Exploring Resources Available Beyond Our Library
If you’re working on a dissertation, thesis or project, you may need to explore resources available beyond our Library.
19 August 2026
If you’re鈥痺orking on a dissertation,鈥痶hesis鈥痮r project, you may need to explore resources available beyond鈥痮ur鈥疞ibrary. Below鈥痺e’ll鈥痠ntroduce some tools and services that you can use to鈥痑ccess materials that we鈥痙on’t鈥痗urrently subscribe to,鈥痠ncluding鈥痶hose鈥痶hat may be held elsewhere.鈥�
Recommending books and using Inter-Library Loans鈥�
We aim to provide the resources you need to complete your studies or research and if you’re unable to access a particular resource, we want to help.鈥�
If we haven’t got the book you鈥痭eed, you can ask us to鈥痓uy a print or e-book copy using the Recommend a book service.
Where buying a copy for our collection is not possible we may be able to鈥痵ource books, book chapters and journal articles鈥痜or you from other鈥痷niversity libraries and institutions. Use the鈥痠nter library loan service鈥痶o request these items for free.鈥�
Search Library Hub Discover鈥�
Explore what is available beyond our Library using鈥�. You can search across the catalogues of over 170 UK and Irish academic and national libraries, together with other specialist and research libraries.鈥疶he range of libraries included in Library Hub Discover is expanding all the time, and includes all UK universities, as well as the libraries of such diverse organisations as Durham Cathedral, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Royal Horticultural Society.鈥�
Library Hub Discover has also made it easier for you to find Open Access resources: it has recently incorporated the HathiTrust Digital Library, as well as the Directories of Open Access Books and Journals to its searchable database.鈥�
Need to look further afield? Search library catalogues internationally via鈥�.鈥�
SCONUL Access Scheme鈥�
罢丑别鈥�鈥痚nables鈥痽ou to visit most other academic libraries around the country, and in some cases, borrow from them.鈥��
You will need to register with SCONUL Access before you can visit another Library, so do allow time for your registration to be processed. Visit鈥�鈥痶o join and find out which libraries you can use.鈥�
Libraries must prioritise their own university community so there may be limitations around what you can access and restrictions in place at certain times of year, such as the exam period. Check details such as opening hours and access information before you visit.鈥�