Part time students
Loan Periods
Some high demand items can only be borrowed overnight. There are also some items that are kept at the help desk and which are for use in the Library only. It is a good idea to plan your use of this type of material to fit days when you know that you will be coming in to the University. It is also a good idea to check our catalogue before visiting the Library, so you can place holds on material that is out on loan.
Start at Library 101 to find more details of borrowing allowances, loan periods, renewing and placing holds.
Book fetching service
You may submit requests for books to be collected from the shelves for you. Requests received before 12.00 (midday) will be available from 12.00 the following day, excluding weekends. We can fetch and hold up to six items at one time, but please ensure that you are able to collect all requested items in one visit. Satisfying these requests depends on the availability of the book(s) in the Library at that time.
Requested books can only be collected from the Help Desk during core hours.
Request this service online (you will need to login using your Brunel network username and password)
Telephone +44 (0) 1895 266141
Visit the Help Desk in person
Material not in the Brunel stock can be requested via our Inter Library Loan service. A form is available via the Library catalogue - see the link on the right. Journal articles and photocopies from conference proceedings can be sent through the post or via Secure Electronic Delivery. Books and other material have to be collected from the Library.
We try to obtain material from UK sources, the British Library, in the first instance as this is generally quicker but can apply abroad if necessary.
There is a charge for this service - see the link on the left - so please ensure that you have checked the other University Library’s resources before applying. You can check:
- The Library catalogue;
- Summon, our research engine;
- The E-Journals A to Z;
- Our electronic resources;
- You can also check with the Help Desk or your Subject Liaison Librarian about the best research methods & information sources.
You only pay for material that is supplied: there is no charge for failed requests. We are dependent on items being on the shelf at other libraries at the time we apply and although the vast majority of items are supplied within 2-3 days we cannot give you a cast iron guarantee to supply items within a specified time. Books and monographs are usually sent to the library and we will notify you by email when they are ready to be collected.
Journal articles can be sent electronically by Secure Electronic Delivery or to the address on your library account.
Your local public library may also be able to offer Inter Library Loan services. This may be of particular benefit to distance learners.
Using Other Libraries
You may find it convenient to use the library of a university close to where you live. There is a specialist scheme for part-time learners, called SCONUL Access. This scheme enables you to borrow from participating UK university libraries. You will need to get a special card from Brunel Library before you can visit another library. Details of the SCONUL Access scheme are available under Using other libraries.
Electronic Resources
The Library subscribes to a large number of databases. Some provide you with the full text of an article, others include an abstract or keywords, whilst some may give you brief table of contents details only. Please see our Databases listings, or contact our Enquiry Desk or your Subject Liaison Librarian for further details.
Some databases allow you to save your search strings so that you can rerun them each time the database has been updated, and many will allow you to register for table of contents updates.
Our e-library guide will give you more information about finding journal articles, books, theses, conferences, newspapers etc.
Many Library services are delivered across the Brunel University network, including the Library catalogue, databases and electronic journal collections, which offer the full text of some journals on the screen. Most of these services are accessible via the Library website.
Using Electronic Resources to Find Journal Articles
All our databases can be accessed from the Library subject pages. Most can be accessed from outside the Brunel network, but you will need to use your Brunel network ID and password by logging in to the e-Library at the Library home page.
If you have any difficulty with access to these resources from off campus you may need to log in using the AnyConnect VPN Universal service package available from the Connect portal.
Web Resources
Try using the Web Resources part of your subject pages.
Most subject areas now have government funded 'subject hubs' or gateways on the web, made available through Intute (NB: these are not being updated since 2011). Gateways are more subject and academically focussed, providing more than just links. Some include e-mail lists, current awareness services, bibliographic databases and online training tips.
Intute is divided into four main areas:Other general gateways include:
- BUBL Multi-disciplinary
- Librarians Index Multi-disciplinary US based
- Pinakes A 'subject launchpad' for other gateways
- Voice of the Shuttle Humanities US based
Mailing Lists and Newsgroups
Sometimes it's easy to feel that you are the only person struggling with a particular problem. One way of feeling less isolated and to share your experiences and problems with fellow students and researchers is to participate in a newsgroup, or to join an electronic mailing list. It's always a good idea to read a few posts and messages from any group you join before posting anything yourself. That way you will get a feel for the group and be able to see if it's right for you.
You will find details of such lists and groups using the useful web links above, or you could try here for a listing of academic related electronic mailing lists.
