Library - FAQ

Library Search, the University’s Library Catalogue is the key to discovering resources in the Library.  Library Search is divided into 4 search scopes Everything, BU Library Collections, Articles Search and Bangor E-Resources.

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

Bangor E-Resources: Searches for e-books, e-journals, databases and a number of digitised Bangor PhD theses 

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.

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 (ILL) 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 successful 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.

Our standard loan periods are:

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 from the drop down menu. For generic titles, it often helps to include the author's name

Once you have found your item listed, you need to note which library holds it (Main, Welsh, Maelor, Law etc.).  The location (Available at) should tell you which library holds the item and in which section within that library it will be located (book, large book, journal etc.).

You can click on the ‘and other locations’ to view if other libraries hold a copy:

In this instance there is one copy available at Main Library > Book

Once you have noted the library and location make a note of the call number, as this is what you will need to find the book on the shelf.

How to read call numbers

Libraries use call numbers to organise books on the shelves. The call numbering system we use (Library of Congress) uses a combination of letters and numbers so that books on the same topic are grouped together. This means that when browsing the shelves, you will find other useful books on the same topic nearby.

The call numbers begin with a letter and run alphabetically with each broad subject grouping allocated its own letter.  The letter and number that follow the first letter narrow down the subject.

Structure of a Call Number

Title: Change by design: how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation

Author: Tim Brown

Call Number: HD58.8 .B772 2009 

How to find a book on the shelf

Now to find your book on the shelf. 

You will need to look at the shelf labels on the end of each row of shelves. 

Shelf order

The call number sequence is ordered from left to right on the shelf starting at the top of the first bay.  After reaching the end of the shelf, the sequence continues on the left side of the shelf beneath. When the sequence reaches the bottom shelf, it then jumps to the top shelf of the second bay.

Please see this video that explains how to find items in the library.

The Library and Archives Service retains a collection of both physical and electronic PhD and MPhil theses. The Library also retains physical copies of Masters theses but since 2015, only ones which focus on a Welsh interest or those awarded a distinction are retained.

You can search for past Bangor University Masters and PhD dissertations using Library Search. Search under the BU Library Collections scope;

Type in your title or author or a keyword if you are doing a general search (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.

If you would like to consult a physical thesis, 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 are also available to access electronically through Library Search and should appear in your results lists giving a link to Online Access.

You can widen your search to include UK doctoral research theses from other Universities, searching across the British Library’s Ethos (Electronic Thesis Online Service) collection giving you full text access to almost 100,000 theses, by searching under the Everything scope;

Typing in your keywords and then limiting your search by ticking the Theses box under Resource Type from the Refine my Results menu on the right, and then clicking Apply Filters.

You can have your dissertation bound at the University Bindery which is located on the Normal Site on Holyhead Road.  Click here for further details. 

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.

Bangor University Library operates an open door policy and welcomes members of public to use the library during regular opening times (9am – 9pm Monday to Friday and 12pm – 5pm at weekends).

Should members of the public wish to borrow from our collections, they can do this free of charge by joining through the Linc-y-Gogledd scheme.

Graduates of Bangor University can request library access by emailing the Alumni Office.

If you are a registered student or member of staff at another participating University, including the Open University, you may also join through the Sconul Access scheme.

Nurses, midwives and radiographers employed by the NHS in North Wales can also apply for membership by producing a pay slip or contract to confirm their employment at a Customer Service Desk.

Anyone not included in the above categories can join as an external borrower upon payment of a security deposit and annual subscription. Contact the Customer Services Manager for further details.

All of the External Borrower categories above are entitled to borrow up to 6 items for 2 weeks and can make use of our self-service photocopying facilities.  Access to our computers and most electronic resources however, is restricted.

External Borrowers are also entitled to access some of our Electronic Resources through our Walk-in Access service, although certain restrictions do apply.  Please click here for further information about Walk-in Access.

Go to the Library Catalogue Library Search and click on the 'Sign In' button in the top right hand corner

Click on your name in the top right hand corner and then click on 'My Library Account'

You will then see an overview of your current loans, requests and fees.  If you have outstanding charges to pay, you can pay online by clicking the 'Pay your fines online' link. You can see in the example below that there is an outstanding charge of £9.55 to pay

The Payment Summary window gives you the opportunity to confirm the amount you are about to pay

The final step is to fill out the payment form

Click continue once you have filled in the form

Once you click Continue, you will be notified if your payment was succesful or not

You will receive two emails telling you that your fine has been paid and it has been succesfully cleared from your account

You will need to ‘sign in’ to Library Search to enable this feature

• If an item you require is out on loan it will show as Checked out from on the catalogue. You can recall it by clicking on the title, to open up the record.

• When the record is open, you will see the option Place a hold request (reserve a book).

• When you click on this link you will be prompted to select which Library branch you would like to collect the item from.

• The return date will automatically be adjusted and the item will be recalled for you

**Please note**

Items that are on loan to undergraduate students cannot be recalled during vacation periods.

Recalling a book video guide.

Access to past papers is controlled by Module Organisers and should be accessible through your MyBangor page.

If you have any issues accessing a particular paper, please contact the Module Organiser for further guidance.

These are commands which allow you to combine search terms to broaden or limit your search. The terms supported in this catalogue include AND, OR, NOT and NEAR.

• AND combines two or more keywords, limiting your search, for example:
  Peacocks AND Paradise will produce results containing both these search terms, e.g. Peacocks in Paradise.
• OR will produce results with either search term in the title, broadening your search, for example:
  Peacocks OR Paradise will produce results including Peacocks in Paradise and Paradise Lost.
• NOT will exclude a term from your search, making your search more specific, for example:
  Milton, John NOT Paradise Lost will produce a list of works by Milton not including Paradise Lost.
• NEAR will produce results where your search terms are within five words of each other, for example:
  History NEAR Britain will produce a list of results including Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain

Your Academic Support Librarian would be able to help you with any aspect of your search strategy.  Please email or telephone us to ask for assistance

To address the demand for items in our print collections and to conform with health and safety guidance and social distancing measures, the Library is offering a safe and contactless Click & Collect book request service where registered staff and students can request items to be collected at an arranged time.

This service is available for items housed in all our branch libraries.

To request items, first visit the Library Catalogue and make sure that you sign in through the link in the top right-hand corner.

To search for books, you will need to search under the BU Library Collections search scope.

Type in the title of the specific book you are looking for, it often helps to add the author's surname if it is a common title, or type in keywords if you are searching for general books on a topic.

When you find your book listed in the results, click on the book’s title to open the full record.

If you have signed in, you will find a link to Place a hold request (reserve a book), click on the link and you will be asked to select a Pickup Location.  Please select the library you would like to collect your reserved item from. If you have any comments or special requirements, you can type them into the Comment field. Click Request to complete the process.

We will email you to allocate a pick-up slot when your requested item(s) is ready for collection. You will need to confirm the appointment in the email or reply to suggest an alternative time if you can't make that slot. Collection slots are currently allocated between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (9am - 2pm Monday to Thursday in Wrexham).

Please do not travel to your selected Library until you have received your ‘ready to collect’ email confirmation.

We ask that you bring your student card with you. If you are nominating someone to collect the books on your behalf, please let us know when replying.

On arrival, please use the hand sanitizer provided and follow the 2m social distancing guidelines.

Please press the intercom button in the library foyer in the Main Library to alert library staff that you are waiting. They will open the doors for you to enter. At the collection point you will be asked to step forward to pick up your books which will have already been issued on to your account. There will be designated collection points at the other libraries, where library staff will ask for you to show your student card / ID before asking you to step forward to pick up your books.

Please note.

• For items listed as available in the library catalogue, please allow two working days from placing your request to receiving your allocated time slot.
• If the item you have requested is currently on loan, we will recall the item but cannot guarantee that it will be returned as many of our borrowers are not in a position to be able to return their loans.
• If you choose to collect an item from a different library to where the item is housed, it may take an extra day or two for the item to be delivered to your preferred collection library. 
• The service is intended to address the immediate need for access to books, we kindly ask that you only place requests for books that you intend to collect within the week. We do not have the capacity to process advance requests for books that are needed for later use.
• The service is restricted to registered students and members of staff only.  We are not able to extend the service to LINC y Gogledd, Sconul or any other associate library members at the time being.
• If you are unable to make your allocated time-slot, please email iss808@bangor.ac.uk to rearrange at your earliest convenience.
• If you are having problems placing requests or have any questions or concerns, please email us at library@bangor.ac.uk

Yes, you can copy extracts from most books, journals, conference proceedings and law reports as long as there is only a single copy for your own private individual use, and it is within the defined extent limits.

• Up to 10% or ONE chapter of a book
• Up to 10% or ONE article from a single issue of a journal
• Up to 10% or ONE report/case from judicial proceedings
• Up to 10% or ONE paper from a set of conference proceedings
• Up to 10% of an anthology or ONE short story/poem of no more than 10 pages

Please consult our Copyright FAQs for further information.

Please click here for details

In the first instance, we recommend that you contact the library, it may be that the book was not returned correctly on the self-check machines.  We can check the shelves to confirm that the book is in fact missing.  By contacting us, you may also be able to prevent fines accruing on your other loans.

We also suggest that you have a thorough look at home for the book. As book loans renew automatically, it is likely that you will have had the book for some time so may have forgotten where you left it.  Could you have lent the book to a fellow student for example?

If you have lost an item from the Library, you will be expected to pay a fee to cover the cost of purchasing a new copy plus a fee to cover the processing cost.  Unfortunately, it is not acceptable for you to provide your own replacement copy. 

Once we have confirmed to you that the item is lost, our customer services desk staff can process a bill for you which will be added to your library account.

1. University Staff and Registered Students

• The Library system will auto-renew all your eligible loans seven days before they are due.
• This will happen early in the morning.  An email will be sent to your university email account to let you know if the renewal has not been successful. 
• Items that have not been renewed must be returned by the due date, otherwise you will be fined. 
• Fines for overdue recalled items will remain at £1 per day, per item.
• There is a limit of 14 renewals and once that is reached the items must be returned to the library to prove you have not lost or damaged the item.
• Short loan (24 hours and 3 days loans) are exempt and will not be automatically renewed.
• Recalls - Books can be recalled at any time.  You might get a recall notice from the library, even if you’ve only had the book for a few days. In this case, the original due date will be cancelled and the notification will contain a revised return date.  It is important to check e-mails regularly / every day to avoid being fined.

Please note: If your library fine exceeds £10 or you have an overdue recalled item (an item requested by another user), your books will not automatically renew. 

2. External Borrowers including LINC y Gogledd and Sconul Access members

• If you need to keep your loans for a longer period, you can renew your books at any time, provided that another reader has not made a request for your books, you have no unpaid overdue charges or there is a problem with your library membership. 
• You can renew your books, manage your account, view holds and unpaid charges by signing in to Library Search. You will need to consult a member of library staff to set up a password first.
• Once you have had a password created, click on the Sign in link in the top right hand corner and sign in as Other Users using your library card number as your User ID and password
• You can also renew your own loans using the self-service machines, at a library service desk or by telephoning the Library desk on (01248 382983). Remember that you will need your library card for this.

Renewal requests should never be e-mailed, as we cannot guarantee to read your message in time to prevent overdue charges being applied to your account.

The Library catalogue is open for anyone to search and view our holdings however access to our electronic collections is restricted to registered staff and students.

Without signing in you can:

• Search the Catalogue (Library Search)
• Use ‘Ask the Library’ live chat service to ask a question online

The Research Reserve is the Library’s offsite storage facility where lesser used resources are housed. If you find an item on the library catalogue (Library Search) that is located in the Research Reserve, it is possible for you to request that item and it should be delivered to the branch library of your choice within three days. There are separate methods for requesting Books and Journals.  

1. The procedure for requesting a book:

First of all, to enable all features of Library Search (the library catalogue) you will need to sign in by clicking on the Sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page and entering your University assigned username and password.

When you find a book listed as being available at the Research Reserve, to request the book, you will need to click on the Available at..... link.

This should reveal a Request Options button. Click on the button and a request form will appear.

You must specify which Library you would like the item delivered to, then simply click Request.

   2. The procedure for requesting a journal:

First of all, to enable all features of Library Search (the library catalogue) you will need to sign in by clicking on the Sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page and entering your University assigned username and password.

When you find a journal listed as being available at the Research Reserve, you will find a Request button alongside the list of available volumes.  In the example below, to request Volume 183, you need to Click the adjacent Request button.

The following request form will appear confirming which volume you are requesting.  You will need to specify which Library you would like the item delivered to, then simply click Request.

The item will then be collected for you and delivered to your selected library within 3 days.