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

Facilities

• Study area (study places can be reserved at the information desk in the library)
• Scan, copy and print
• Two computers to browse the catalogue
• Three computers with DVD drives
• Four computer monitors to connect your own device
• Microfiche reader
• Microfilm reader
• External DVD Drive (can be borrowed together with a DVD)
• Wheelchair accessible

Special services

• Information requests including document delivery
• Assistance with information searches
• 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 for appointments or information requests.

Borrowing from our collection

You need a library card to borrow materials from the African Library.

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.

In case reserved items are not handed in on their due date at the latest, an overdue fee will be imposed:

• The overdue fee will start at 5 euros on the day after the loan period has ended. The user's library account is blocked
• The overdue fee will be raised with another 2 euros per day for each reserved overdue item, during the week following the due date
• The user’s library account will remain blocked until the reserved items have been returned to the library and the overdue fee has been settled

Borrowing from another library

Books and articles that are not available at the African and LU 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. These gifts help us to add depth to the collection and replace worn-out and lost books and journals. Find out how to donate!

Address

Find out how to contact the African Library.