Information Commons
This state-of-the art undergraduate facility contains nearly 100,000 books and over 500 open access PCs from which you can access the Library´s online services as well as email and your files and networked software.
It is open 24/7. You will find that most of the books which are core reading for modules have at least some copies in the IC. In many cases there will be reference only copies, otherwise books can be borrowed for 2 days (Short Loan with red band) or for the Standard Loan (usually one week with renewal available as described above). There is also a collection of useful reference/background material in the IC. There are a range of study environments: quiet study areas where mobile phones, iPods and Laptops are banned, areas where such devices may be used and a reasonable level of ambient noise is acceptable and group study areas
| The Electronic Library |
Many of the library resources are delivered in electronic form via the campus network and can be accessed online from any computer via any ISP throughout the world as well as from the open access PCs on Campus. Simply log into MUSE and click on the Library tab.
The ejournals link leads to the many thousands of journals delivered electronically. These ejournals are now delivered through FindIt@Sheffield, the new digital content discovery service. You can access FindIt@Sheffield also directly here, but you will need to authenticate yourself through MUSE once you want to access digital content. The database link under the Library tab in MUSE leads to a wide range of online services from bibliographical databases to help you to locate useful articles within those journals to large collections of primary materials. Books still tend to be mainly available in print but we have a growing number of ebooks.
A search on Star will find electronic as well as print books and journals with a link to these electronic texts but you will be asked to log on to MUSE if you are not already logged on.
| Finding subject related library resources |
There are a range of subject guides to help you to find all the library resources you will need to do independent study. There is one for History, and it is particularly recommended that you familiarise yourself with the range of bibliographical databases listed under "Databases". If your studies touch on other subject areas you will probably find a guide for that as well. You do not need to log on to MUSE to view these subject guides but you will be asked to log on if you link to any of our online services.