Guide for Part Time Students

Learning and Information Services are committed to helping you to access the information you need whatever your mode of study. The following services may be of particular value to part-time students or those studying at a distance. Please contact us if there are any other ways that we may be able to help you during your studies.

Getting in touch

We recognise that part-time students are not always able to visit the Learning Centres in person so we have dedicated phone, email, and online chat services enabling you to contact us with any queries at a time that suits you.

• ASSIST

The ASSIST service allows you to chat online with LIS staff about any aspect of using Learning Centres or finding information for your assignments. After your chat has finished you will be sent an email transcript of the conversation so you can follow up any links or other information provided during the chat.

• Email

Use the Ask a Librarian online form to contact us and a member of staff will be in touch within a response to your question.

• Telephone

Whether you have a quick question or an enquiry about your research we will be pleased to discuss this with you via telephone. Call Learning Centre Direct for assistance.

View Contact Us for full details of these services and operating times.

Borrowing items

No matter how many or how few modules you are studying, you may borrow the same number of books as students enrolled on a full-time programme. Books are usually available to borrow for one week or three weeks and you may renew items an unlimited number of times providing that there are no reservations on them.

Renewals and reservations

We will email you notification of items that are shortly to be returned to allow time for renewals. You may renew your items by telephone using our Learning Centre Direct service, or online via the My Account button available on most Learning Centre web pages. You will need your borrower number and PIN to do this.

Email notifications are also used to let you know about reservations or inter-library loans that are awaiting collection at your requested Learning Centre. You will be contacted at your University email address.

Checking availability

If you are travelling some distance from the University we are happy to check the online catalogue for availability of any urgently required texts. We will also reserve items for you if required. Please telephone Learning Centre Direct to obtain this assistance.

Borrowing from other libraries

Part-time students are often allowed to borrow materials from other University Libraries which may be closer to where you live or work. View Using Other Libraries for more details of the borrower schemes available to you.

Online resources

Take advantage of the extensive online library that is available to you wherever you are studying. Many of our online databases provide full text journal articles and electronic books that you can view online from any computer with Internet access. See the Resources pages for more details.