Idea discovery
Finding information - beyond Google...
Loughborough University Library spends over £2.5 million per annum on books, journals, databases, and discovery tools. We provide access to over 11,000 ejournals, 220 subscription databases, and half a million books. If we don't have what you need we can either provide you a copy via inter-library loan or provide you with access to other libraries.
Online resourcesInter-Library Loans
If we don't have it, we'll do our best to get hold of it! The Library offers a free inter-library loans service. Researchers (postgraduate research and staff) are entitled to up to 40 items. You can also get hold of theses in this way.
Inter-Library LoansUsing other libraries
If you're based a long way from Loughborough, or are studying in a niche area, it may help you to access to other University Libraries. Loughborough University is a member of the SCONUL Access scheme which allows researchers to borrow from other University Libraries.
Using other librariesResearch study spaces
The Library has a wide range of study spaces suitable for all types of research study. This includes 20 bookable individual study carrels situated throughout the Library, plus two bookable media carrels . Levels 1 and 2 are silent study areas whilst Level 3 of the Library offers an informal meeting space, and Cafe 641 which is popular with staff and students. All areas of the Library have Wifi access.
Study spaces and room bookingsWorkshops for researchers
We offer workshops for both staff and research students to further enhance their information discovery and management skills.
Workshops for StaffWorkshops for PGR studentsManaging your references
Citation is the means by which you tell a reader where to find the sources – books, journals, web pages which you have referred to in your work. When writing it is essential that information on all the sources you have consulted are included in the text of your work and in the reference list at the end. The Library has produced an Advice Sheet on the Harvard Referencing style, and some further guidance on citation, plagiarism and the ethical use of information on LEARN.
RefWorks is a web-based service which enables you to create and manage your own personal bibliographic database. You can either type the references in yourself, or import them from a text file or database search. When you are writing a research paper you can automatically format these references in a chosen style (such as Harvard) for use in the bibliography. RefWorks has much in common with other bibliographic software packages such as EndNote, ProCite or Reference Manager, but since it is accessed via the web rather than installed locally on your computer you can use it anywhere in the UK.
Access RefWorksOther Bibliographic SoftwareKeeping your research up-to-date
Once you have finished your literature review it is always a good idea to make sure that you keep up-to-date with new developments in your field by setting up alerts. You can do this using several different tools:
- Journal contents email alerts - Zetoc and TicTocs are two examples, or you could just look on the web site of your preferred journals to sign up for alerts.
- Saved searches - run a search on various databases such as Scopus or Web of Science, create a personal account, and then receive emails every time new papers are published matching your search terms.
- RSS feeds - a good way to keep track of web pages or the contents pages of your favourite journals.
If you need help or a few suggestions for best services to use just ask your Academic Librarian or come to one of our workshops.