Your libraries provide an extensive collection of print and online resources to support your studies from books, eBooks and journals to maps, videos and manuscripts.

Whatever subject you are studying, Libraries are here to help you find the information and materials you need. We offer a range of services to help including live chat, regular webinars, online subject guides, postal loans and Click and Collect.

Help with searching

If you’re not really sure how to get started with finding relevant resources for your studies or how to use NUsearch or databases, our Library staff are here to help.

• Get in touch – Ask any member of staff (wearing blue lanyards). Not in the library? You can also contact us by live chat, email, social media or phone.
• Join a webinar – every week we run a range of online sessions to help you with searching for resources, evaluating information, academic skills and lots more.

Check out your reading list

Your first place to visit to find reading for your modules is your online reading list. Search by module title, code or subject. Please note, not all modules have an online reading list. If you can’t find yours, please contact your lecturer for guidance.

Your reading list provides quick and easy access to a wide range of resources recommended by your lecturers. This may include books, ebooks, articles, videos, scanned extracts and more.

From your reading list you can also:

• check real time availability of books in our libraries
• directly access ebooks, journal articles and other online resources (look out for the ‘Available online’ button)
• access scanned extracts of key readings
• save personal notes and set your reading intentions

How to borrow books

Need to borrow a book from our libraries but not sure how to start?

The easiest way to borrow a book is to place a Click and Collect request on NUsearch. Library staff will pick the book from the shelf and email you when it is available for collection.

Alternatively, make a note of the book’s classmark (the location of the book in the library) and follow signage on the bookshelves to locate the book. Can’t find it? Ask any member of staff for help.

To issue the items to your library account, use the self-service machines. Simply select ‘Borrow items’ from the options, scan your University Card and place the book on the platform.

• Scanning for Personal Use – If you need to access a section of a book or journal, we can provide scans of items available in our libraries (within copyright limits)
• Postal loans – If you are finding it difficult to visit our libraries, you may be eligible for our postal loans service.

Find further reading

A great way to find other interesting resources is to browse our library shelves. Not sure where to start?

• Subject guides - Check out our subject guides for an overview of the key resources and popular classmarks for your subject area. Because our books are organised by subject and topic, you should be able to find some relevant titles nearby.
• NUsearch - Search for related keywords on NUsearch. You can access NUsearch from anywhere. Once you’ve found a resource you can access it online, request it or make a note of the classmark and pop into the library.

Can’t find the resource you’re looking for?

At the University of Nottingham, we have a wide range of print and online materials to support your studies. But we know that sometimes you may need to access a resource that isn’t in our collections. If this happens, we can help.

• Interlibrary Loan – We may be able to borrow the resource you need from another library
• More Books – Suggest that we purchase a copy for our collections or request more copies