School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences
Student Safety & Study Skills
Handbook 11/12

• Meet the staff
• Students with disabilities
• What other help is available?
• Library and computing services
• Student central and module feedback
• Academic Study Network (ASK)
• Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS)

Library and Computing Services

Information Services provides computing, library and media services to support teaching, learning and research at the University of Brighton.

Libraries and facilities

Borrowing, renewing and returning items

Inter-library loans

Services for part-time students

Computing Services

Library Services and Facilities

The University of Brighton libraries

• There are five libraries at the University of Brighton; the Aldrich, Falmer and St Peter’s House libraries in Brighton and the Queenwood and Health Sciences libraries in Eastbourne.
• The Aldrich library located on the mezzanine floor of the Cockcroft Building on the Moulsecoomb site serves as the "main library" for the school. It specialises in the areas of biology, chemistry, biomedical sciences, pharmacy, mathematics, computing, engineering and management. However, a number of the other site libraries, particularly those at Falmer and Eastbourne may prove useful in some subject areas. Books can be transferred between our libraries on request.

• The Aldrich library has study rooms which can be hired out for group study sessions. There must be a minimum of 3 people using the room. To hire it, either go the the enquiries desk, phone the library on 01273 642760 or email AskAldrich@brighton.ac.uk.
• You will be issued with a student identity / library card when you enrol which enables you to borrow material from all University of Brighton libraries. Your card also allows reference access to the University of Sussex library.

Opening hours

For the latest details regarding opening hours for all the site libraries, visit www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Libraries > Opening hours.

Opening hours for Aldrich Library

Term time:	Monday - Thursday	08.30 - 21.00
	Friday	08.30 - 19.00
	Saturday & Sunday	13.00 - 17.00
Vacations:	Monday- Thursday	09.00 - 17.30
	Friday	Closed
	Saturday & Sunday	13.00 - 17.00 (except August)

 

The computer pool room, located on the ground floor of the library, remains open until 02.00 every night during term time. After the library closes, access to the ground floor is via the entrance in Queensdown School Road and you will need your library card to gain admittance.

During exam revision periods (2 weeks at the end of January and for the whole of May), the upper subject floors of the library also remain accessible for reference purposes until 02.00.

Borrowing entitlements

Up to 12 items can be borrowed at any one time (15 for postgraduate students and final year undergraduates). The standard loan period is three weeks but items designated as core reading are normally issued for seven days. You will be charged a fine if you return a short loan item late or retain an item which has been reserved by another user and recalled by the library.

The Desk Loan collection.

This self access collection, located to the right of the library entrance, contains copies of books in heavy demand and therefore can only be borrowed for a few hours at a time. Desk Loan items can be booked in advance for use in the library or overnight loan. Fines are charged to ensure that items are returned promptly for the next borrower.

Renewing items

It is not always necessary to bring items into the library for renewal. If not requested by another user, any item may be renewed in the following ways:

• in person at your nearest library issue desk. You will need to bring your library card.
• by phone using the renewals number 01273 642770. When the library is closed, you can leave a message on the answer-phone requesting a renewal.
• online using the My Account tab in the library catalogue. You will need to log in with your library card number.

Returning items

• When the library is open, bring your items to the library issue desk so that they can be discharged from your record.
• The library has two secure book-drop bins which can be used for returning books when the library is closed. These are located outside the main library entrance and on the ground floor adjacent to the computer pool room.
• Items can be returned by post. However, they remain your responsibility until received by the library.

The library catalogue

The library catalogue is available through dedicated terminals in the Aldrich library and is also online via the Online Library (http://library.brighton.ac.uk). The catalogue provides information about the material held in all the site libraries. Use the catalogue to search for books, printed journals and audio-visual items and to reserve items when all copies are on loan. You can also access your own borrower record to check your current loans and renew items.

Requesting items from other libraries

To request an item from one of the other site libraries, complete a card at the library enquiry desk. If you are a final year undergraduate or a postgraduate student, we can obtain books or photocopies of journal articles which are not available within our stock from the British Library through the inter-library loan service.

For more information, see Information Services document 434: An Aldrich guide to requesting inter-library loans or ask at the library enquiry desk.

Enquiries and further help

You can always ask for help at the Aldrich enquiry desk which is staffed during library opening hours. In addition, each Faculty is supported by a team of subject librarians led by an Information Adviser who can assist you with course related enquiries. Your Information Adviser is Joyce Storey. Her office is on the second floor of the library and she can also be contacted by email at AldrichPABS@brighton.ac.uk.

You can contact the Aldrich Library:

By phone: Aldrich Library enquiries desk: 01273 642760

Aldrich Library renewals line: 01273 642770

By email: General enquiries: AskAldrich@brighton.ac.uk

Library services for part-time students

The university is a member of SCONUL Access, a co-operative venture between higher education libraries enabling part-time students and those on placement to borrow material from other member libraries in close proximity to where they live or work. To check whether the library you want to use is part of the scheme, go to http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/.

You may also be eligible to join the University of Brighton’s Extended Library Scheme (ELS), whereby books and photocopies are sent through the post. See http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/els for more information.

The Online Library

The Online Library (accessed via the Online Library tab within StudentCentral or at www.library.brighton.ac.uk) contains:

• Library Catalogue: Links to our library catalogue, the catalogues of other local libraries and the British Library’s catalogue.
• Journal Title Search: Use this feature to find electronic and print journals to which we subscribe.
• Browse by subject: This contains collections of subject related links, e.g. Pharmacy or Physical Sciences, that have been selected by the library subject team supporting your course. These links include databases, internet gateways, websites produced by government departments and professional organisations.
• Online databases. Use the databases to search for journal articles and documents relevant to your subject. Most databases only provide bibliographic details and an abstract or summary but some contain the full text of the documents which is indicated by the note 'Full Text'.
• Reference Shelf, which contains links to online reference resources. Credo Reference, for example, contains online dictionaries, encyclopaedias and thesauri covering all subject areas

Usernames and passwords

When you have completed your online enrolment / activation, your university username and password will be generated. This will enable you to access the computers in our libraries and poolrooms, StudentCentral and the majority of resources available via the Online Library. To change your password, click on 'Personal Settings' within StudentCentral.

Student email

When you activate your computer account, you will be provided with an university email address. You can read your email at http://studentmail.brighton.ac.uk

Email is used as the primary means of communication throughout your course. Lecturers and support staff will send email to your University of Brighton account. Please refer to Information Services document 697: A guide to studentmail

If you prefer to use another personal email account, you can arrange for emails sent to your university account to be forwarded automatically by clicking on 'Personal Settings' within StudentCentral. Full instructions are given in Information Services document 724: Forwarding your university email

Connecting your own computer

You can connect your own computer via the network sockets in the libraries and most halls of residence using an ethernet cable or via wireless access points in selected areas on each site. Once connected, your computer is part of the university network and is therefore subject to our conditions of use. Please see Information Services document 907: Conditions of Use of University of Brighton Computing Facilities including Networks. One such condition is that Sophos anti-virus software be installed and this can be downloaded from the Information Services website at www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students and choosing Anti-virus software from the Quick Links for students box.

To connect your laptop to the network in the university libraries, follow the setup instructions which are available from the Aldrich library enquiry desk or can be downloaded from www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Using your own computer > In libraries.

For more information on connecting your computer in halls of residence and computer clinics go to www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Computing > Using your own computer.

Wireless connectivity is also available at Moulsecoomb in selected areas. See www.brighton.ac.uk/is/wireless for the latest information as these areas are being expanded. Setup instructions for connecting your laptop to the university’s wireless network can be obtained from the library enquiry desk or from www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Using your own computer > Wireless.

The Computer Store

The Computer Store in the Watts Building sells blank CDs, USB sticks, cables, software, computers etc. Many items are available at discounted rates. The computer store is open 9am – 4.30pm daily during term-time.

Computing help

For online help relating to StudentCentral, click on Ask Emily. Technicians and computer helpers are based in the poolrooms at advertised times.

See www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Computing > Getting help > Using Computers.

Outside of these times, phone the ICT Helpdesk on (01273) 644444 or email Helpdesk@brighton.ac.uk. The Aldrich library enquiry desk can assist with username and password problems. Guides and help sheets are available in computer poolrooms and also online at www.brighton.ac.uk/isdocs.

Media Centres

The Moulsecoomb Media Centre, located in the Watts Building, lends equipment such as camcorders, digital audio recorders, digital cameras, overhead projectors and also sells a range of IT and A/V consumables.

For full details, refer to www.brighton.ac.uk/is/students > Media Centres.