Beyond books: Materials to support
The Library contains much more than just books. We hold a wealth of information to support your teaching, research, and personal interests. We encourage you to explore the full range of resources available – please ask us for any help and advice on finding and accessing them.
Borrowing allowance
All staff members can borrow: 20 items for 3 weeks.
Your staff ID card is also your Library card, you don’t need to do anything to activate your Library account – you can use the Library straight away. If you have any questions, please ask at the helpdesk on floor one of the Duke Street Building and we’ll be happy to help.
This borrowing allowance includes books, DVDs, and games.
If you wish to borrow an item longer for research or for teaching, please contact the library and we will be happy to assist.
If you wish to borrow a “library use only” item (special collection items, journals, board games) for teaching, please let a Librarian know and this can be arranged.
Databases and journal subscriptions
The Library subscribes to a wealth of databases and journals.
The content of these databases includes ebooks, journals, image repositories, statistical record banks, recorded film, television, and stage performances, as well as trend and market data.
The majority can be accessed through Discovery (the library catalogue), although some need to be searched individually (e.g. Box of Broadcasts / BoB).
A full list of and links to all of the databases can be found on our Online Resources page. Each database is tagged with the courses it is relevant to – although this is a guide rather than a prescriptive list.
A full list of our individual journal and magazine subscriptions can be found on our Journals and magazines page. Again, each item is tagged with the courses it is relevant to – although this is a guide rather than a prescriptive list.
You can also see the currently recommended resources for the course you teach on the Course Guides pages. Please contact your Librarian if you wish for these to be changed or updated.
If you would like the Library to subscribe to a new database, journal or magazine, please contact your Librarian.
Special collection
The Library’s Special Collection houses a range of material. Whilst some of it dates back to the 18th century, the majority is from 20th and 21st century. We have a mix of rare, expensive, and fragile items.
The collection is for use in the Library only and can be found in the glass cabinets within the main Library. If you wish to use Special Collection items in your teaching please speak to your Subject Librarian who will be able to recommend items within the collection.
Find out more on the Special Collection webpage.
Zine collection
The library holds a wide collection of zines, ranging from fanzines from the 1970s and 80s to student created zines. Full information on our collection is available on our Zine page.
We offer sessions exploring the zines as well as facilitating zine making workshops in conjunction with academic members of staff.
Book displays
We regularly have book displays in the library foyer and in the vitrines. We are keen to create displays that relate to your teaching so please let us know if there is a subject you would like us to highlight.
Our past online displays are always available to be shared with staff and students.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is only recommended as a supplement to the library resources. Occasionally, when a student is researching a subject not traditionally covered by an arts university, we would encourage the use of Google Scholar but, in general, library resources should be the main focus of research.
More information on the concerns regarding the quality of information available on Google Scholar is available in this LSE blog post.
Submitting your work to the library
We are always happy to have your work as part of our collection, whether you have been formally published, or you have published informally as a zine or similar. Please get in touch with the library for more information: library@norwichuni.ac.uk.
If you are in the process of publishing a book, we encourage you to read Can my students read my books? when considering which publisher to work with.
Copying and scanning for teaching
Please do not scan items for teaching yourself. The library can scan chapters on behalf of course teams for uploading to the VLE. Please complete this form if you wish to make use of this service.
Under the University’s Higher Education Copyright licence we can scan 10%, one chapter, or one article from a book or journal, which can be uploaded onto the VLE. Members of the University are not licensed to scan or copy more of a book or journal than stated above. Scanning or copying a greater amount of a book or journal is an infringement of copyright law.
For more details about Copyright Guidance for Teaching, see the Intranet.
Using the library for leisure
As a library user you are also welcome to borrow from our extensive DVD, video and board games collections. We hold XBox, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch games. DVDs and games can be borrowed for the same amount of time as a standard loan book. Board games are for use in the library only.
In the library we have a Playstation 4 and DVD players available to use. The Playstation is only for use in the Library, but you can borrow portable DVD and BluRay players.
The library also has a great fiction section (ground floor and first floor entrance) with a focus on reading for pleasure.
Everything is free to borrow and we don’t charge fines.