Library Services
welcomes Taught
Postgraduates
Gerald Watkins
Library Services
Subject Advisor (Government and Society; Social Policy)
[email protected]
0121 414 7574 (ex 47574)
What we’ll look at today

The Basics
 Getting help with Libraries and Computers
 Finding and using print and online books and
periodicals books and journal articles
 Other materials: newspapers, good quality Web sites,
official publications, official statistics
 Referencing and reference management
 Summary
The Basics …

University username and password (ADF)
 University ID card
 Access Library Services website
The Basics: University username and
password

Get this when registering
 Needed to access all computers on campus
 Needed to access a lot of databases and
journals that University pays for; especially if
you are off campus
The Basics: UID card

Gets you through the turnstiles
 Borrow and renew books (renew off campus
too)
 Charge it up to pay for photocopying and
printing
Access Library Services




Type this URL in the address box at the top of the
screen
www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/library
This will work from anywhere on or off campus
Most cluster PCs on campus default to Student Portal
www.my.bham.ac.uk; can use “Library” tab BUT
Portal can log you off unexpectedly
Library Services Homepage: what it
looks like
(just in case the network’s down)
Library Services homepage

Major links:
– On left of screen:
 Opening hours
 Your Library account
 Help and Contacts
– In middle of the screen:
 FindIt@Bham
Getting help: Just Ask!

Help and contacts on Library homepage
 For Library enquiries
 Choose “Just Ask” link
 Or: 0121 414 5828 (45828 on campus)
(Use this number to place advance bookings
(up to 7 days) on Short Loan books)
Getting help – IT Services
http://www.it.bham.ac.uk/student.shtml


Username and password problems; email; Hallsnet;
Wireless Hotspots etc
If you can’t find the information you want:
IT Service Desk
– Link in middle of IT Services page
– http://www.itservicedesk.bham.ac.uk
– 0121 414 4717 (47171 on campus)
And … you can talk to real live
people:

Reception and Information Desk (at front of
the Main Library)
 Desks in site libraries like Harding Law
Library
 Computing HelpDesk at back of the Main
Library
Note about using other libraries:
SCONUL Access

http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/users_info/
 You can borrow from, or have reference
access to, up to three other libraries in the
scheme (mainly printed material; online very
limited)
 Useful if they’re easier to get to than here
 Register for it here – we’re your “Home”
University, even if we’re not near you home!
Finding what you
need for your work
FindIt@Bham
– Link in middle of Library Services
homepage
– Or: http://findit.bham.ac.uk
SIGN IN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Use the Sign-in link at the top right of the
screen so that you have full access to
everything
 Publishers impose password restrictions on
access to full text etc
 Vital for off campus access
 Enter your University username and
password
FindIt@Bham: searching

Enter what you are looking for in the search
box – just like Google
Searching for a book
Results
Print books and ebooks

We have this particular book in two versions:
– For the Online Access one; follow the View
Online link to read it.
– For the print copy; click on Locations to find out:
 where it is kept
 how long you can borrow it for
 whether it is out on loan to someone else (if no
copies are available use the “Reserve” linkto
have it recalled for you
FindIt@Bham: Library Account
“Library Account” link at top of screen
 Logon using the number on your UID card
 Use Library Account” to:
– Renew loans and check dates due
– Check fines and charges
– Check on your reservations

Book you need not in the Library?

If the book is on a reading list or it
isrecommended reading email iRecommend
[email protected] with
details of the module and estimate of
numbers on the course
Searching for a journal article
Journal articles

Follow the View Online link to the full text of
the article
FindIt@Bham: improving your
search

FindIt@Bham defaults to searching for
“Everything”; which may be too much
 If you have too much; use Refine my
Results at the right of the screen
 Or limit your search in advance with the drop
down menu to the right of the search box
Hint to off campus users: select –
Online items option
Finding journal article on a topic …

Can use main section of FindIt@Bham
 Or use tried and tested Bibliographic
databases in your subject
 Go to Find Databases at the top of the
screen
Search by Subject:
Category = your School
Sub Category = your department
Search by name of database;
e.g. ASSIA, Science Citation Index
Search by type:
Official publications, Statistical sources, Newspaper collections etc
Referencing

I-CITE website
http://www.i-cite.bham.ac.uk/
– How to reference using different systems such as
Harvard, Numbering and footnotes, with
examples.
– Details about RefWorks (a resource in
FindIt@Bham) :
 record of what you’ve consulted
 formats citations, references and bibliographies
Help!

Library Services Just Ask!:
 www.intranet/birmingham.ac.uk/justask
0121 414 5828 (45828)
 IT Service Desk
www.itservicedesk.bham.ac.uk
0121 414 7171 (47171)
 Subject Enquiries:
Use the Subject Support link on the
Library homepage for contact details of
your Subject Advisor
Summary

Remember where you can get help with
library and computing matters
 Sign in to FindIt@Bham to make sure you
access all the resources available to you
 Keep details of all references used (incl.
Internet Web sites)
 Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every
day and get plenty of dietary fibre