Library - FAQ

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**Please note, Temporary Measures Introduced During the Covid-19 Crisis**

We have temporarily amended the default search scope in the library catalogue so that it searches for e-books, e-journals, databases and a number of digitised Bangor PhD theses (Bangor E-Resources).  This means that the results you obtain through searching via the default search scope will all be available for you to access online.

If you need to search for journal articles, you will need to change the search scope to Articles Search.

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Library Search, the University’s Library Catalogue is the key to discovering resources in the Library.  Library Search is divided into 3 search scopes Everything, BU Library Collections and Articles Search.

The relevant search scope can be selected either from the drop down menu at the end of the search box

or by selecting the relevant scope that appears beneath the search box as you type in your search terms

Everything: Searches all the collections, both print and electronic and can be expanded to include citations where no full text access is available

BU Library Collections: Searches for all materials held by Bangor University including books, e-books, bibliographic databases, journal titles, DVDs, CDs, theses and music scores

Articles search: Searches for journal and newspaper articles as well as conference proceedings and book chapters

To find books, you should select the "BU Library Collections" scope, Type as much information as you have about your book into the search box including words in the title and the author name, then press enter.

When you find an item in Library Search, if it is available to borrow, it will display an Available at status with the location and call number listed. Click on the Available at link to view multiple copies. Note down the location and call number to help you find the book on the shelf. The location will tell you in which library you will find the book and in which section.  The call number is the system we use to find the book on the shelf.

If you click on an item's title in your search results it will show you more information about the item and include searchable subject terms, useful if the sytem has not returned many results.

If your search has retrieved too many items, you can refine by using the limiters on the right of the screen (for example) items housed in a particular library, or those published after a given date.

You can also limit your results to e-books only, by performing your search as above and then using the filters on the right of the screen, Resource Type: Books and E-Books and Show Only: Online Access

If you want to keep a record of your search, you can save items by pinning them to your favourites (clicking the pin icon) and export your search results to your e-mail address or favourite Reference Management tool. Your 'favourites' is a personalised area of the Library Search interface, where you are able to store a list of books and articles and search strategies.  You will need to sign in to Library Search to enable all features.  You can export your favourites to email or a Reference Manager by clicking on the three dots which will reveal your export options.

If you want to find items on a particular reading list for a certain module, you can do this by clicking on the Reading List link on the left side of the Library Catalogue home page,

and then typing in your module title or module code and selecting the current year of study.

 

 

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**Please note, Temporary Measures Introduced During the Covid-19 Crisis**

The Inter-Library Loan service is continuing to operate but in a limited capacity. We can only currently supply items that can be delivered electronically such as journal articles and book chapters.

For more information, please click here.

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If the Library does not have the item you require, and it is deemed essential to your research or study (note the service is subsidised by the Library and Archives Service) we will try to obtain it as an inter-library loan for you. You can make your request through the following process:

From the library catalogue Library Search click on the Sign In link in the top right hand corner of the page.

 

            Process 1. To request Journal and Newspaper Articles and Conference Proceedings

 

First ensure that you are searching under the Everything scope and type your article title in to the search box. Click the tick box for Also show results without Full Text access under the Refine my Results limiter on the right hand of the screen as highlighted below

If the Library does not have access to your item, you will find a No Full Text link beneath the title, click on that link and it will reveal another link to request a copy through Inter-library Loan

Clicking this link will open up an auto-filled request form. Please ensure that the article details are correct.  Select which library you would like to collect the article from (most articles are supplied electronically but we occasionally receive physical copies)

Finally, at the bottom of the form you will find a copyright declaration statement that you will need to have read and agreed to by ticking the box. Submit your request by clicking the Request button

 

         Process 2.  To request Books and Theses

 

Ensure that you are searching under the BU Library Collections scope and type in your book title in full. Please make sure that all the words are spelt correctly.  It also helps to place Inverted Commas "" around the title.  If you are searching for a generic title (e.g. "Financial accounting"), it would also help to add the author's name.

If the library does not hold a copy of your book, you will see an option to Request Via InterLibrary Loan.  This will open a request form for you to input your book details. Please select the Book tab and type in all the information you have about the book including Title, Author, Year of Publication and ISBN and the click Submit

The book details should then appear, click the "Inter-library Loan Request" link to request:

Select your preferred library for collection, tick the copyright box and click request.

You can check to see that your request has been succesful by clicking on My Library Account and selecting the Requests tab.

 

        Process 3.  If you are unable to locate your requested material in the library catalogue

 

If you fail to locate and request your item through the methods above, you can contact us to submit your request at ill@bangor.ac.uk

If you need to renew an Interlibrary Loan, please contact us at the above email address or by phoning 01248 38(Ext)3048  Please note that a renewal will cost one of your set annual allocation total.

 

Our standard loan periods are:

	Number of items	Standard loan period
Undergraduates	15	4 weeks
Graduate students (masters and research)	30	4 weeks
University staff (academic and support)	30	4 weeks
External Borrowers	6	2 weeks

 

You can search for past Bangor University Masters and PhD dissertations using Library Search. Search under the Bangor University Library Collections scope, type in a keyword (e.g. Psychology, Banking or Biochemistry etc.) and then limit your search by ticking the Theses box under Resource Type from the Refine my Results menu on the right, and then clicking Apply Filters.

 

Make a note of the number and take it along with the author and title details to the customer services desk.  Our staff will then retrieve the thesis for you from a locked room.  Please note all theses are for use in the library only.

 

A number of Bangor University PhD Theses that have been uploaded to the University's Digital Repository are available to access electronically through Library Search, the library catalogue.

 

If you want to consult a UK doctoral research thesis from another University, you can search the British Library’s Ethos (Electronic Thesis Online Service) webpage which gives you access to abstracts of over 300,000 UK doctoral theses including full text access to almost 100,000.

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Please note a temporary amendment to this rule during the Coronavirus crisis. Items can now be requested from the Main Library through the Library's Click & Collect service.  Please click here for further information.

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If a book is available in the Library, you cannot make a request for it, you will have to retrieve the item yourself from the Library shelf.

If a book is out on loan, you can recall a copy by following the procedure in this link. 

Book Collection Service for students requiring additional support

If a need for the Book Collection Service is listed on your PLSP (Personal Learning Support Plan), you may request that desk staff collect your books from the shelves and bring them to a library customer services desk. You will need to email the library at library@bangor.ac.uk with the book details before 4p.m., and they will be ready for collection by 10a.m. the following day.

Searching for a book in Library Search (the library catalogue)

In order to find books in the library, you will first need to type the title of the book into Library Search (the library catalogue) to find the location and call number.  For books, ensure that you are searching under the BU Library Collections scope