Welcome to ENU Libraries: An Introduction
A very warm welcome to all of our new and returning students to our Edinburgh Napier University campus libraries this year! Have you had a chance to visit us yet? No worries if not! There is still plenty of time to get to know us, the resources and services we offer, and how we can support you throughout your university journey. Don’t be afraid to pop by one of our help desks to say hello! In the meantime, we will briefly introduce ourselves and share the resources and services we offer to support our student and staff community throughout the year.
Books!…
What is a library without it’s books? We have a vast range and collection of physical and online books and journals which you can consult and borrow from us. Most of these books and journals are also tailored to your specific school and area of study. Our books and journals can be accessed by visiting our campus libraries or by signing into LibrarySearch, where you can access our e-books or online journals or place a request for a physical book to be kept on hold for you for up to a week at any of our campus libraries, which is most convenient to you.
Any physical books you take out on loan will automatically renew for up to four months maximum unless it is recalled to satisfy another request – in this instance you will receive an email regarding this and have seven days to return the item from when the email is sent. You can scan any books out at our self-service kiosks on campus; we also offer a Postal Loans Service which you can apply for as well. More information about Finding and Borrowing Books is available in our My Napier Webpages.
PCs and Laptops…
Digital access is very important to us at Edinburgh Napier University. Our libraries have loads of PCs in each campus library which are free to use and don’t have to be booked in advance – it’s all first come first served! Some of them also have dual screen monitors if you need to do a bit of multi-tasking, and we also have standing desks as well as seated ones. We also have library laptops which can be taken out and borrowed for up to two weeks – these can be borrowed from our self-service Lapsafe lockers located in our Sighthill, Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus libraries, as well as the JKCC and Bainfield Student Accommodation. Unfortunately, because our library laptops are so popular, they cannot be renewed for more than two weeks, but you can check their availability in the Laptop Availability tile in your student account and My Napier app.
Our LibGuide…
We have a thorough, up-to-date LibGuide which covers all schools and subject areas at Edinburgh Napier University as well as topics such as copyright, literature reviewing, publishing and open access, reading lists, referencing and how to use reference management software such as Endnote and Mendeley. Check it out! Find out LibGuide in here.
Study Spaces and Bookable Study Rooms…
Whether you need a quiet place to study or a space to collaborate on a group project, we have a wide range of study spaces tailored to your individual needs in all three of our campus libraries. We also have bookable study rooms which can be reserved through Resource Booker. Rooms can be booked up to 14 days in advance for a maximum of two hours. Some of them are also equipped with AV equipment, screens and PCs as well as whiteboards, tables and chairs – great for a bit of collaborative group work and learning! For students with children or childcare responsibilities, we also have Family Study Rooms in our Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus libraries equipped with toy boxes to keep your little ones entertained while you study.
Our Wellbeing Collection…
Fun fact: we don’t just have academic books and textbooks! We also have a range of books, DVDs and resources covering topics such as mental health, managing finances, personal relationships, sleep, neurodiversity and university life. They all come under our Wellbeing Collection, which can be found in our LibGuide. In this collection, you can find a range of resources to support different areas of your health and wellbeing, including inspiring stories and practical tips, advice and tools which can be applied to everyday realities and challenges in both your personal and university life.
Online Workshops…
We have a range of workshops, training and drop-in sessions available, both online and in-person, that can be found and booked through our Libcal. There are sessions specifically tailored to students, staff or both groups sometimes as well! There are workshops and drop-in sessions that cover areas such as getting started with the library, literature reviewing, database searching (sometimes specific ones such as CINAHL or JSTOR), referencing and open access publishing, to give a few examples.
Displays…
Throughout the year, our library staff will often put up and curate a range of themed displays advertising our resources and services – some of these displays are also in line with national holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day. They often have posters, flyers, bookmarks and leaflets advertising our services and resources – sometimes they may also have some relevant books on display, Post-it notes to leave us some feedback, and even sweets or fruit!
Contact us…
Need to get in touch with us? Our contact details can be found below.
Email Address: library@napier.ac.uk
Phone Number: 0131 455 3500
See our Opening Hours here.
By Rachel Downie
Need a bit direction, we have a campus guide
