Getting to know Birkbeck Library’s resources

Birkbeck Library

Library basics

• Entrance on the ground floor – next to the café

• Covers 5 levels of the main building• Once you are fully registered, you have access

to the Library• Your student ID card is also your Library card• You will need your IT Services account details

to access the eLibrary

Get to know the Library

• Tours: Monday-Friday at 5.30pm from 23rd Sept. to 18th Oct.

• Tours last about 20 minutes• A self-guided QR code tour is on offer now• Read the ‘Welcome to the Library’ guide • Library web site: www.bbk.ac.uk/lib• Introduction to the Library video• LIFE – online Library tutorial

Get to know the Libraryweb site

• Opening times and service information• Library catalogue and eLibrary • Detailed Subject Guides• Library Induction For Everyone (LIFE) – online

library tutorial • Information about finding materials for essays

and dissertations• Information on using other libraries

Get to know the layout ofthe 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 and vacation times are advertised on the Library web site.

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 Library catalogue

Get to know the eLibrary

• Over 30,000 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

Accessing the eLibrary

• Accessible without coming into the Library• Accessible 24 hours a day• Log in using your ITS username and password• For off-site access: register your computer by

setting up a cookie• This is necessary for access to some e-resources• One-off process – lasts 18 months• See http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/elib

What are ejournals?

• Ejournals are online versions of print journals• ‘Magazines’ with academic content• Usually published monthly or quarterly• Contain current research• Useful for getting a range of different

opinions about a subject

Understanding a journal reference

Windsor, D. (2006). “Corporate social responsibility: three key approaches”. Journal of Management Studies. 43 (1): 93-114.

Author Date Article title

Journal name

VolumeIssue

Page numbers

Finding a specific article in an ejournal

• Make a note of the name of the journal• Go to the Library web site and select eLibrary• Type the name of the journal in the ejournal

search box• If the Library subscribes, a link to the ejournal will

appear• Select the year, volume and then issue that

you require• Ejournals are also listed on the library catalogue

What are databases?

• Online tools to help you research your topic• Many cover a specific subject, e.g. history• Others are multidisciplinary• Some contain the full text of journals,

magazines and newspapers• Others are index and abstract services but

may link to the full-text if the Library has a subscription to the journal

Getting to know the databases

• Go to Subject Guides on the Library website to see which databases are best for your subject

• There is also an A-Z list of all databases in the eLibrary - select Databases and Online Resources

• Make use of the help sections within the databases

• Read our ‘Using the Library’s Databases’ guide

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• 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

Services for students with a disability or dyslexia

We have extra services for you:

• Access Support Service• LAMP service – postal loans• Assistive Technology Centre

The Disability Office is your first contact point and will be able to register you.

Further help

• Library web site: 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