Library Services division

Library Services supports the information resources and services needs of staff and students undertaking high quality research, learning and teaching at the University. Collections include online repositories for archiving and sharing of University research outputs, including theses.

University Library

Library Services operates one of the largest academic libraries in the country and boasts an outstanding research collection, incorporating an astonishing 1.5 million items, as well as over 124,000 scholarly journals (electronic and print), and access to 866,000 e-books and 700 databases.  The collections are located primarily in the Main Library and Research Reserve, with subject specific site libraries for medicine and drama. 

In addition, the University holds extensive Special Collections of rare books, manuscripts, archives, photographs and associated artefacts, housed in the Cadbury Research Library, Barber Fine Art Library and Shakespeare Institute Library. These collections include over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471 and more than four million manuscript items.

Library Services provides study places, computer clusters, and a dedicated research room for PG researchers and academic staff. 

Making contact

Contact us directly via our Just Ask online chat service.

Email: library@mail.libanswers.bham.ac.uk.

Finding resources

For access to library collections and more, visit FindIt@Bham

Student skills enhancement

The Academic Skills Centre helps all students to fulfil their full academic potential by designing and providing a range of academic skills support initiatives, through face to face or eLearning. Activities include Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), and the Postgraduate Teaching Assistants supporting Undergraduate Study Skills programmes.

A recent innovation is Skills4Campus, a new interactive study skills resource available at the Academic Skills Centre.

Modern Records

The University deals in many types of record, from minutes of meetings, through student and financial records, to the results of research and clinical trials. There is a general need to reduce the amount of records that are kept beyond their useful life span, whilst maintaining the integrity of the University’s administration. They are collected in the Modern Records store.

Teaching and AV support

LRAT (the Learning Resources Accommodation Team) is made up of three teams.

  • The LRAT Technical Team supports AV in many ways on campus, support to teaching rooms, event support, digital signage design, quality control and commissioning.
  • The LRAT Service Desk team operates the fast-response Service Desk which is a vital component in our 10-minute response standard.
  • The LRAT facilities team works with Estates and others to look after the rooms and buildings, carpets, drapes and furniture in over 300 teaching rooms and in our wholly-managed buildings: JG Smith, The Teaching and Learning Building, Murray Learning Centre, Old Gym, Nuffield, Strathcona and the Main Library.

Colleges

Professional Services