Everything you need to know about your Libraries!
Get a Flying Start to the semester with library support
Whether you’re new to university-level study, an international student, or returning to us, knowing how to use library services to your advantage is an essential academic skill you’ll need throughout your student life.
This article covers library basics and has more bespoke resources for your academic transition.
The basics
Your lecturers set the questions, and the libraries have the answers. Our library services are integral to succeeding at university. If you’ve never used an academic library before, don’t worry – here are the basics. You might not have ever used an academic library before, but there is really nothing to worry about.
Our Quickstart guide has everything you need to know about using our libraries and services. You can access our four buildings with your student card or Sentry App; you can borrow reading material for free; you can access online reading list content; and you can use our spaces to study solo or work in groups.
All core material can be found in the Laidlaw Library, but you can access and use all the campus libraries.
Take a look at our location pages for opening times. You can walk into any library to find a study spot or use our online booking system to guarantee group spaces and postgraduate booths. You can also use Spacefinder to search and filter study spaces to match your preferences, like noise levels, computer access or close to coffee shops.
Remember to respect your neighbours, keeping noise and mess to a minimum.
If you have accessibility needs, our accessibility webpage details facilities and equipment that can help you.
Build your academic skills
At university you are responsible for your own success. This means a focus on independent learning – but independent doesn’t mean alone!
The libraries offer a range of digital and physical resources that outline what to expect, the skills you’ll need to learn outside the lecture theatre and where to find them.
Our Skills@Library service has workshops, drop-in sessions and plenty of guidance on how to leap into higher learning.
We also have key resources for each year of study:
First years: Flying Start
Once you’ve got to grips with how your libraries work, you’ll need to check out Flying Start. This resource is a guide to all the skills, advice and resources you will need to get the strongest grades.
Library Search is a good place to start, as this shows you how to find and access material in the libraries and online: an essential skill for success you might not get in the lectures.
Returning students: Second Year Success
Second Year Success lays out what is expected of you after your pass/fail year. Expectations will really rise now as you’ll be required to do more independent work and delve deeper into your subjects. You’ll need to use more assignment feedback and identify your areas for improvement.
This resource helps you to build on skills you developed in the first year, and if you're worried you forgot those skills (or maybe didn’t get to work on them), you can still check out Flying Start!
Third years and more: Final Chapter
Let’s say you mastered Flying Start and Second Year Success and you know what studying at University is like; now it’s time to put all those skills to use with Final Chapter.
For final year undergraduates and taught postgraduate students working on a research project, the Final Chapter lays out how you apply your writing and research skills to a long-form project, from planning, managing and researching your topic, to structuring, writing and revising a dissertation-level argument.
Beyond: Step up to the Masters and Research Quick Start
The Libraries are not just for undergraduates.
If you’re a master's, research or PhD student, the Research Services team can support you online and in person in the Research Hub on level 13 of the Edward Boyle Library.
You can also get up to speed on what is expected of you in this next stage with Step Up to Masters, while researchers can get to grips with the wide range of services and support available through our Research Quick Start.
Stay updated
The Libraries offer support throughout the year. You can stay up to date by bookmarking the Library events calendar, joining our mailing list for regular updates on upcoming workshops and drop-ins or following us on Instagram.
Good luck, and we are looking forward to seeing you in the Libraries this year.
