How to make the most of Birkbeck Library during your studies More than just books!

Library basics At Bloomsbury the entrance is on the ground floor – next to the café Covers 5 levels of the main building Tours on offer at the start of term Look around this week with a day pass Introduction to the Library video Read the Welcome to the Library guide Check out the Library web site www.bbk.ac.uk/lib

Get to know the layout of the Library Books - over 300,000 items A/V Collection – DVDs, CDs Journals – print journals are on 4th 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: 08.30 – 23.45 (self-service: before 10.00 & after 22.30 weekdays, before 10.00 & after 18.00 weekends) Changes to these times / vacation times are advertised on the Library web site.

Get to know the Library catalogue Search for books, electronic books, journals, DVDs & CDs via the online 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 email

Get to know the eLibrary Over 35,000 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

Get to know the Library web site Opening times and service information Detailed subject guides Information about finding materials for essays and dissertations Library Induction For Everyone (LIFE) – free online library tutorial

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 Read around your subject 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

Distance learners/students with a disability or dyslexia We have extra services for you: LAMP service – postal loans Access Support Service Assistive Technology Centre

Further help Library web site: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib LIFE – online Library tutorial Visit, ring or email the Help desk: library-help@bbk.ac.uk 020 7631 6063 Check your Subject Guide (online and in print) Your Subject Librarian