Resources and Facilities
The Library and Computing Services will both be essential to your studies.
The University Library
The Library is here to support you in your studies. There is a wealth of material available; over 1,400,000 printed volumes and an extensive range of electronic resources including subject databases, e-books and e-journals. Many resources are accessible from anywhere via the internet.
Sites & services
There are four Library sites for you to choose from:
The Information Commons (IC) – holds 100,000 core texts found on module reading lists. This is a 24 hour facility with 1300 study spaces and over 500 PCs. It has bookable group study rooms, and a cafe. It’s a safe and secure environment if you need to work late into the night, and is wireless enabled. Titles on Politics Dept reading lists can be found here.
Western Bank Library – this newly-refurbished Library contains the major research collections particularly in the fields of arts, humanities, social sciences and East Asian studies. Titles on Politics Dept reading lists may also be found here.
There is a light and airy Reading Room, long opening hours, and it has a quiet study atmosphere. There is access to the wireless network in most of the building.
St. George’s Library on Mappin Street and the Health Sciences Library based on Floor C of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, with a satellite at the Northern General Hospital all provide useful quiet study spaces.
A valid UCard is needed to gain entry to all Library sites and to borrow books. You will also need your UCard to use photocopying, printing and scanning facilities.
The electronic library
MUSE, the University of Sheffield portal, gives you personalised access to the University’s online resources. From the Library tab in MUSE, you can:
- find and request the books you need via the online catalogue
- renew your library loans and pay any charges you may have incurred
- see your reading lists
- access electronic resources, such as ejournals, ebooks, subject databases
- search Google Scholar
- use the Politics tutorials in the Information Skills Resource to learn how to search for information effectively, and use references correctly
Sources of help & guidance
Staff are on hand at each site to offer general advice and assistance. If you have problems, for example, finding books in the Library, accessing electronic resources, or need help with your Library account please don’t hesitate to ask any member of staff.
Gill Goddard is the Librarian for the Politics Dept - email g.m.goddard@sheffield.ac.uk or telephone 0114 222 7334. Gill’s library office is on Level 6 of the Western Bank Library and is open for help 9-5, Tues-Fri.
The Library web pages at www.sheffield.ac.uk/library offer extensive information about making the best use of resources and services. For further information about your specific subject area see http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/subjects/pol.html
Contact the Library
By telephone: 0114 222 7200
By email: library@sheffield.ac.uk
Web: www.sheffield.ac.uk/library
Twitter: twitter.com/unisheffieldlib
uSpace: uspace.shef.ac.uk/community/library
Computing Services
All students have access to a wide range of computing facilities. Corporate Information and Computing Services (CiCS) provides secure computers in rooms across campus, with a large choice of software including comprehensive internet access, email, word processing, spreadsheets, database management, CAD, statistical and other specialist software.
Together, CiCS and the Library offer an integrated environment for students in the Information Commons with over 500 computers and more than 1300 study spaces for individual and classroom learning. In addition CiCS provides 30 Student Computer Rooms across campus. All computers are connected to the campus network and maintained by CiCS. Students can also connect laptops and most mobile devices, including smartphones and iPads, to the the wireless network on campus.
Further information about CiCS Services can be found in the Student Booklet.