You may find it helpful to use Google Scholar to search for books, book chapters and articles. You can then search the library website and databases to see if we have access, and use our interlibrary loans service to obtain anything we do not have.
When evaluating websites use the following checklist to assess the reliability of the information:
(Who is the author and what authority do they possess?)
(Are any claims supported by reliable evidence?)
(Is the information biased?)
(Is the information up-to-date?)
(Who is the site aimed at?)
(Are links from the site working and pointing to other reliable sites?)
SCONUL Access is a scheme which allows many university library users to use or borrow books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme. Click here to learn more about it or sign up.
WorldCat is an international library catalogue. It is useful for looking for material on particular subjects and finding out in what libraries they are held. This makes it a very useful tool when you are planning a visit to another library.
Are you being met with paywalls when searching on the web or unsure if you should have access to articles you come across? There are a range of browser tools and extensions you can download to help.
Check out our How can I access full text anywhere? guide to find out more. We recommend downloading the Lean Library browser extension to enable easier searching on the web. Find out more about Lean Library.
Before visiting another library, it's always a good idea to check their catalog to make sure the material you want to see is available. You can generally find a library's catalog with a quick internet search. If you are planning to visit multiple external libraries or aren't quite sure where to go, merged library catalogues like Library Hub Discover and WorldCat can help you plan your research.
Jisc Library Hub Discover exposes rare and unique research material by bringing together the catalogues of major UK and Irish libraries. In a single search you can discover the holdings of the UK’s National Libraries (including the British Library), many university libraries, and specialist research libraries.
