Quickstart guide - Students
Welcome
Welcome to Loughborough University Library. This short guide gives you all the essentials you need to start accessing our resources and services.
Our libraries
On the Loughborough campus, the University Library is known as the Pilkington Library. There is only one library on campus, and it is the largest open access study space. The Library is open to all staff and students at the University and is also home to a café. The Pilkington Library is open until 2am 7 days a week during term time and 24/7 for most of January and the whole of the summer term. Students studying at Loughborough University London can find the library on the second floor of the campus, and it is open in accordance with the building’s opening hours.
Joining the library
All staff and students are automatically registered with the library when they join the University, and you will need to use your University ID card to borrow books.
Finding resources for your studies - reading lists
Every module you study as a student should have a reading list attached to it. Your reading list contains links to a selection of books, articles and other resources chosen by your lecturer. You can find your reading list on Learn or by accessing the Library’s reading list system.
Finding resources for your studies - Library Catalogue plus
While reading lists and subject guides are a good place to start, you will be expected to read more widely in your subject to achieve the best results. The Library Catalogue Plus system is where you can find what print resources are available in the Library as well as giving access to a huge number of e-books and e-journals.
Requesting books
If a book you require is on loan to another user, you can place a hold request on the book. The person who has the book will then have one week to return the book to the Library. As soon as they have returned the book it will be placed on hold for you and you will receive an email from the Library asking you to collect your hold.
Your Library account
You can access your Library account in three ways:
- Via the Library tile on the MyLboro app
- Via the account section on Library Catalogue Plus
- Via the account section on the self-service machines
Study spaces in the Library
The Pilkington Library has 4 floors and has just under 1400 study spaces – whether you want to study quietly as an individual or in a group. We have a silent study area on the top floor of the Library and have bookable group study rooms, bookable booths and study carrels throughout the building. The Library also has 250 open access PCs and MFDs on all 4 floors. Level 2 has a suite of open access MACs. At Loughborough University London, you have a dedicated Library on the 2nd floor of the campus. It's a bright, flexible space designed for London students, offering a carefully curated book collection, comfortable study areas and easy access to the full online catalogue. It's the perfect spot to get inspired.
Study skills
Starting at university can be daunting as you are expected to be much more self-driven in your leaning. The Library has contributed to a Study Skills support module on Learn - LUA001 – which covers essay or report writing, note taking, critical thinking etc. to help you develop these key skills.
Support from the Library
The Library prides itself on providing excellent levels of support, whether it is in person at one of our help desks, online assistance via a Teams chat with one of our Academic Librarians or if you wanted to email us with a question. It’s our job to help support you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need us.
We have an Ask a Librarian email service:
Loughborough students - library@lboro.ac.uk
London students - london-library@lboro.ac.uk