Introduction

• This guide to the University Library is aimed at all university staff.
• It provides a brief explanation of our services and resources.
• If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or have any comments about this guide, please email ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk.

For most entries there are links to more information on the Library's web pages.

A
Accreditation
Ask4help

B
Book Orders
Borrowing Services

C
CDs & DVDs
Citing References
City Campus Library facilities
Coach Lane Library facilities
Copyright

D
Databases
Desktop ANYWHERE
Disability Services
Distance Learning Services

E
eLearning Portal (Blackboard)
Electronic Books
Electronic Journals
Electronic Resources
EndNote (Bibliographic Software, Referencing)
Enquiries
Exam Papers

F
Facilities

I
Induction for Staff
Induction for Students
Information Literacy
Institutional Repository
Inter-Library Loans
International Students
IT Support

J
Joining the Library (membership)
Journal Orders

K
Keeping up to Date (Alerting Services, Current Awareness)

L
Language Zone Facilities
Law Practice Library Facilities
Learning and Teaching Committees
Liaison
Library Catalogue
Library Liaison Advisers

M
Mobile Phones
Modules

N
NORA
Northumbria Research Link

O
Off-campus Access
Opening Hours

P
Partner Institutions
Part-time Students
Passwords
Periodic Reviews
Photocopying
Print Resources
Print-only Journals
Professional and Personal Development
Programmes
Programme Committees

R
Reading Lists
Referencing
Research Resources
Research Hubs
Research Zone

S
SCONUL Access Scheme
School Visits
Self Service
Skills Plus
Smartcard
Special Collections
Study Space

T
Telephone Numbers
Turnitin UK (Plagiarism Detection software)

U
Using Other Libraries

W
Web 2.0

Z
Zones4Learning

• To support course accreditations by professional bodies Library Liaison Advisers can provide materials such as statistics and documentation to demonstrate the resources and services provided to students at Northumbria.
• During accreditation visits Library Liaison Advisers can also provide a guided tour of the library facilities, answer questions, participate in meetings etc as required.
• Please contact your Library Liaison Advisers for further information.

• This service includes a database of FAQs on Library services and an email link to submit enquiries.
• Enquiry/Help Desk staff are trained to deal with most types of enquiries. If more specialist help is necessary they will refer enquirers to the appropriate Library Liaison Adviser.
• Staff and students can make enquiries by visiting the Enquiry/Help Desk, by telephone, or by emailing ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk
• Staff and students are also welcome to make an appointment with an Library Liaison Adviser either directly (staff), via the Enquiry/Help Desk (students), or via email to ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk

Also see Telephone Numbers, Library Liaison Advisers

• Contact your Library Liaison Advisers with the details of any books you wish to recommend for purchase by the library.
• Please submit reading lists for your modules using the reading list template, preferably as an email attachment in Word format, indicating core texts and number of students, well in advance in case there are unforeseen delays in obtaining material from publishers.

• Staff and researchers may borrow up to 20 books
• Full details about Borrowing & Services are available on the Library web pages.

• Contact your Library Liaison Adviser with the details of any CDs or DVDs you wish to recommend for the library. Please submit requests well in advance in case there are unforeseen delays in obtaining material from publishers.
• Generally due to copyright restrictions CDs and DVDs are kept as reference only and can be viewed by students on PCs.
• Staff can borrow the materials for use in classes at the Customer Support Desk under a special loan provision.
• Materials are catalogued on the library catalogue.

• Cite Them Right: the essential guide to referencing and plagiarism is designed to help organise references for projects and assignments. A copy can be purchased on either campus from the Well Read Bookshop or from online retailers including Amazon.
• An electronic version of Cite Them Right is available, as well as a Guide to Referencing, on Northumbria Skills Plus.
• EndNote is a bibliographic management software tool for organising and managing your references.

• IT workstations on all floors, wireless laptops, printers and scanners in the library.
• Study rooms - bookable by students to discuss group work or practice presentations.
• Research Zone – IT workstations and space for researchers to work.
• Basement Learning café and library shop - students are able to participate in group discussion, eat, and take a break from study or purchase stationery and IT equipment or submit items for binding.
• Mixture of study environments – silent floors, study rooms, flexible furniture to enable groups to work together.
• 1st floor enquiry desk - all staff and students can get help with IT and information queries.
• Information skills suites (Zones4Learning) - for group training sessions run by library staff for students and staff.

Also see Law Practice Library, and Language Zone facilities.

• IT workstations, wireless laptops, printers and scanners in the library.
• Learning café - where students are able to participate in group discussion, eat, and take a break from study.
• Mixture of study environments – quiet study, group discussion areas.
• Ground Floor Help Desk - all staff and students can get help with IT and information queries.
• Learning Zone 1 - for group training sessions run by library staff for students and staff.

Also see Facilities

• The law of Copyright has changed recently and this affects the type of material that can be photocopied and retained in the library.
• For copyright advice or more information visit the Copyright Clearance Centre web page for more information.

or contact: in.copyright-clearance-centre@northumbria.ac.uk

• Electronic bibliographic databases provide references to journal articles and often the full text is available online.
• Databases and other electronic resources can be searched through NORA, which allows simultaneous searching of many databases, with links to full text where available.
• Links to NORA and other electronic resources are found on the Academic Library Services web page and from the eLearning Portal.
• For off-campus access to electronic resources such as databases, you are recommended to use Desktop ANYWHERE.
• Library Liaison Advisers will from time to time ask for feedback on trials of new databases or renewals of existing databases to keep the provision of resources in tune with the University's teaching and research activities.

Also see Desktop ANYWHERE, Electronic Journals, Electronic Resources, NORA

• Desktop ANYWHERE allows access from off-campus to the standard campus desktop applications. These include the Microsoft Office suite, Outlook email, your personal files on the U: drive and networked resources including NORA, EndNote etc.
• To access Desktop ANYWHERE, go to the University Homepage, click on ‘Staff’, click on ‘Desktop ANYWHERE’ to log in and for further information.

Also see Off-campus Access

• Advice for students and staff is available from Student Support and Wellbeing.
• Information about Library assistance and support offered to students and staff, as well as IT facilities for disabled users, is available from the Library Enquiry Desk, or the Library web pages.
• Library leaflets are available in alternative formats on request.

• The Distance Learning Service provides books and journal articles to researchers studying away from the University.
• Complete a book request form or a journal request form to have material posted out to you.
• Distance learners are also able to use other libraries through the SCONUL Access Scheme.
• The sections on Borrowing Services and Inter Library Loans will also be of interest.

• When using the eLearning Portal, there are direct links from the Library tab at the top of the screen to Library resources, including NORA, the catalogue, ebooks, reading lists and exam papers as well as information for part-time and distance learners and partner institutions.
• Library Liaison Advisers can advise staff wishing to incorporate information resources into their own eLearning Portal modules.

Also see Skills Plus

• Northumbria University Library subscribes to an ever growing number of ebooks, covering many subject areas including education, history, computing, engineering, science, social work, sociology, psychology, built environment, business and economics and nursing, as well as EEBO (Early English Books Online) and the Oxford Reference collections.
• ebooks can be accessed via the link from the Library Catalogue or via the publishers pages or via NORA using the All Resources tab.
• ebooks can be recommended by staff to their Library Liaison Adviser.

Also see Electronic Resources, NORA

• The Library subscribes to over 30,000 electronic journals. They are catalogued on the Library Catalogue together with the print journals.
• Electronic journals can be accessed directly from the Library Catalogue.
• Electronic journals can also be accessed via NORA using a variety of search options.

• If you would like to recommend the purchase of a new journal title please contact your Library Liaison Adviser who will advise on the availability of the title and suitability of either printed or electronic formats.

Also see Desktop ANYWHERE, Electronic Resources, NORA

• EndNote is the bibliographic software package recommended by the University for creating your own library of references.
• EndNote is available on open access computers in the library or via desktopANYWHERE.
• University staff can install EndNote on their office PC.
• EndNote enables you to store and manage the details of the resources you use in your teaching, study, or research.
• You can use your EndNote library to insert references in any bibliographic style into a Word document.
• You can follow the Endnote tutorials available on Skills Plus.
• Also you can follow the Skills Plus Endnote tutorials.

• Students can view exam papers through MyNorthumbria.
• Exam papers can be sent to ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk Please ensure the relevant module codes are included.
• Some content may need copyright clearance e.g. large passages for translation which are someone else's work. Contact the Copyright Clearance Centre for advice in.copyright-clearance-centre@northumbria.ac.uk

• All new staff participating in a University Induction Day at City Campus will be contacted by their Library Liaison Advisers.
• Library Liaison Advisers will offer tailored sessions on a one to one basis to new staff based at either campus where research interests and specific subject or resource queries can be discussed.
• Library Liaison Advisers are happy to deliver sessions, to new and existing staff members, individually or as a group, on specific new resources, updates on resources or on general library provision.
• Please contact your Library Liaison Adviser to arrange sessions.

Also see Staff Awareness/Development

• The University Library provides a complete package of skills development, ranging from general library induction to subject or topic specific workshops offering demonstrations and/or "hands-on" experience. All of our general resources including annotated presentations, helpsheets and tutorials are available via Skills Plus our collection of re-usable learning objects: www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus
• For general Library induction sessions contact: ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk
• For information regarding our current skills sessions please see: www.northumbria.ac.uk/libtraining
• For advanced, dissertation, postgraduate, tailored or subject-specific sessions, please contact your Library Liaison Adviser

• Information Literacy is widely regarded as the key to being a successful independent learner and as such is recognised in the Northumbria University Learning & Teaching Strategy.
• Information Literacy is defined as knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.

  http://www.cilip.org.uk/policyadvocacy/informationliteracy/definition/default.htm

• The Library’s Information Skills programme, SkillsPlus modules, and Help Guides all contribute to developing your students’ information literacy skills.
• Library Liaison Advisers can work with you to embed information literacy skills into your courses and modules.

• Items which are not held in the University Library may be obtained for you from other libraries via the Inter-Library Loan Service.
• Printed Inter-Library Loan forms are available at both sites. This form is also available electronically on the Library’s web pages.
• To comply with Copyright legislation, electronic forms must be printed, signed and submitted to the Library. Electronic signatures cannot be accepted.
• This service is available to all staff and students writing a dissertation and/or post-graduate students.

• If you are arranging special events for international students or have a cohort of international students entering a programme please contact your Library Liaison Adviser if you think an introduction to the Library or a hands on session, seminar or presentation on information skills would be useful.

• Contact the IT Services helpline on tel. 0191 2274242/ext. 4242 or e-mail it.helpline@northumbria.ac.uk if you have problems with IT equipment, IT services or require help with specialist software.
• Check the list of recommended and endorsed software on the IT Services web page.
• Contact the Library Enquiry desks or ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk if you need IT assistance directly related to resources held by the Library, e.g. accessing electronic journals and databases.

Also see Facilities

• Staff join the Library by bringing a completed staff registration form, available electronically or as a printed card from the Library, signed and stamped by your Head of School, or a letter or contract confirming your appointment to the Library registration desk at City Campus or Coach Lane Campus. Your photograph will be taken and a Smartcard created for you.
• Researchers should bring a letter or contract information confirming your appointment to the Library registration desk at City Campus or Coach Lane Campus. Your photograph will be taken and a Smartcard created for you.
• Further information about joining the library is available on the Library web pages.

• If you would like to recommend the purchase of a new journal title please contact your Library Liaison Adviser who will advise in accordance with the journals rationalisation procedures.

Also see Electronic Journals

• Staff and researchers need to keep up to date with new publications and developments.
• The Keeping up to Date with New Research guide in Skills Plus offers suggestions for current awareness and links to services including information on RSS feeds, weblogs, alerting services, and ideas for using Web 2.0 technologies for teaching and research purposes.

• The Language Zone is located on Floor 1 of City Campus Library.
• 24x7 open access study environment with a mixture of digital and analogue work stations.
• Networked PCs give access to digital resources and online language exercises via Citrix as well as DVD and audio playback.
• Live foreign language TV at all workstations.
• TV/VCR combi units and audio tape decks.
• Group viewing area with TV, VCR and DVD facilities.
• Language course and reference books (many with accompanying audio/video).
• English and foreign language video and DVD collection.
• Assistance with equipment and resources is available from the Floor 1 Enquiry Desk during Library staffed opening.

• The Law Practice Library is located in the NBS and School of Law, City Campus East.
• Reference only collection of practitioner texts, law reports etc.
• IT, photocopying and printing facilities are available
• Areas for silent study and group discussion are provided
• Staff are available during opening hours for assistance

• Library & Learning Resources is usually represented by a Library Liaison Adviser at your School’s Learning and Teaching Committee.

Also see Programmes, Modules

• Each Library Liaison Adviser develops a relationship with a particular Academic School or Division to build up knowledge and provide a point of contact for academic and administrative staff.
• Opportunities for liaison activities vary from School to School but tend to include:
  • University and School Learning and Teaching Committees
  • School, Programme, and other Committees
  • Participation in reviews, accreditations and validations at the request, and in conjunction with, School staff
  • Production of Annual reports and other documents / statistics at the request of School staff
• You are welcome to contact your Library Liaison Adviser for your subject with any enquiries you may have about library services or book/journal stock, requests for advanced and dissertation information skills sessions for your students, request for purchases and so on

• The Library Catalogue contains details of all material held in the University Library at both campuses. It shows where items are located, if they are on loan and for how long they may be borrowed.
• Borrowers can check details of their loans and reserve and renew items online.
• There are useful links from the Catalogue’s front page to reading lists, the electronic books collection and other electronic resources.

Also see Electronic Books, Electronic Journals, Electronic Resources, NORA

• Library Liaison Advisers liaise with staff to ensure library resources and services fully support the University's teaching and research activities.
• Each Library Liaison Adviser has specific subject responsibilities.
• Please contact your Library Liaison Adviser
  • if you need any help or advice,
  • to request new books or journals,
  • book information skills sessions for students,
  • to embed information literacy skills into courses and modules,
  • to create bespoke training for staff or students,
  • to pass on any comments or suggestions about the Library.

Also see Liaison

• Mobile phones must be switched to silent or vibrate in the Library.
• Calls may be taken or made only in the designated green "Phone Zones" areas.
• Mobile phones should not be used in red "No Phone Zones".

• When new modules are being developed please contact your Library Liaison Adviser in advance to check if the required resources are already stocked or to discuss the purchase of additional material.
• If you update a module and its reading list please send your an electronic copy of your reading list, including the module title and code to Readinglists@northumbria.ac.uk

• Northumbria Research Link is a growing collection of Northumbria University’s research outputs that is made freely available to students and researchers worldwide.
• The material includes articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, exhibitions, radio and television outputs, and theses.
• The Northumbria Research Link will increase the visibility and readership of the University’s research outputs and will assist in research management and assessment – Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Research Excellence Framework (REF).
• To submit your work, please read the NRL Deposit Licence, the NRL Policies and the NRL Deposit Guidelines available at the website.

• NORA (Northumbria Online Resource Access) enables you to search for subject information from multiple sources at the same time, including the Library Catalogue, databases of journal articles and selected resources from the Internet.
• NORA will connect you to the articles you retrieve in your search if we have a subscription or other means of access.
• NORA can also be used to access the Library’s electronic journal collection and to access specific subject databases idividually.

Also see Databases, Electronic Journals

• Full details of off-campus access to University resources are available on the web pages
• While off campus, use of the University’s Desktop ANYWHERE facility allows access to all the Library’s electronic resources
• Passwords may be required

Also see Desktop ANYWHERE, Passwords

• Library opening hours vary between semester and vacation times and include core hours when staff are available and self-service hours.
• For current information on opening hours please check the Library’s web pages.

• The Resources for Partner Institutions document available on the Library’s webpages explains how to access Library resources.

• The University Library offers a full range of services for students who are part-time learners such as postal book loans and photocopying.
• Help is available to staff for preparing and putting material into the eLearning Portal such as linking to ejournal articles.
• Please contact your Library Liaison Adviser during the development of your part-time courses to ensure vital resources and support are available.

• All staff and students have access to the following passwords:

  Your computer Username and Password
  You will need this to log on to computers on campus, to desktopANYWHERE, and you may be required to enter these details when accessing electronic resources.

  Non-University Passwords
  Not all electronic resources use the University password system.  You may need access to the non-university passwords for certain individual databases. A full list is available on the Library web pages.

Also see Desktop ANYWHERE

• Library Liaison Advisers can support Major and Periodic Reviews and course accreditations/inspections by professional bodies.
• During visits Library Liaison Advisers can also provide a guided tour of the library facilities, answer questions, participate in meetings etc as required.
• Please contact your Library Liaison Adviser for further information.

• Photocopying and print credits are now combined and are administered by IT services
• Ask at the Library Basement Shop at City Campus or the Borrower Services Desk at Coach Lane to have your Smartcard initialised for photocopying and printing
• £10 per year is automatically added to your account. 
• When this is low, staff should seek assistance from the school office as an order is placed via the SAP system to have more funds added to the card. 
• If you have difficulties with the photocopiers ask staff for assistance.

• The Library offers a wide range of printed resources including books, journals, British Official Publications, European Union Official Publications, maps and atlases, British Standards and statistics.
• The Library Catalogue contains details of all material held in the University Library at both sites. It shows where items are located, if they are on loan, and for how long they can be borrowed.
• You can reserve books for collection at either site, and renew books, via the Library Catalogue.

• Many current journals are available electronically and holdingsare detailed in the Library Catalogue, but some titles, and indeed many back copies, are only available in print.
• If a print-only journal title is not held at your site then you will need to complete a blue Intersite Journal Request form at the Customer Support Desk at either site.
• It is your responsibility to check to see if your photocopy has arrived. You will be charged for these at the current photocopying rate.

• Staff awareness sessions, tailored to specific needs or resources, can be arranged via your Library Liaison Adviser.
• During term-time a Staff Awareness programme, including lunchtime drop-in sessions at Coach Lane Library, is offered to staff who wish to keep up to date with developments in information resources.
• Training sessions are also offered on specialist resources.
• Look out for posters in the Library or emails from your Library Liaison Adviser.

• When new programmes are being developed please contact your Library Liaison Adviser in advance to check if the required resources are already stocked or to discuss the purchase of additional material.
• Proposals for new programmes (Form PA) must include an indication of the demands of the new programme on the University Library and must be signed by an Library Liaison Adviser (acting as a nominee of the Director of Academic Services) to confirm that demands can be met.

• Library Liaison Advisers are happy to attend Programme and Course Committees to receive feedback from staff and students, and keep colleagues up to date with Library services and developments.

• Please send an electronic copy of all your reading lists, including the module title and code to Readinglists@northumbria.ac.uk.
• Lists are checked for accuracy and currency and every effort will be made to purchase items not held in the Library.

• The Resources for Researchers web page has been designed to support your research. It will help you become familiar with all the facilities and resources available to you.
• It also will help you keep you up to date with new texts, electronic journals, databases, conferences, official publications and more.
• Your Library Liaison Adviser will also be pleased to assist you in selecting, accessing and using information resources and Library services.

• At City Campus Library, research staff may use the purpose-built research hubs on Floor 1.
• Please email ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk or contact the City Campus Enquiry Desk on 0191 227 4125.
• Researchers will need to give personal details, library card number if a research student or staff at Northumbria, and details of when and for how long you wish to reserve your place.

• Parties of young people from local schools may visit the Library to use the resources. They are usually given a short introductory talk.
• Please contact ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk if you are arranging visits to local schools and colleges, or organising visits by pupils to the University.

• Library opening hours include core hours when staff are available and self-service hours. For current information on opening hours please check the Library’s web page.
• During self-service hours all services and facilities that do not require a staff presence are available to library users, for example, IT, book issue and return, photocopying.

• Skills Plus provides a range of help guides and interactive tutorials designed to develop the skills required to become an effective learner.
• The materials available cover Information Skills, Study Skills, and IT Skills.

• Your Smartcard is your library card for borrowing/renewing books etc.
• It can also be used to pay for printing and photocopying in the Library if this has been agreed in advance with your Department. The card must be initialised by Library staff in the Basement Shop at City Campus or the Borrower Services Desk at Coach Lane.
• It is also used to enter/exit the Library and other controlled-access buildings / car parks.
• You can also use your Smartcard to join the University’s Sport Centres.

• Special Collections are distinguished from the general stock of the Library by their physical form, content, or depth of subject coverage.
• The special collections available both at City Campus and Coach Lane Libraries are listed on the Library’s website.
• For more information about any of the collections and the procedure for arranging access to the collections please contact: ask4help@northumbria.ac.uk

• Both libraries at City Campus and Coach Lane campus offer a variety of study spaces including open plan areas, group study tables, small bookable rooms, silent and quiet floors, Learning Cafes etc.
• At City Campus the Zones4Learning on floor 1 can be used for group or individual work when not booked for teaching.

Also see Facilities

City Campus Library

Learner Support Enquiries (Enquiry Desk) 0191 227 4125

Customer Support Loan enquiries 0191 227 4736

Coach Lane Library

Learner Support Enquiries (Help Desk) 0191 215 6565

Customer Support 0191 215 6540

• The University recommends the use of Turnitin to detect plagiarism. This software compares assignments submitted to it with a range of resources
• It produces an Originality Report with a percentage that indicates if there are any textual matches between the assignment and materials in the TurnitinUK database.
• For more details on use and training please see our TurnitinUK web page

• As well as being able to borrow material from other libraries through the Inter Library Loans Service, academic staff and research postgraduates at Northumbria are entitled to join some other university libraries through the SCONUL Access Scheme.
• For full details of reciprocal schemes for staff and students visit the Using Other Libraries web page.

• Web 2.0 is an immense toolbox of applications which can transform the way we find, access, create and share information.
• Web 2.0 includes blogs, wikis, social networking sites, RSS feeds and other tools to organise your information and keep up to date. Some examples are:
  • Personalised home page and content: iGoogle and Netvibes,
  • Managing your bookmarks: Delicious,
  • Creating your own search engine: Rollyo,
  • Creating and sharing information using wikis:PBWorks,
  • Creating and sharing information using blogs: Blogger and Wordpress,
  • Manage journal papers, conferences proceedings and other materials online: Citeulike,
  • Bring new items of interest to you using RSS feeds: Google Reader.

Also see Keeping up date