- Where can I find Library help?
For Library assistance, please contact Library Enquiries or your Subject Librarian.
The main Library Enquiry desk is on Level 3 near the security entrance point, while the various Subject Librarians are based at the Enquiry desks on Levels 4 and 5.
In addition, 'roving support staff' cover all Library floors on a regular basis throughout the day to help with general enquiries, and to provide guidance in the use of the electronic mobile shelving on Level 1.
- Where can I find IT help?
The main IT Helpdesk is on Level 3 of the Library in the Curran Building, while the other IT Helpdesk which is on the ground floor of the McCance Building focuses on the needs of Professional Services staff.
Opening hours and contact details for each desk can be found on the IT Helpdesk web page, together with information about out-of-hours support.
- How do I get my University username and password?
Your DS (Directory Services) username and password are the login details to your personal IT account with the University, and will enable you to access most of the IT systems that you will use while you are here.
Access to IT facilities is linked to your contract of employment. As long as you have signed and returned your contract to HR prior to your arrival, your DS account will be activated and the details sent to your departmental secretary for onward distribution. In addition to this, providing you have proof of your identity, details can be collected from any of the IT Helpdesks.
Please refer to the Your DS Account web page for further information.
- What do I do if I forget my University DS username or password?
Please refer to the DS Password Reset page for instructions.
- How can I find and book a teaching room to match my requirements?
Central Pool Teaching Rooms - You can use the room facilities search tool to find out about layout and equipment in all these rooms. This includes the PC teaching rooms, about which further information is available in the FAQ below - Where can I find out more about the PC teaching rooms? All Central Pool Teaching Room bookings are now done by the University room booking system - see the Timetables page for directions.
Library Seminar Rooms 4 and 5 - These two additional rooms (which are not covered by the room facilities search tool above) have been made available on a temporary basis to assist with the relocation of classes following the fire in the James Weir Building. Seminar Room booking instructions can be found on the Room bookings in the Library - University Staff page - see Option 2.
Library Group Discussion Rooms - These small rooms may also be booked by staff for teaching purposes. There are five rooms - four on Level 2 seating up to seven each, and one on Level 5 seating up to five. All rooms include built-in PC and laptop data projection facilities. Group Discussion Room booking instructions can be found on the Room bookings in the Library - University Staff page - see Option 1.
- Where can I find out more about the PC teaching rooms?
Please refer to the Labs & Teaching Support page, where you will find links to information about PC availability; software availability (A-Z and by lab); how to book a lab; how to request installation of software for teaching; and planned lab upgrades.
- How do I report an IT problem in one of the Central Pool Teaching rooms?
Please contact the Teaching Space Support team.
- How do I connect to the University wireless network?
Information about the University wireless network is available from the IT Helpdesks.
- How do I access my University email account?
Your mailbox is on the University's Exchange mail server, and you can access it anywhere via NEMO.
- How do I save files to my home directory?
Please refer to the Home Directories information page.
- What do I do if I have a fault with my PC?
Please report problems with your PC's hardware or software to the IT Helpdesk.
- Where is the University (Andersonian) Library?
The Andersonian Library is located in the Curran Building on the John Anderson city centre campus.
(Jordanhill Library, which was on the Jordanhill campus in the west end of the city, closed for the last time on 1st June 2012, and all its stock is now integrated into the Andersonian Library.)
- When is the Library open?
Please refer to the Andersonian Library Opening Hours web page.
- Where can I find out about joining the Library and my borrowing entitlement?
Please refer to the Library Guide: Academic/Academic-related staff or the Library Guide: Other Strathclyde employees, as appropriate.
- How can I contact Library staff?
The Library's Contact Us web page will give you contact details for general enquiries and also for the Subject Librarian for your Faculty.
- How can I arrange a Library induction or a research support session for my undergraduate or postgraduate students?
Please contact your Subject Librarian who will be happy to discuss your requirements and deliver a session tailored to your students’ needs.
- Who should I contact about book orders for the Library?
For any query relating to book orders, email Acquisitions or contact the Division on ext.4613. For further information see the Library's Purchasing Stock and Book Ordering for Library Acquisition: FAQs pages.
- Who should I contact in the Library about my Reading Lists?
Please refer to the Reading Lists information page for directions.
- How do I submit a photocopy to the Library's Short Loan Collection?
Please complete a Library Copyright Form for each photocopy. The completed form and photocopy can then be submitted to Julie Iannelli, Short Loan Collection, Andersonian Library. For enquiries, she may be contacted at ext 4040. Please refer to the Submitting Photocopies to the Library guidelines for further information on completing the copyright form.
- What is Myplace and how do I access it?
Myplace is the University VLE, the Moodle-based learning system at the University of Strathclyde where online material and activities for classes are made available to students.
Go to Myplace and login using your University DS username and password.
- What VLE support can the Library provide?
The Library can help provide information content to teaching staff who are engaged in e-learning.
Please refer to the Library's Digital Library Support and Virtual Learning page. This details practical ways by which the Library can facilitate the presentation and appropriate use of information resources within a VLE, and also provides guidance on general principles to do with best practice in information use.
Further information is available in the FAQ How do I apply to get an item scanned for teaching purposes?
- How do I apply to get an item scanned for teaching purposes?
The Copyright Licensing Agency allows scanning of certain items for teaching purposes, subject to the conditions of the CLA Photocopying and scanning HE Licence.
Strathclyde teaching staff who wish to request a scan/scans should submit an online Digitisation Request form for each item to the University Scanning Service. Scanning Service staff will check for compliance with the Licence, and either arrange for the scan/scans to be made available, or advise if there are any problems.
Further information can be found on the Digitisation: FAQs page. Please email the Scanning Service if you have any queries.
- Where can I get advice on virtual learning tools?
Visit the Learning Technology Enhancement information page to find out how the Learning Technology Enhancement team can help deliver innovation in teaching and learning.
- What is PEGASUS and how do I access it?
PEGASUS is the Portal Engine Giving Access to Strathclyde University Systems.
To find out which services are available to you via PEGASUS, go to the PEGASUS Login page, and click on the 'About Pegasus' link at the top right of the page.
To login, go to the PEGASUS Login page and enter your University DS username and password.
- How do I create an email list?
Please refer to the PEGASUS Dynamic Distribution Lists information page.
- What is SharePoint and how do I access it?
SharePoint is a collection of web-based software tools brought together in one place to support users to streamline business processes relating to document management and collaborative working - read more about how it is being used on the SharePoint information pages.
To access the service, go to the SharePoint Service login page, enter your University DS username prefixed by DS\, and then enter your DS password.
- Where can I find a list of quick links to online resources such as NEMO mail, PEGASUS, Myplace, SharePoint etc?
You can find this on the My Online Resources information page.
- How do I work remotely?
Please refer to the Working Remotely information page.
- How can I search the Library holdings?
The Library's search service is called SUPrimo, and it enables you to search:
- the Library collections (including books, journal titles, electronic resources, theses, exam papers, media resources, and course material)
- across a selection of the Library's subscription databases
- Strathclyde University research items.
SUPrimo can be accessed on or off campus at http://suprimo.lib.strath.ac.uk. To open the full SUPrimo homepage (which includes links to help information) from the Library website (http://www.strath.ac.uk/library), click on 'Use the Library', and then on the 'SUPrimo' link in the second paragraph.
- How can I get help with using the Library's SUPrimo search service?
Staff at any of the Library Enquiry desks will be happy to assist, and online help is available via the Library's SUPrimo Frequently Asked Questions pages - see below. Links to these FAQs and to further online 'Help' can be found on the SUPrimo homepage.
SUPrimo FAQs: General
SUPrimo FAQs: Search tips and examples
SUPrimo FAQs: Articles + databases
- Where can I find a plan of the Library layout?
Please refer to the Library Layout page for an overview of subjects, services and facilities available on each of the five Levels of the Library. Note that the security entrance point of the Library takes you on to Level 3, rather than Level 1.
- Where are the toilets?
Toilets, including disabled facilities, are available on all five Levels of the Library, and are located as follows:
Level 5 : Immediately round to your left after entering the floor.
Level 4 : Immediately round to your left after entering the floor.
Level 3 (entrance floor) : Access is from the corridor behind the IT Sales point.
Level 2 : Immediately round to your left after entering the floor.
Level 1 : In the far right corner of the floor from its entrance.
- How are the books arranged in the Library?
Books are arranged in different sections/collections, normally according to the loan period. Within each section/collection, they are then arranged in numerical order by subject.
The three main open access sections, arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification system, are:
Lending Books (6 week / 1 week loan copies) - Shelf number sequence begins on Level 4 (D 001 - D 699) and ends on Level 5 (D 700 - D 999). Note that the Law Lending books (D 340 - D 349) are not shelved in this main sequence, but instead in a separate area in the far left quadrant of Level 5 from the entrance. Please refer to the 'Shelved at number' table on the Library Locations page for details.
Reference Books (reference only copies) - This section also runs from Level 4 to Level 5. Note that Law Reference books (RD 340 - RD 349) are also shelved separately in the far left quadrant of Level 5 from the entrance. Again, please refer to the 'Shelved at number' table on the Library Locations page for details.
Short Loan Collection (1 day loan copies) - Located on Level 3, in the far right corner of the floor from the Library security entrance point.
For closed access items held in the Store, please submit a Store Request - see Making Requests page for instructions.
For the locations of other collections, please refer to the 'Named Collections' table on the Library Locations page.
- Which print and electronic journals does the Library hold?
Please refer to the Library's Serials information page.
- Where do I borrow/return Library material?
All borrowing/return points are on Level 3 (the entrance floor) of the Library:
Lending items (6 week or 1 week loan) - Items from Levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 should be borrowed/returned at the Lending Services desk, or by using the Self Issue/Return machines opposite. These are also available for out-of-hours use i.e. when the Library is open but the Lending Services desk is closed. An Out-of-Hours returns bookdrop is also available, just inside the Library security entrance point.
Short Loan items (1 day loan) - These should be borrowed/returned using the Short Loan self-service kiosks in the Short Loan Collection area, which remains open throughout all Library opening hours.
- Can I renew my loans online and make requests for items which are already on loan?
Yes, you can use Your Library Account to perform various checks and transactions online e.g. check which items you have out on loan and their due dates; renew your loans; check your fines status; and place various types of request - see Making Requests page for further information.
Your Library Account is automatically set up once you are a Library member, but you should log in to your Library Account and change your Library PIN from the default as soon as possible. Should you forget your PIN, please refer to the Your Library Account information page for instructions.
- Which full-text/abstracting databases are available via the Library and how can they be accessed?
Access to individual databases - Use either of the following routes:
- Databases web page – Here you will find links to the complete A-Z list and also to lists by subject area. Click on the database name for access.
- SUPrimo 'Library Collections' search – Under the ‘Library Collections’ tab, search by the database name to display its SUPrimo record. If you retrieve several results, click on the Publication type limit 'databases' on the left side of the screen. Click on the ‘Electronic resource’ link on the SUPrimo record to access the database.
Cross-searching selected databases - You can do this by using the:
- SUPrimo 'Articles + databases' search - Select the 'Articles + databases' tab. You can either choose to search a pre-determined subject grouping of databases from the drop-down menu next to the search box, or you can create your own group by clicking on the 'Find Databases' link along the top of the window and selecting databases of your choice. NB For technical reasons, not all of the databases to which the Library subscribes can be searched via the 'SUPrimo: Articles + databases' route - see the SUPrimo FAQs: Articles + databases page for details.
- Why does the link I am using to access an electronic resource not work?
You may be using an old link which no longer connects to the correct authentication page. It is essential to link to the Library's electronic resources using the urls provided by the Library's web page services.
To ensure that you are using the correct authentication system, please access Library services via the links on SUPrimo or on the Library web pages.
- Why does my login not work?
There may be several reasons why your login does not work e.g.
- Your browser may have cached previous authentication or link information which is no longer valid. To check this, please clear your cache and cookies e.g. in IE go to the 'Tools' option on the top menu and choose 'Internet Options'. Under 'Browsing history', click on the 'Delete...' option, then choose 'Delete all...' and click OK. Close your browser and then re-open it. Now try connecting to the service again.
- There may be a problem with your University DS account - contact the IT Helpdesk.
- Can I use the Inter-Library Service and how do I make a request?
Please refer to the Inter-Library Service information page and the Inter-Library Service: FAQs page for guidance.
- Can I use other libraries?
Teaching and research staff, with documentary proof of status, have borrowing privileges at Glasgow University Library - ask at the Lending Services desk on Level 3 of the Andersonian Library for further details.
Academic staff on open or fixed term contracts may apply for borrowing rights at other member university and higher education libraries under the SCONUL Access scheme - ask at the Lending Services desk on Level 3 for further details.
- What is the name of the Strathclyde Institutional Repository?
It is called Strathprints and is a digital repository of research publications from the University of Strathclyde. The full text of publications is made freely available where possible.
- Where can I get help with enhanced website design?
The Enhanced Web Development Service (EWDS) can design and brand a new website for you to your specification, with the tools and features you need. The EWDS will manage the hosting of the site on university servers, providing ongoing maintenance throughout the lifetime of the site.
- How can I get posters printed?
Visit the Posters Plus web page for information about the range of poster printing services available, or visit the service c/o the Reprographic & Binding Services office on Level 2 of the Library.
- How do I access video streaming?
Please refer to the Streaming FAQs.
- How do I download site licensed software?
A list of software available to staff and links to download can be found on PEGASUS.
Go to the PEGASUS Login page and enter your University DS username and password. Click on the 'Administration' tab, scroll down to the 'Information Technology Services' section on the right of the page, and click on 'Available Licensed Software'.
- Where can I buy software?
Software can be purchased from IT Sales, which is located on Level 3 of the Library.
- Where can I find training resources?
Staff training resources are available from the Development & Training Resource Centre.
- Where do I dispose of old IT equipment?
Please refer to the Equipment Disposal guidelines.
