Research students (MPhil, PhD)
Borrowing
You can have up to 15 books on loan at any one time. 3 week and 1 week loans can be renewed if another reader has not reserved them.
Please help us by:
- bringing your College ID card with you. It is needed to activate the turnstile at the entrance and for borrowing books
- bringing your ITS (IT Services) username and password with you. This is needed to use the PCs in the Library, to access the internet and electronic resources in the eLibrary.
- turning off your mobile phone - we get more complaints about this than anything else!
LIFE (Library Induction For Everyone)
This online tutorial gives you a basic introduction to library services and includes a section on researching a topic.
Guide to searching for journals
Guide to searching for theses
Are you making the most of the Birkbeck eLibrary?
The eLibrary gives you access to over 20,000 electronic journals and over 50 databases which will help you find out what was been written on a topic or by a particular author. Click the eLibrary tab above.
Using other libraries
As a postgraduate student it is generally expected that you will make use of resources beyond Birkbeck library and take advantage of the rich research collections nearby. The SCONUL Access scheme allows you to borrow from other libraries within the scheme.For more information see the Other Libraries section and the Subject guide for your subject (tabs above)
Getting hold of books and journals not held at Birkbeck
You can use the inter-library loan service for books and journals not stocked locally - this costs £1 per request.
Who to contact
Get to know who your subject librarian is. Subject librarians are available for telephone and email help and one-to-one or group information skills sessions by appointment. They can help with using the Library and eLibrary, finding information, citing your references and more.
