In line with the University’s move to online teaching, the University Library moved services fully online with effect from Monday 23 March 2020.  Please be assured that we will continue to provide you with our services.  We will ensure that all online resources and additional online help are available to you during the current, unprecedented public health situation.

Using Library online services

A significant proportion of our resources are already available online. There will be no change to this service and everything that you previously used will continue to be available. A simple way to find existing and new resources in your subject is to check our online subject guides: the new COVID-19 tab lists extra resources provided to UoR during the lockdown period.

Online resources

Undergraduate and post-graduate taught course students: you can still access UoR online reading lists directly and via Blackboard. Many of the items on your reading lists are accessible online, with some lists fully available online.

For your research, you can still access e-resources through the Library website, to find our extensive collection of e-books, e-journals and databases. The following tools will help you:

• Enterprise for e-books and e-journals
• Summon for e-journal articles and e-book chapters
• Databases by subject for subject-specific articles, chapters, and other resources
• Online dictionaries, encylopedias and other reference sources

Online Library help and assistance

All Library staff are still available to help and assist with your studies and research.

• Our Academic Liaison Team can advise you on finding good quality literature to support your work and referencing. See their online subject guides or contact your Academic Liaison Librarian (ALL) directly for help by email or remotely by video link; or complete a general one-to-one ALL appointment request form.
• Our Study Advisers are available for one-to-one advice and support online via video, chat, or email. They also have a series of video tutorials and study guides providing essential study advice.
• Our Maths Support team is available for one-to-one advice and support online via video, chat, or email.  They also provide links and guidance, worksheets and video tutorials. To request one-to-one help, send an email to mathssupport@reading.ac.uk.
• Our Research Engagement team is available to support your research. If you require support for Open Access, research data management and other research related matters, please email centaur@reading.ac.uk.
• If you encounter a problem or need technical help and support with online resources, please complete an E-resources problem report form or email eresourceshelp@reading.ac.uk.

Library materials currently on loan

Whilst the Library building remains closed the printed book collection will not be available.  If you currently have books on loan that are due back do not worry!  We will automatically renew them for you so that you do not get fined.  And if you incur any fines during this period of online working you will not be charged.  Books that you currently have on loan will not be recalled and you will not be expected to return them whilst the building is closed.  If you want to place a reservation (hold) on a book you can continue to do so and we will seek to satisfy your request.  For loan and general enquiries, please email library@reading.ac.uk

Interlibrary loans

You can still request Inter-Llibrary Loans in the usual manner, completing the online request form.  If you currently have Inter-Library Loans (books) from another library do not worry, we will arrange for the return date to be extended for you.  For Inter-Library Loan enquiries, please email ill@reading.ac.uk.

Other enquiries

If you have any other enquiries or require any additional support, please email library@reading.ac.uk.

Look out for further Library service updates on the Library website, University Library News blog, Twitter and Facebook.

Stuart Hunt, Director