Request a book

UKHSA and OHID staff can reserve or request books they need.

How to reserve a book online

Reserve the book you require using the library catalogue if it is held in our site libraries.

  1. Log in to the library catalogue. UKHSA staff can use the Single Sign-On button to sign in without a separate password. If you don’t know your login, follow the Forgot your password? link, or register for a library catalogue account if you don’t have one.
  2. Once you have found the item in the library catalogue you want to reserve, click on Place a reservation.
  3. Select which library (Colindale, Chilton or Porton) you wish to collect the book from.
  4. If you require it to be posted to another address, select Show more options and enter your office or home address in the text box. 
  5. Select Confirm reservation to complete the reservation.
  6. Your reservation will show in your account summary, under Your account. You can cancel your reservation there if the book is no longer required.
  7. When your reservation is ready to collect, or when it has been posted to you, a member of the KLS team will contact you.

You can also add your office or home address to your library account record to avoid entering it each time:

  1. Go to Your Account and click on Personal details.
  2. Add your home address details to the Alternate address section
  3. Click Submit update request

Books not held by UKHSA libraries

Perform a Discovery Search (via MyAthens) to check if a book is in our collection before requesting it, as not all eBooks are included in the library catalogue.

You can request that we purchase a book in the following ways. Please mention in your request if you prefer an eBook, physical copy, or have no preference.

  • Via the library catalogue:
    • Log in to the library catalogue (UKHSA staff can use the Single Sign-On button)
    • Click on ‘your purchase suggestions’ then ‘New purchase suggestion’
    • Complete the form with as many details as possible and click ‘Submit your suggestion’
  • Email the details to libraries@kls.ukhsa.gov.uk
  • In person to any member of KLS staff

If you only need a chapter, email the details as we can often obtain digital copies of single chapters more quickly than purchasing books.

Last Updated on 23rd April 2025