Getting to know Birkbeck Library’s resources Birkbeck Library

Library basics Entrance on the ground floor – next to the café Covers 5 levels of the main building Once you are fully registered, you have access to the Library Your student ID card is also your Library card You will need your IT Services account details to access the eLibrary

Get to know the Library Tours: Monday-Friday at 5.30pm from 23 rd Sept. to 18 th Oct. Tours last about 20 minutes A self-guided QR code tour is on offer now Read the ‘Welcome to the Library’ guide Library web site: Introduction to the Library video LIFE – online Library tutorial

Get to know the Library web site Opening times and service information Library catalogue and eLibrary Detailed Subject Guides Library Induction For Everyone (LIFE) – online library tutorial Information about finding materials for essays and dissertations Information on using other libraries

Get to know the layout of the Library Books - over 300,000 items A/V Collection – DVDs, CDs Journals – print journals are on 4 th floor Study areas Reading Room – a silent study area Workstations / access to wireless network Printing and photocopying Self-service machines Help Desk and Issue Desk

Opening hours Term time: – (self-service: before & after weekdays, before & after weekends) Changes to these times and vacation times are advertised on the Library web site.

Search for books, electronic books, journals, DVDs & CDs via the online Library catalogue.Library catalogue You can borrow up to 10 books at a time Many books can be borrowed for 3 weeks Some books are 1 week loan, 1 day loan or reference only eBooks are accessible from outside Birkbeck with your ITS username and password Get to know the Library catalogue

Renewals – Once you have borrowed books, you can renew them as long as no-one else requests them Reservations – If all copies of the book you wish to read are out on loan you can place a request – The next available copy will be held for you – You will be notified by Get to know the Library catalogue

Get to know the eLibrary Over 30,000 electronic journal and newspaper titles Over 90 research databases to find out what has been published in your subject area Exam papers from 2002 onwards Accessible from anywhere with internet access

Accessing the eLibrary Accessible without coming into the Library Accessible 24 hours a day Log in using your ITS username and password For off-site access: register your computer by setting up a cookie This is necessary for access to some e-resources One-off process – lasts 18 months See

What are ejournals? Ejournals are online versions of print journals ‘Magazines’ with academic content Usually published monthly or quarterly Contain current research Useful for getting a range of different opinions about a subject

Understanding a journal reference Windsor, D. (2006). “Corporate social responsibility: three key approaches”. Journal of Management Studies. 43 (1): Author Date Article title Journal name Volume Issue Page numbers

Finding a specific article in an ejournal Make a note of the name of the journal Go to the Library web site and select eLibrary Type the name of the journal in the ejournal search box If the Library subscribes, a link to the ejournal will appear Select the year, volume and then issue that you require Ejournals are also listed on the library catalogue

What are databases? Online tools to help you research your topic Many cover a specific subject, e.g. history Others are multidisciplinary Some contain the full text of journals, magazines and newspapers Others are index and abstract services but may link to the full-text if the Library has a subscription to the journal

Getting to know the databases Go to Subject Guides on the Library website to see which databases are best for your subjectSubject Guides There is also an A-Z list of all databases in the eLibrary - select Databases and Online ResourcesDatabases and Online Resources Make use of the help sections within the databases Read our ‘Using the Library’s Databases’ guide

Getting a head start Get to know your library early on Don’t leave essay writing to the last minute! Familiarise yourself with your reading list – what are you trying to locate? Is it a book, a chapter in a book or a journal article? Improve your library skills – use the LIFE tutorial Reserve books which are on loan Make full use of the Library web site

Access to other libraries Reference access to University of London libraries SCONUL Access scheme British Library See the Other Libraries section of the website You can also request items not available at Birkbeck via the Interlibrary Loan Service

Services for students with a disability or dyslexia We have extra services for you: Access Support Service LAMP service – postal loans Assistive Technology Centre The Disability Office is your first contact point and will be able to register you.Disability Office

Further help Library web site: LIFE – online Library tutorial Visit, ring or the Help desk: Check your Subject Guide (online and in print) Your Subject Librarian