Information for new students

What's here?

Welcome to the University Library. Here is some brief information to help you get started in using the Library and its collections. We've brought together links to information which we hope you will find particularly useful.

You can find more information on the website by:

  • Following the menu links on the left
  • Searching the site using the Search Library box at the top right of the screen.

You may also wish to view or print our leaflet Getting started at York (PDF , 117kb).

Please contact us if you need more help or have any comments or suggestions.

[Back to the top]

Come for an introduction to the Library

From Monday 3rd to Friday 21st October we will be running Library & IT Tours, generic tours that you can come along to at a time of your choosing. Tours will run on an hourly basis from 10.30 to 16.30, Monday to Friday. The tours will start in the Harry Fairhurst building and will then move to the JB Morrell Library, the main University Library.

Come along for a tour and find out how to get the most from the Library and its resources, discover new places to work and where to get help with IT problems. Library & IT Tours (PDF , 632kb)

In addition to the tours, all new students will receive subject specific introductions to the Library from their Academic Liaison Librarian. You should see an introductory Library lecture/workshop in your course timetable. The lecture/workshop will cover essential information that you will need to know if you are to be successful in your studies, so it's important that you attend.

[Back to the top]

Borrowing with your University card

You should have received your University card through the post which automatically allows you to borrow from the Library. If you haven't received a card, please check with your departmental office or course tutor.

[Back to the top]

How to borrow, return, renew and request books

There are some things you need to know about borrowing books from the Library. In particular, how to avoid late return fines and how to get access to books which someone else has already borrowed.

[Back to the top]

Using Key Texts

You may see references to Key Texts on your reading lists. The Key Texts collection, currently on the ground floor of the Raymond Burton Library (turn right as you enter the JB Morrell Library), has items which course tutors have identified as essential reading and which need to be used by large numbers of students.

Loan periods are short and can be booked in advance so that you have more opportunities to borrow these important readings.

You can borrow items from the collection and take them to another part of the Library or to wherever you want to study.

[Back to the top]

IT Services username and password

You will need your IT Services username and password to login to University PCs and to access many resources which can only be used by students and staff at York.

[Back to the top]

Electronic Library

You will need to visit the Library to use printed books and journals as not everything is available on the Internet! However, we have a growing collection of electronic resources, including journals, databases and books, which you can access from any computer connected to the Internet.

Have a look at our Electronic Library for information on:

  • How to connect to resources from your computer
  • The resources which we've purchased for you to use.

[Back to the top]

Finding resources in your subject

If you need information that's not on your reading list, how do you find out what's available in your subject? Many of the academic resources you will need to use can't be found by a Google search - we can help you.

You may have sessions in your course timetable on using the Library and finding information in your subject. Your Academic Liaison Librarian will come along and help you learn to find what you need more easily.

If you would like to find out more in your own time, explore our Finding information in your subject web pages.

You can also contact us if you would like one to one help.

[Back to the top]

Computing facilities

Many of the computers which students can use are in IT Services' classrooms across the campus and are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

We have some computers in the Library which you can use when the Library is open.

[Back to the top]

Photocopying

We have several self-service photocopiers in the Library. Your University card is your printing and photocopying card.