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Our books and journals

Finding books

You can find all our print books and ebooks via our Library Search. This can be accessed via our Library Resources Page.  

Library Search provides a single search box for finding library resources: print books, ebooks, journals, articles, digital media and more.

Library Search will use all the words you enter in the search box, unless you combine or exclude words and phrases by using 'OR' or 'NOT'.
Searching for the title of a book or journal article should display that item at or near the top of the results list.

The information in the search results will tell you if it is available in print (with the loan period and location to allow you to find it on the shelves) or electronic format. You may also have a online reading list for your module which will also link you directly to the details of the book in library search or library catalogue.

You can make a 1-2-1 appointment with the Academic Librarian and Skills Tutor for your subject area if you need more specific advice on research and using Library resources.

 

eBooks

eBooks are electronic versions of the printed books you might find on the library shelves with the added advantages of access at anytime and easy navigation. You can read our eBooks online, using your device's web browser. You can also download for offline viewing.

For an overview of our eBook collections and how to access them go to our eBook Guide.  EBooks can only be accessed by current staff and students and you need a University IT account to do so. 

Printed book collections

Print books are available at all of our campus libraries - Library Core and Library Creative at Stoke, and the Library Centre for Health Innovation at Stafford.

Books are organised in number order using the Dewey Decimal System.  Each number relates to a subject, so when you find the number of a book and you go to that number on the shelves, you will find other books on that subject at the same number. Shelf ends are labelled with the numbers for books on that shelf.

There are three steps to locating a book within the library:

1. Search for the book using the Library Search on our web pages.

2. Check the book's call number and location, and if it is available.  Make a note of the title, author and call number/classmark, and which collection the book is stored in.  The call number (or classmark) tells you exactly where the item will be located on the shelves. Each book has a call number on its spine followed by the first three letters of the author's last name.

3. Use library signage to find your way around the Library to locate the area where the book you want is shelved.  Books are arranged in numerical order by call number, then in alphabetical order by author.  Locate the section where the call number of your book begins - for example, if you were searching for call number 507.11, start by locating the 500s, then narrow your search to the 507s and so on. Then look along the shelves in order until you find the three letters.  

The loan period is generally 2 weeks, but there are some that cannot be loaned. Most users can borrow up to 17 books at a time. The book is automatically renewed if nobody has requested it or it has reached the maximum renewals limit (6 months).  There is a recall charge of £1.00 per day for any items not returned by the due date.

Remember if the book you want is on loan you can request it.