

If you are employed by:

  • the University of Nîmes (UN)
  • Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier (UMPV)

You can use your student ID or employee ID, which also serves as your library card. You do not need to take any steps to register.

For all other institutions (ENSCM, IPT, IRTS, UPVD), a library card is issued free of charge at the university library reception desk. Please present the following three pieces of documentation:

  • a form of identification
  • proof of enrollment at the institution
  • proof of residence issued within the last 3 months

Quotas and Loan Terms

StatusNumber of documentsLoan Term*
Undergraduate and graduate students (ENSCM, UN, UPVD, IRTS)10 documents21 days
Ph.D. students / Agrégation preparation (ENSCM, UN, UPVD)20 documents28 days
IPT Students2 documents14 days
Faculty members, researchers, administrative staff40 documents28 days
* Excluding short-term loans (codes, textbooks, exam prep materials, etc.): 14-day loan period.

Reference and Borrowing

You may view documents on site for free and without registration. To borrow documents to take home or use materials on site, you must register to obtain a library card.

See the "External Readers" page (registration and fees) (new tab)

Rules Applicable to All Audiences

These rules apply to all users of the University of Montpellier’s libraries, regardless of their status.

Where should you turn in your documents?

You can return your borrowed items to any library in the University of Montpellier network, regardless of where you borrowed them.

At the reception desk of a university library

At the library of your choice, during opening hours.

The “la BU quand je veux” service allows you to return your materials at any time to the networked lockers at the School of Dentistry or the School of Sports Science.

In the return boxes (24 hours a day)

Return boxes are set up for continuous access in front of:

  • the Science Library
  • the Richter Library
  • the UPM Medical Library

Important: Due to the enhanced Vigipirate security plan, the return boxes are closed until further notice. Please return your materials directly to the front desk of a university library.

Extend a document

Need more time to read a document? Under certain conditions, you can renew your loan on your own through your reader account.

Extend a document

Late fees

1 day late = 1-day suspension of borrowing privileges at all libraries in the network.

This suspension takes effect automatically. To avoid this situation, keep track of your due dates in your reader account, or through the Library app app (for UM students and staff), available on theApp Store or Google Play.

Loss, theft, or damage to documents

You are responsible for the documents and materials you borrow. In the event of loss, theft, or damage, we will explain the procedure you need to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers below apply to all users. For questions specific to your profile, please refer to the section “Borrowing Conditions Based on Your Profile.”

Items may be returned at the front desk of any library in the network during opening hours, or in the return boxes located in front of the Science Library, the Richter Library, and the UPM Medical Library (currently closed due to the terrorist attack emergency plan).

Yes. Items borrowed from any library in the network can be returned to any other library in the network.

Each day an item (document or material) is overdue results in a one-day suspension of borrowing privileges at all libraries in the network. Example: 5 days overdue = 5-day suspension.

You are responsible for any materials you borrow. In the event of loss, theft, or damage, a procedure will be followed. Please contact the front desk at any university library immediately to find out what to do.

Log in to your online reader account and follow the “Renew an Item” procedure. Renewals are subject to certain conditions (no current holds on the item, account quota not exceeded, no overdue items).
If you are a member of the University of Montpellier, we invite you to use the Library Mobile app, which will make this process easier. The Library Mobile app is available onthe App Store or Google Play.

It depends on the borrower’s status. For example, undergraduate and graduate students may borrow 10 items for 21 days; doctoral students may borrow 20 items for 28 days; faculty and staff may borrow 40 items for 28 days. Registered external patrons may borrow 10 items for 21 days.

Yes, for students or staff members of the University of Montpellier or the University of Montpellier Paul Valéry. Have a document sent from another library in the network to the library of your choice.

Use the universal loan service: it allows you to check out an item from the collections of another library in the network at the university library of your choice. Your request can be for an item that is available or one that is already checked out.

For further reading

Check out these additional resources to get the most out of university library services: