Libraries
There are 8 libraries across the University's UK campus plus those in Malaysia and Ningbo China.
Staff and students need a University or Library Card to use the collections and facilities at all libraries.
Some services are provided to visitors or those with more formal links to the University.
Information about general library facilities.
General facilities in libraries
Our libraries have some or all of the following facilities to help you with your studies:
Subject and enquiry points
Every library has a general enquiry point to help you with any questions about the collections or services we offer. Subject enquiry points offer the opportunity to discuss reference enquiries, complex search strategies or to arrange training for groups of students. You may wish to book an appointment with a member of the faculty teams.
Book return boxes
Most of our libraries have a book return box outside the entrance. You can use this to leave books when the library is closed.
Group study rooms
Most of our libraries have group study rooms that can be booked through the Laptops/Rooms link at the top of the basic search screen on UNLOC. You must have the key issued from the lending desk when the booked period starts or you will lose the booking and the room will be available for someone else to book.
Lending desk
Every library has a lending desk and can offer:
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issue, return and renewal of books if self-service machines are not available
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collection of available reserved items (including inter-site requests) in those libraries which do not operate self service reservations
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collection of inter-library loans
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collection of laptops, iPads and room keys
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fine payments (some libraries provide self service payment facilities for fines of £5 or more)
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lending enquiries
Self-service
Most libraries have self-service machines that are available whenever the library is open. If you have a clear library record, you can use these machines to issue, renew and return most library items. In some libraries you can pay fines of £5 or more via debit or credit card. You need your library PIN to use the self-service machines. Follow the on screen instructions at all times and please remember to take your receipt showing the date for return of each item.
Short loan collections
Most libraries have short loan collections which contain key high-use text books that can be borrowed for short periods of time. The short loan collections also contain copyright-cleared journal articles recommended by lecturers; scanned electronic versions of these can also be found through UNLOC.
Silent study areas
Many of our libraries offer silent study areas for quiet individual study only. Talking, eating and drinking (except bottled water) and using mobile phones are not allowed in these areas. For further advice see the guide to eating, drinking and noise in the libraries.
UNLOC terminals
Most libraries offer UNLOC terminals which give you direct access to the University of Nottingham Library Online Catalogue and your library account.
Walk-in user service
Some libraries have dedicated computers for the Walk-in user service giving members of the public access to a wide range of electronic resources.
Help, Support and Feedback
Library staff are happy to help with any questions about the collections or services we offer. Please ask at any subject enquiry or lending desk or use the contact information page.
Library Faculty Teams have subject specific knowledge and are available to advise staff and students on the availability of resources and information retrieval tools. Library staff liaise closely with academic departments to develop relevant collections and to deliver information skills training. We also have expertise in the use of citation analysis, bibliographic management systems, information dissemination and other techniques to support the research process.
Recent developments and library news are discussed through our blog [University of Nottingham access only].
If you have any suggestions for the library you can speak to any member of library staff. Additionally suggestion boxes are available in the libraries.
More formal communication routes include:
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contacting your faculty librarian to arrange a meeting
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staff student consultative meetings attended by student year representatives
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faculty Library User Groups attended by staff library representatives