Getting started

Help from your librarian

The Learning and Teaching support team provides training in the use of the University of Stirling electronic resources and an introduction to the Library. All new research students are invited to contact their Academic Liaison Librarian. You can request an appointment or contact us via the Information Centre.

The Library catalogue can be accessed on and off campus. Log into the Portal and follow the link from the homepage to the catalogue.

Our web pages have information about borrowing books, and reserving items that are on loan and opening hours.

For the Stirling Campus Library you can pick up a floor plan from the Information Centre in the Library, alternatively you can access online plans here: library floor plan.

Finding general information for your research

Our Research Guides by Subject provide useful starting points for your research, they contain links to electronic resources, recommended print materials, selected websites and appropriate electronic journals.

Books about research

The Library has a collection of books aimed at new researchers which includes titles such as:

Finish your thesis or dissertation!: Tips and hacks for success

Writing your Masters thesis: from A to Zen 

Developing effective research proposals

PhD writing handbook

The collection is shelved at K 8.135 on Level 3 of the Stirling campus library.

Getting started with Stirling's electronic resources

To access our electronic resources it is necessary to be logged into the Portal. Then select the A-Z online resources and the resource you wish to use. A subject specific list of databases can be found by using the search boxes at the top of the A-Z list. Watch this video on how to search databases.

Evaluating sources

Not all sources are the same quality or authority – watch this video explain how to evaluate sources critically.

Registering with the Document Delivery Service

To obtain items which are not available from the library you need to use the Document Delivery Service. Our website has full details about the Document Delivery Service.

Videos

Our how to use the library catalogue video: https://youtu.be/OHfGGaC19cU and how to use electronic resources video: http://vimeo.com/14924520 provide more detailed info about using the library’s resources.