FAQ

• General
  • I am thinking of donating some books to the Library. What should I do?
  • I am trying to telephone someone in Library. Which number should I call?
  • Can I sell my unwanted books to the Library?
  
   
• Library Collections
  • Does the Library subscribe to Endnote?
  • Does the Library have any electronic books?
  • Do you have the APA guidelines for presenting documents?
  • How can I search for music on the catalogue?
  • How do I find abbreviations for law journals?
  • How many items does the Library hold?
  • Which newspapers are available in the Library?
  
   
• Problems
  • A database is asking for a username and password. What is this?
  • I am having problems with connecting to an electronic resource off-campus. What should I do?
  • The item I need is not on the shelf despite the location being SHELVES on the catalogue. What should I do?
  • What should I do if a particular database is not working?
  • When I tried logging to a PC it said the 'Academic Domain is not available'. What should I do?
  
   
• Printing
  • Can I credit my print account within the Library?
  • Can I print documents within the Library?
  • Does the Library have a colour printer?
  • Do the Library printers offer double-sided printing?
  
   
• Using the Library
  • Can I continue to use the Library when I finish my course?
  • Can I use a laptop for network computing in the Library?
  • Does it cost anything to borrow audio-visual material from the Library?
  
   
• Where can I find
  • Where can I find a specific room in the Library?
  • Where can I find a specific room on campus?
  • Where can I find an English language dictionary?
  • Where can I find dissertations?
  • Where can I find market research reports?
  • Where can I find items marked as STATISTICS on the library catalogue?
  • Where can I find items with a shelf mark beginning 2B / 3B / 4B?
  • Where can I find the British Standard for presentation of theses?

I am thinking of donating some books to the Library. What should I do?
The Library is happy to consider donations. You can either leave donations at the Help Desk or contact your Subject Liaison Librarian for an initial discussion.

I am trying to telephone someone in Library. Which number should I call?
You can contact the Library using the following number: 01895 266141

Can I sell my unwanted books to the Library?
The Library does not buy second-hand texts, although we are happy to consider donations . There is only one listed Brunel-specific forums for buying / selling second-hand books. For further details about these, please go to the Useful web resources page.

Does the Library subscribe to Endnote?
The Library does not subscribe to Endnote. Instead it supports RefWorks bibliographic creation software that functions in the same way as Endnote. RefWorks is web-based, and so you can access it from both on-campus and off-campus. It is free to members of the University and is easy to transfer references from EndNote to RefWorks.
There are a number of pages on the Library's website which will give you more information about RefWorks:

• RefWorks

If you would like to find out more, the Library runs monthly RefWorks demonstrations, see the training page for details.

Does the Library have any electronic books?
The Library has electronic books on a range of subjects. Some e-books are indexed on the catalogue, these are marked as [electronic resource]. However, most e-books must be found by searching the relevant collection. For access to all e-book collections, please visit the E-Books page.

Do you have the APA guidelines for presenting documents?
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th Ed. London. BF76.7.A43 2001. Please check the catalogue for current availability.

How can I search for music on the catalogue?
Use on the Advanced Search link and select Location MUSICSCORE or STUDYSCORE (ideally search each option separately). Now type the composer in the author field and use the Search Catalogue button. For information about finding music CDs, please read the Music Collection Guide.

How do I find abbreviations for law journals?
The following book is the standard for finding legal abbreviations:
RAISTRICK, Donald. (1993). Index to legal citations and abbreviations. 2nd ed. London: Bowker Saur.
There are two copies of this book in the Library. One is kept at the Floor 0 enquiry desk; the other in the reference section at Ref K110.R35 1993
There are also electronic resources that can help. See the Useful web resources for law.

How many items does the Library hold?
The Library holds over 400,000 books, 14,000 journals (of which more than 12,000 are electronic) and around 70 databases. Roughly 16,000 books are added every year.

Which newspapers are available in the Library?
A selection of UK broadsheet daily newspapers is available on open access in the Library, including the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent and Times. Two US newspapers are also available: the New York Times and Washington Post. Back issues of the print newspapers are stored for varying lengths of time: between one week and six months.
For information about electronic newspapers, please visit the useful web resources page.

A database is asking for a username and password. What is this?
Most of our databases use a system called Athens to identify you as a member of Brunel. This happens behind the scenes after you have logged in to the Library homepage (here). However, some databases need reminding that you have already logged in. Click the <Athens Users> (or similar) link to do this. If you need any help e-mail: lbsrerm@brunel.ac.uk

Some of our databases do not use Athens, but instead only work if you are on the University network. You can still use these databases if you are off campus through the free VPN software.

The item I need is not on the shelf despite the location being SHELVES on the Catalogue. What should I do?
You should check the 'recently returned' shelves in the Library. These are at the front of each floor on the wall near the blue stairs. If the item is not in these areas, staff at the help desk can help.

What should I do if a particular database is not working?
If a database does not work or has a problem, please check the news section of the Library homepage. If the problem is not posted there, please inform us in one of these ways:
 

Visit the Help Desk located on Floor 0.
Phone the Help Desk.
E-mail the Library (an initial response will be sent within 24 working hours).

When I tried logging to a PC it said the 'Academic Domain is not available'. What should I do?
Please shutdown the PC and try logging on again. If you still can not log on please report this problem to staff at the Help Desk on Floor 0.

Can I credit my print account within the Library?
There are two print credit machines in the Library and these are located on Floor 0.

Can I print documents within the Library?
There are eleven printers in the Library. For more information please see IT, Copy & Print Facilities.

Does the Library have a colour printer?
Yes. There are six color/mono printers in the library. However, several colour printers are available on-campus. For more information, please visit the Self Service Printing page of the Computing Services website.

Do the Library printers offer double-sided printing?
Yes. this is the default option. If you prefer single sided you will need to choose that option.

Can I continue to use the Library when I finish my course?
You are welcome to use the Library for reference when you finish your course. You need to go to the Library reception desk and show two forms of ID, one photo ID and one containing your UK address, or an Alumni Card. You will then be given a visitor's pass which will let you use all the print resources within the Library. If you wish to borrow, you must have external membership of the Library. External membership includes reference use of the Library's print resources, and upto six long loans at any one time. You will not be able to access any electronic resources, except for the library catalogue. External membership costs £15 per year, plus a one-off subscription fee of £25. The subcription fee is waived if your details are still on our management system. For further details about external membership, please e-mail the Library

Can I use a laptop for network computing in the Library?
Before you can do this, you must register your laptop for Wifi@Brunel, a service giving wireless access to the Brunel network and the Internet. For details of how to register your laptop, please log on to Connect Portal.

Does it cost anything to borrow audio-visual material from the Library?
It does not cost anything to borrow audio-visual material from the Library. However, you need to make sure that you bring the material back on time, or you will be charged a fine. The standard loan for DVDs and videos - those classed as feature films - is 24 hours only. The standard loan for music CDs is two-week.

Where can I find a specific room in the Library?
Please check the table below for a floor-by-floor listing.

Where can I find a specific room on campus?
The first character of a room number usually represents the specific building where that room is found, e.g. LC for Lecture Centre. Below is an unofficial list of commonly-used building codes.

For more information please see this Brunel webpage
To find the location of the building on-campus, please check the campus map

Where can I find an English language dictionary?
There are English language dictionaries in the Reference section of each floor, and in Quick Ref by the Floor 0 enquiry desk. In addition, there are a wider selection held on Floor 2 in the Reference sequence at PE1625.

Where can I find dissertations?
The Library does not hold undergraduate or Masters dissertations (although we do keep research theses for PHD and MPhil/MTh degrees granted by Brunel University). If you wish to see past undergraduate or Masters dissertations, then you should contact your School administrator.

Where can I find market research reports?
The library subscribes to three databases covering market research reports: Mintel, GMID and Snapshots. These can be accessed from the Databases for marketing web page.
If you need other reports, there is a wide collection of business materials at the Westminster Reference Library, including current market research reports.

Westminster Reference Library
35 St Martin's Street, London, WC2H 7HP
Tel: 020 7641 1300

The British Library at St Pancras also has a large collection of market research reports, including the KeyNote, MAPS and Mintel reports, and the Profound service.
You may be able to find useful market research information on the web. The useful web resources for marketing page is a good starting point.

Where can I find items marked as STATISTICS on the library catalogue?
The statistics collection is kept on Floor 2 of the Library, in the Red zone of the silent study area (outside the Group Study Rooms).

Where can I find items with a shelfmark beginning 2B?
Shelfmarks beginning 2B refer to a series of photocopied articles which are kept behind the issue desk. These items are available on 4-hour loan. To borrow one, please visit the issue desk and ask for the item by the full shelfmark, e.g. 2B6566 - 'Shamanism in South India'.

Where can I find the British Standard for presentation of theses?
The British Standard for presentation of theses has been withdrawn. For more information about this topic consult your student handbook. You will also find useful tips in the Library's Guide to writing your dissertation and thesis.