If you’re a few weeks into your degree programme now is probably a good time to start making the most of the Library. With that in mind, we’ve come up with some tips to help. Want to know more? See the Contact us page on the Library website and get in touch.


1. Ask at the Library Helpdesk


The Library Helpdesk is the starting point for any queries about all things library! Whatever you need help with, our friendly team of staff will do their best to help. They can help you with finding books on Library Search, locating resources, referencing and whatever other library-related issues you have. If they can’t help, they’ll be able to point you in the direction of someone who can (like our friendly Liaison Librarians). You can find opening hours on the Library website, and if you need help outside of these hours please send us an email and someone will get back to you on the next working day. Please don’t worry about sounding silly or feeling embarrassed to ask questions – we have heard everything before and are only too glad to help!

 

Staff member smiling at the Helpdesk

 

2. Visit your Liaison Librarian


Each subject is supported by a Liaison Librarian who provides in-depth one to one support when you need it. Have you got an essay title and don’t know where to start? Maybe you’re worried your search techniques aren’t up to scratch and it’s stopping you writing great essays? You can find your Liaison Librarian’s contact details under the ‘Help and support’ tab on the Library website.

 

3.  Sharpen your referencing skills


You can always visit the Helpdesk or contact our Liaison Librarians when you need referencing help near your assignment deadlines, but it pays to stay ahead of the game. With this in mind we’ve created some video tutorials to help you with the basics of referencing and avoiding plagiarism. You’ll find them under the ‘Referencing and academic skills’ tab on the Library website, and we recommend having a look now so you feel more confident when it comes to writing up your bibliography near your deadlines. You’ll also find our detailed guides with examples here, that show you step-by-step how to reference your sources correctly.

If you want to go a step further you can use EndNote, a dedicated reference management tool that collects and organises your references. You can also use EndNote’s ‘Cite while your write’ tool and easily add your references to Microsoft Word. Make an appointment with your Liaison Librarian to learn more about using EndNote.

 

4. Reserve books

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We offer automatic renewals (for up to nine months) on all our books, which is great for you because you can keep them for a lot longer than in the past, and you don’t have to remember to keep renewing these. But if the book you want is out on loan, the quickest way to get hold of it is to reserve it. You can do this by clicking the ‘Reserve’ button that you’ll see when you’re looking at a book on Library Search (you will need to sign in first). This means the person who has it won’t be able to renew it, and you’ll be able to pick it up from the Helpdesk as soon as it’s returned.

 

5. Explore all the databases

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The Library gives you access to a load of really useful databases containing journal articles, news articles, statistics, reports and more. Some of them are really subject specific, some are more general and apply to a range of subject areas. Putting some keywords into the ‘Library Search’ box will search through a large number of these databases – but not all. That’s why it’s good to familiarise yourself with the subject databases listed under the ‘My Subject’ tab on the Library website. There you can go and search within specific databases, and also see which ones you are searching when you use ‘Library Search’. You might come across one that will be really useful for a future assignment. If you want to see a list of all the databases you have access to regardless of subject, click on ‘Databases A-Z’ within the ‘Finding resources’ tab on the website.

 

So there you have it; our top five tips to help you make the most of the Library! Let us know if you have any more - or if you'd like any more information or help.