Essential Library Skills

This aims to explain• How to use the Library pages on UniHub and

myUniHub and Library Subject Guides to find the resources you need.

• How to use the catalogue to look up items, request and renew books (using your library account).

• How to Log-in to electronic resources (e.g. databases, online journals and books).

• How to get material from elsewhere.

Before Accessing an Electronic resource

• Login to MyUniHub

• Follow the links in the My Library box to access the resource

UniHub home page and login http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/

The Library Catalogue

• The Library Catalogue lists all the material (books, journals etc.) held in all the Middlesex University libraries.

• You may use any campus library, or via the library catalogue, you may request books from another campus to be sent here for you to collect.

E-books• E-books can be found using the library

catalogue, just like a print book.

• You will see the words ‘[electronic resource]’ after the title.

• Click on the blue ‘web access’ link to download or read the book online – make sure you have logged into myUniHub!

Requesting Books

If the book you are seeking is already on loan or only available at another campus, you may request it via the library catalogue

When you find a book on the library catalogue you may request it by clicking on the Request Item button

At the Login Screen use your Student or Staff Number here…

…. your date of birth in six digits here….e.g ddmmyy…….

Student numbers start with M and the newer staff ID cards have a staff number that begins with S. If your card differs from these or you have problems logging in contact the library for assistance.

…..and click on Login

At the next screen Choose the Campus you want to collect the item from using the menu…..

…….and click on the Request button

Your Request has been placed. Click here to Logout of your account.You should receive an email once the item has arrived for you to collect. It will be held for 7 days for collection at the campus of your choice.

Renewing Books Online

Use the ‘My Account’ option to see what items you have on loan and to renew them

N.B. You will not be able to renew requested books

Click on My Account/Renewals

At the Login Screen use your Student or Staff Number here…

…. your date of birth in six digits here….e.g ddmmyy…….

Student numbers start with M and the newer staff ID cards have a staff number that begins with S. If your card differs from these or you have problems logging in contact the library for assistance.

…..and click on Login

…Click on Currently Borrowed

On the Account Summary Screen…

On the next screen click in the boxes to select the items you wish to renew…

…click on the Renew button and…

Once renewed the Due Date will change

You may renew an item up to 50 times, provided it is not requested by another borrower.If you are not able to renew an item yourself, you should contact the library. Telephone numbers are on the date label of the book itself and on our website. Webhelpdesk is on 0208 411 6060.

Journal Access• Information regarding the Library’s

holdings of print and electronic journals can be accessed via the Library Catalogue

• If available in print, the catalogue will tell you which campus holds the journal

• If available online, there will be a blue ‘web access’ link to the available online issues of the journal

Finding a Journal article via the catalogue

USE THE JOURNAL TITLE AND SEARCH THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE

FIND THE JOURNAL TITLE IN THE LIST AND CLICK ON IT

The Journal is online and in print form

Occasionally...You may see this screen

Click on the link and login with your myUniHubusername and password.

To search for articles on a topic

• You need to use a Database to search for articles.

• You will have access to items we have a subscription to.

• Go from the My Library box in MyUniHub and click on Databases for the full list.

• Log into MyUniHub and go to the Library Subject Guides for ones selected by your librarian.

Useful Databases

• Social Sciences Citation Index• International Bibliography of the Social

Sciences• Law Databases – LexisLibrary, Westlaw,

HeinOnline• Proquest Newsstand (Full Text UK

Newspapers)• PsycInfo

Social Sciences Citation IndexOnce logged in, click on Web of

Science tab

And on the + next to Citation Databases

This enables you to select the indexes you wish to search

Registering with SSCI enables you to save your search preferences, searches, and set up email alerts.

You complete an online form to do this. If you forget your password you can ask for a reminder to be sent to your email address.

Example searchTo explore drugs and crimeThink about related keywords

DrugsSubstance misuse or Substance abuseCrimeCriminal behaviourIt may be useful to do 2 or more searches and combine them

Use the drop down menus to change between AND, OR or NOT

Select Topic search

Type search terms into the boxes and click on search

The results are high. You should conduct a second search for the other part of your topic.

The results for the second search for drugs or Substance abuse are high.

It is time to combine the searches. Click on Search History

Click AND on the Checkbox to combine searches

Click on the checkboxes to select 2 or more searches to combine before clicking on combine

The third search has combined the first two. Click on the blue number to go to the results screen

Results are bibliographical references. Clicking on the title will give you the abstract and additional links to related articles. You need to check the catalogue to see if we have a subscription to the journal.

If we have no subscription to the journal

• You may use the InterLibrary Loan Service – and submit a request for an article. Do this via MyUniHub – My Library.

• The Sconul Access Scheme will provide access to a number of University Libraries. Register for this at the Helpdesks on the ground floor of the Library.

Useful Links

• Library and IT Support - general information http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library/

• Library Subject Guides – for links to resources selected by librarians for your subject, helpsheets and contact detailshttp://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/

Ask Us!

• Come to the Expert Desk on the 1st floor of the library

• Use AskaLibrarian• Send me an email L.Curtis-Brown@mdx.ac.uk