University of Sussex Library Guide 2015-2016
Librarian s Welcome Welcome to the University of Sussex and to the Library! This guide contains the information you require to get you started using the Library and will introduce you to the range of services and facilities available to you. We aim to provide you with the resources and study environment you need to support you during the course of your studies at Sussex. Do take time to find your way around the building and collections to ensure you are able to take full advantage of all we have to offer. Library staff are available throughout the building and are happy to assist you in finding books and journals, searching online resources, accessing other specialist materials or using facilities and equipment. If you have any queries, do please ask. As well as offering 24-hour weekday access to the building and collections during term time, we are also open at weekends and provide remote access, via the internet, to a wide range of content and services, both on and off
campus, available 24/7. Self-service issue and return facilities mean that you are able to make full use of the building throughout our extensive opening hours. We are pleased to offer an exciting range of study spaces and facilities throughout the building, including access to our print collections, provision of a range of study environments to facilitate group and silent study, enhanced IT and wi-fi facilities, plug and play facilities for your own devices and a café and bookshop. Full details of all our services, collections and facilities, together with our contact details, are available on our website at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library and you can find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter via the links below. Kitty Inglis, Librarian www.facebook.com/sussexlibrary @sussexlibrary We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative information services which contribute to the successful learning, teaching and research of the University and the community.
fr Using the Library Getting started Your University ID card is also your Library card and allows you to enter the Library and to borrow items. You don t need to register with us; you will automatically be able to use the Library 24 hours after you have collected your card. 24-hour access The Library offers 24-hour access on weekdays during term time and assessment periods. We are also open at weekends and during vacation. For more information visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/hours. Here to help Stuck for something in the Library? Our staff at the Information Hub can help with any query, from finding books to using the online resources. Look out for our roving staff too they are there to help. Not in the Library but have a question? You can contact us by sending an online enquiry and we ll get back to you, or use our instant messaging service Ask us a question during office hours (9am 7pm weekdays and 1pm 5pm at weekends during term time): www.sussex.ac.uk/library/contact. Alternatively you can call us T: 01273 678163.
Finding what you need Use the online discovery tool Library Search to locate books, DVDs, e-books and online journals at any time, from anywhere: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/search. Remember to carry your University ID card with you at all times. You will need it to enter the Library and borrow items. Print resources and DVDs will have a shelfmark showing which collection the item is in Main, Short or Core as well as the precise location. Borrowing and returning To borrow or return items, use the self-service units on the Ground floor. When returning items, remember to put them through the machine one at a time and check your receipt. When the Library is closed you can use the overnight book drop, at the north end of the building, next to the wheelchair-accessible door. What are you studying? For instant access to recent articles and key resources relevant to your studies, find your Subject Guide by visiting: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/guides
The Library has a range of print and online material for you to use for your studies. Print materials are available in three collections: Core Collection: copies of core reading essential reading for your courses. Short Loan Collection: multiple copies of core and recommended reading. Main Collection: single copies of research material. We also have a large collection of DVDs, in addition to videos and IT software. Our Documents Collection boasts British Government publications, UK pressure group publications and most primary publications of the European Union. Our extensive range of online resources includes access to newspapers, online journals, internationally renowned archival collections and over 52,000 e-books across all subject areas.
What can I borrow and when will it be due back? Loan type Length of loan Number of loans Renewals Core Collection next day loan 1 renewal Up to 35 items Short Loan 7 days automatic including a maximum Long Loan 6 weeks automatic of 5 Core *unless recalled Collection Documents 6 weeks items at a time automatic *unless recalled DVDs & videos 7 days automatic Interlibrary Requests 3 weeks see below contact ILR* *Contact ILR by email: library.interlib@sussex.ac.uk. There is an individual limit of 100 Interlibrary Requests each academic year for postgraduates and faculty. For undergraduate students the limit is 20 annually. Renewals Long Loan, Short Loan, Documents and most DVDs will be automatically renewed, provided no one else has reserved them. If an item is recalled and not returned on time, a penalty charge will apply. Penalties increase the later the loan is returned, up to a maximum of 20 per item. Penalties are also charged over the weekend and during vacation. If loans are very overdue then an invoice will be sent for the replacement cost of the item(s). You will also be charged a fee to cover processing. This charge is nonrefundable and set at 15 for one item, 20 for two items and 25 for three or more items. You will be unable to borrow items if you have an overdue loan, if you owe the Library more than 10, or have not settled a penalty within 28 days. To avoid this, please check your Library account regularly.
Reservations If all copies of a title are out on loan you can place a reservation using Library Search. We will hold the first copy of the item to be returned and send you an email to let you know it is ready to collect. If someone places a reservation on an item you have on loan, a recall notice is sent to your University email address, reducing the loan period to the date stated in the email. Don t forget that items may be reserved and recalled over vacations as well as during term time, so don t forget to check your account frequently! Interlibrary Requests The Interlibrary Request service (ILR) exists to support research activities related to your role at the University, by obtaining material not held in the University Library. Please note there is a 2 handling charge on Interlibrary Requests, even if items are subsequently found to be in stock or available through electronic resources subscribed to by the Library. Interlibrary Requests can be placed online and can be renewed by contacting the Interlibrary Requests department, but cannot be renewed online. An extension of the initial loan period is usually possible for an additional ten days. A charge of 4 will apply for any further renewals. All renewed ILRs are subject to recall; one week s notice will be given to the borrower if an item is recalled by the lending library. Online information can be found at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/ilr.
Contacting you If we need to contact you for any reason to let you know that a book you ve been waiting for has arrived, or to remind you to return a recalled or overdue book we will send a message to your University email address. If you are a part-time student or generally use an alternative email address, you can set up an automatic forward to your preferred email address. For advice on how to do this, please visit the IT Services web page: www.sussex.ac.uk/its. What if I lose my card? Tell the Library immediately if your card is lost or stolen. Replacement cards are available, for a fee, from the Print Unit. For more information, visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/ sef/services/print. Not a student at Sussex but still want to visit the Library? Visitors and alumni are welcome to use the Library. We will need to see a form of photo identification, such as a passport, driving licence or University ID card. There is no charge for reference-only use. For further information, including borrowing charges and Wi-Fi access, visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/visitors
Library Services Study areas The Library has individual study spaces on all floors, many of which are designated for silent study. If you need to work in a group, there are a number of bookable Group Study Rooms. Most of the rooms are equipped with PCs and whiteboards. These are bookable up to one week in advance. For more information visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/info/studyrooms. Services for students with a disability or with additional needs The Library works closely with the Student Support Unit to ensure a range of services to users with disabilities and/or additional needs and to improve access to resources and services. For further details please visit the Library webpage: www.sussex.ac.uk/ library/info/support or contact our Membership team: E: library.membership@sussex.ac.uk or T: 01273 678163. Computing There are three computer clusters in the Library, with PCs and Macs and a number of individual workstations located around the building. The computers and wireless access in the Library are provided by ITS; contact them via their help page: www.sussex.ac.uk/its for assistance or to report a fault. During term time, ITS staff can also be found at the Information Hub.
Using your laptop The Library has wireless coverage to allow network access from almost anywhere in the building. You ll need to register with ITS to make use of this service, using their account setup page. Instructions are available on the ITS website. A self-service laptop loan facility providing borrowable Chromebooks is available on the Ground floor, close to the Information Hub. Please do not unplug Library property in order to plug in your own equipment. When using available sockets, please ensure that there are no trailing cables. Make sure your laptop is safe by using the locking points located under desks. Printing and photocopying Multi-functional devices (MFDs) for printing, photocopying and scan-and-send are available throughout the Library. For more information visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/info/itprint. Please ensure you comply with copyright law when photocopying. Binding There is a self-service binding machine in the Library. Materials are available to purchase from the Information Hub. + Get wise on copyright by checking out our practical guide at: guides.lib.sussex.ac.uk/copyright
Finding the best study space for you Find the area that best suits your needs by referring to the Library floorplans available on each level, or by using the clearly marked banners in each area that indicate whether you are in a Silent, Quiet or Group Study space. If you are unsure, a member of staff at the Information Hub will be able to direct you towards the best study space for you. Please respect the rules of the space you are using so that you and your fellow Library users can make the most of the choice of study environments. Silent Study areas are for silent individual study. The Library now has additional space for silent study throughout the building, including an enclosed Silent Study space on the Second floor. Quiet Study areas are intended for quiet individual study. In addition to the bookable group study rooms, open Group Study spaces in the Library can be used for quiet group work. 41% prefer to work in silence 41% prefer to work in quiet zones 18% prefer group study zones Data sourced from the Library Survey Summary 2014: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/about
Eating and drinking Bottled water is permitted throughout the Library. Water fountains are located on the Ground floor and First floor near the computer cluster areas. Other drinks and food are not allowed past the entrance gates into the main Library building, but if you need some time out from studying to refuel, the Library Café offers a place to relax and enjoy freshly made food and barista coffee. Additional vending machine facilities and seating is available nearby where you can consume your own food and drink. The Library Café and vending facilities are located close to the Library Reception, outside the main entrance and exit gates to the Library. Library Bookshop Adjacent to the Café is a bookshop, staffed by professionals with considerable experience of the local academic market and of learning resources relevant to the University. Visit their website at: www.johnsmith.co.uk/sussex. For information on Café opening times and food and drink options visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/catering/wheretoeat/ librarycafe
Support for Students and Researchers The Library has a vast collection of resources to support your study. It also gives you access to over 38,000 online journals and 52,000 e-books. To help you find what you need, we have a powerful discovery tool called Library Search. It will provide you with full-text access to our journals and e-books, as well as giving you shelfmarks for our print books and DVDs, to help you to locate them in the Library. As well as Library Search, the Library also has a large number of databases and digital archives. To help you find these databases and other resources that are most relevant to your area of research, we have listed them in our popular Subject Guides: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/guides. The Library uses an online reading list system for your course materials. You will usually access your reading list from your Study Direct module page, but you can also search for your reading list at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/readinglists. We run regular workshops and training sessions to help you find and use the Library s resources, carry out effective literature searches and understand how to cite and reference your sources. We also offer online support through our InfoSuss tutorial, which takes you through searching techniques, as well as providing an easy referencing guide: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/infosuss. Support for a wide range of skills, including Library and research skills, can be accessed via the Skills Hub. It brings together all the workshops, web resources and services at Sussex that can help with your academic development: www.sussex.ac.uk/skillshub.
Research support Our Research Support team is the main point of contact for researchers (staff and doctoral researchers), and ensures that you have the resources and support to conduct your research. They can help with planning your literature searches, identifying useful resources, publishing your work Open Access and more: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/staff/research. As well as delivering a range of workshops through the University s Researcher Development Programme, the team offer bookable one-to-one appointments for doctoral researchers and academic staff. Further information is available at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/staff/research/support. To contact the team E: library.researchsupport@sussex.ac.uk. Using other libraries You can use the University of Brighton libraries for reference purposes on production of your ID card. If you are a part-time undergraduate, on placement, or a postgraduate student, you may also be able to join the SCONUL Access scheme, which allows you to borrow from other university libraries. Further information is available at: www.sconul.ac.uk. Information on using other libraries under reciprocal agreements is available at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/info/otherlibraries. The Library s Research Hive is a dedicated area for researchers, open to all doctoral researchers and research staff. It provides study areas, bookable meeting rooms and space for informal discussion and collaborative work: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/researchhive
Special Collections About Special Collections Special Collections cares for and provides access to the archival and rare book collections held by the University of Sussex. These include many 20th-century literary archives including the papers of Leonard and Virginia Woolf and the archives of Rudyard Kipling. They also include the material generated by the social research organisation Mass Observation, relating to the social and cultural history of Britain from the 1930s to the present day. Our rare book collections comprise over 3,000 volumes spanning over 500 years of printing. They include fine bindings and works on English literature, travel, costume and the evolution of scientific thought. Where do I find out more about Special Collections? For links to information on our collections, catalogues of our holdings and how to access the material, visit our website: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/specialcollections. Where can I find Special Collections? Special Collections is housed in a purpose-built historical resource centre called The Keep. The Keep also holds the archives of East Sussex Record Office and Brighton and Hove s archival collections and Brighton History Centre resources. The Keep is situated a short walk away from the University campus and is within easy reach of Falmer Station and local bus stops.
Who can use Special Collections? The collections are a public resource open to everybody, provided they comply with the conditions protecting the collections. Group visits can be arranged. Contact staff for further details E: library.specialcoll@sussex.ac.uk. What are the opening hours? The Keep is open to visitors Tuesday Friday 9.30am-5pm and Saturdays 9.30am-4pm. For further details on what is available, how to book places and to order items, please visit: www.thekeep.info. + Special Collections The Keep Woollards Way Brighton BN1 9BP Did you know?...the Mass Observation Archive inspired My Dear Bessie (also a book edited by Simon Garfield and BBC Radio 4 afternoon drama with Benedict Cumberbatch), Kevin MacDonald s YouTube documentary Life in a Day and Victoria Wood s BAFTA award-winning drama Housewife, 49.
Code of Conduct Help us to keep your Library a great place to study Our Library Regulations are designed with our users in mind. Many people feel that the use of phones and other mobile devices, loud talking and food consumption is disruptive and makes it hard to study in the Library. Please show consideration for others and observe the guidelines for using the Library that are displayed throughout the building. You will be asked to leave if you disturb other users. Our guidelines are in accordance with the Library Regulations, as agreed on registration. To view a full copy of the Library Regulations visit: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/info. Phones and other mobile devices Phones and mobile devices must be kept on silent. Calls are only permitted in designated enclosed stairwells. Please ensure all mobile devices are kept inaudible to fellow Library users, as escaping noise often disturbs others. Only five cardless visits are allowed each academic year. Users must produce their ID cards if requested to do so by a member of staff. Eating and drinking Everything except bottled water is prohibited. The reasons for this are simple: 1. Computers and keyboards are easily damaged by spillages 2. Food attracts vermin to the Library 3. Damage to books is expensive for us and for you 4. Eating noise and food smells can distract those trying to study. For health and safety reasons, smoking - including e-cigarettes - is not allowed in the Library, including anywhere on or under the main Library steps at the front of the building.
+ Performance levels are available online at: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/about/ servicestandards Service area Opening hours Standard We will be open 100% of our advertised opening hours Service Standards * Working days exclude weekends, Bank Holidays and University closure days. Some services may be subject to essential maintenance periods which will be advertised online and in the Library. Availability of IT/Systems Availability of resources Enquiry services Complaints 24/7 access to the Electronic Library Search will be available for 99% of the time; self-service facilities will be available 95% of opening hours 99% of books and audio-visual items ordered for the Library will be shelf-ready within one working day of receipt; 95% of Interlibrary Requests will be ordered within one working day of receipt; reservations will be available to collect within 24 hours of being returned; 95% of books returned will be back on the shelf within 24 hours All emails and enquiries received via the online enquiry form or via library@sussex.ac.uk should be responded to within three working days; the quality of our instant messaging responses should average 7 or above We undertake to consider all complaints seriously and to resolve them satisfactorily whenever possible. If we are unable to resolve a complaint we will give details of how it can be progressed. We aim to progress fewer than five complaints a year.
Contact us: The Library University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9QL United Kingdom T: 01273 678163 E: library@sussex.ac.uk www.sussex.ac.uk/library Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sussexlibrary Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sussexlibrary