Library Services supports the information resources and services needs of staff and students undertaking high quality research, learning and teaching at the University. Collections include online repositories for archiving and sharing of University research outputs, including theses.
University Library
Library Services operates one of the largest academic libraries in the country and boasts an outstanding research collection, incorporating an astonishing 1.5 million items, as well as over 124,000 scholarly journals (electronic and print), and access to 866,000 e-books and 700 databases. The collections are located primarily in the Main Library and Research Reserve, with subject specific site libraries for medicine and drama.
In addition, the University holds extensive Special Collections of rare books, manuscripts, archives, photographs and associated artefacts, housed in the Cadbury Research Library, Barber Fine Art Library and Shakespeare Institute Library. These collections include over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471 and more than four million manuscript items.
Library Services provides study places, computer clusters, and a dedicated research room for PG researchers and academic staff.
Making contact
Contact us directly via our Just Ask online chat service.
Email: library@mail.libanswers.bham.ac.uk.
Finding resources
For access to library collections and more, visit FindIt@Bham.
Student skills enhancement
The Academic Skills Centre helps all students to fulfil their full academic potential by designing and providing a range of academic skills support initiatives, through face to face or eLearning. Activities include Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), and the Postgraduate Teaching Assistants supporting Undergraduate Study Skills programmes.
A recent innovation is Skills4Campus, a new interactive study skills resource available at the Academic Skills Centre.
Records Management
The University deals in many types of record both in physical format, e.g. on paper and on electronic media, and in content from minutes of meetings, through student and financial records, to the results of research and clinical trials. There is a general need to reduce the amount of records that are kept beyond their useful life span, whilst maintaining the integrity of the University’s administration.
Teaching and AV support
Two teams support AV and teaching.
LRAT (the Learning Resources Accommodation Team) has wide brief supporting AV in many ways across the University. Services include video-conferencing, complex AV installations, events in large lecture theatres and other venues and much more. LRAT's activities are not limited to centrally managed rooms - they work for colleges and other corporate services for the installation and maintenance of AV kit on a contract basis. LRAT is involved in projects including Dubai Phases 1 and 2, the CTL and 3 Centenary Square.
TAMU (the Teaching Accommodation Management Unit) operates the fast-response Helpline for users of teaching space looked after by LRAT, working with Estates, building, decoration and furniture contractors to keep rooms in a good condition, and manage three complete buildings - Strathcona, Murray and Nuffield.