Library Services for Distance
Learners
An overview of the library services offered to students registered
on distance learning programmes.
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Screenshot(s) from Summon™ reproduced with permission from Proquest®
Screenshot(s) of SFX reproduced with permission from Ex Libris®
Screenshot of the Library Catalogue reproduced with permission from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
Screenshot from ScienceDirect reproduced with permission from Elsevier.
SCONUL website screenshots reproduced with permission from SCONUL. All contents of the SCONUL website are: ©
Copyright 2012 SCONUL and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved.
Oct.2015
Contents
Distance Learning Librarian ......................................................................................................... 1
Library Distance Learning Webpage ............................................................................................. 1
Postal Loans ................................................................................................................................ 1
Using Summon™ to check if the library holds a particular book ................................................... 1
eBooks ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Postal loan request form .......................................................................................................... 2
Renewals.................................................................................................................................. 2
Returns .................................................................................................................................... 3
Article Request Service ................................................................................................................ 3
Using Summon to check if the library has access to a particular article ..................................... 3
Journal access problems........................................................................................................... 5
The full-text link takes me to the correct journal but not the correct article .......................... 5
The full-text link takes me to an SFX box which says I don’t have access to the article .......... 5
The journal article isn’t listed in Summon ............................................................................. 5
How to check access to a journal article using the Library Catalogue: a second option ............. 5
Article request form ................................................................................................................. 7
Payment for articles ................................................................................................................. 8
Delivery of articles ................................................................................................................... 8
Interlibrary loans ...................................................................................................................... 8
Electronic Sources ....................................................................................................................... 8
Summon .................................................................................................................................. 9
Databases ................................................................................................................................ 9
Access to databases ................................................................................................................. 9
Arranging for you to use other libraries ....................................................................................... 9
SCONUL ................................................................................................................................... 9
Email ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Enquiries ................................................................................................................................... 12
Further help ........................................................................................................................... 12
Library Services for Distance Learners
Distance Learning Librarian
You have a distance learning service that can be your first point of contact and field your
enquiries.
Maria Introwicz, Distance Learning Librarian,
J. B. Priestley Library, Room 2.6, University of Bradford,
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK
(Tel) +44 (0) 1274 233373
(Fax) +44 (0) 1274 233398
Email: distance-services@bradford.ac.uk
Twitter: @LibraryUoB
Library Distance Learning Webpage
The library distance learning webpage can be found at
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/help/distance-learners/ .
Postal Loans
If you are not able to collect an item from the University of Bradford Library it may be
possible to post it to you.
Using Summon™ to check if the library holds a
particular book
First, check Summon or the Catalogue to ensure that the item is available in the library.
SUMMON is the default search box given at the top of the library homepage
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/ .
Summon searches across all library resources (books, journal articles, magazine articles,
newspapers plus more). More information about Summon is available at
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/library-resources/summon/ .
You can use either Summon or the Catalogue to check if the library holds the book you
need.
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You can search using keywords from the book title or author(s) surname(s) if you know
the author(s) or a combination of both.
If the book details are listed it means that we have a copy or copies in the library. DO
NOT use the reserve option. Instead, in all cases use the Postal Loan Request Form.
If we don’t have the book you need, please contact the distance learning service on
distance-services@bradford.ac.uk to discuss other options.
eBooks
In some cases the book may be available as an eBook. If an item is available as an eBook
a full-text link will be given on Summon (or the Library catalogue). Click on the Full-text
link to access the eBook and log in with your UoB username and password.
Some eBooks will allow you to download the whole or part of the book for a number of
days. What is allowed is determined by the eBook supplier and can vary. For more
information about eBooks see http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/libraryresources/ebooks/ .
Postal loan request form
Order postal loans by completing the web form available online:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/help/distance-learners/postal-request-form/.
The library will endeavour to post items. However, some items cannot be posted and we
cannot guarantee to be able to send items to all countries.
You will be able to keep items for 4 weeks initially. After this you may renew the loan
provided no-one else has requested the item (check the date label inside the book to see
how long the item can be renewed for. In most cases it will probably be one week).
Renewals
There is an automated telephone renewals service tel + 44 (0)1274 233342. You can also
renew items online by clicking on “Renew books” found beneath the Summon search box
on the library homepage http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/ .
Log in with your UB number found on your UB card. You will also need your 4 digit
library PIN. If you do not have a library PIN go to the Password info page to select a
Library PIN http://www.bradford.ac.uk/it-services/help/password/university-password/ .
Videos on how to set your library PIN and how to renew a book online can be found on
the online tutorials webpage http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/my-library/videoguides/ .
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Returns
You will be required to ensure the safe return of the item to the library before the date it
is due back (you will find this on the date label inside the book). We strongly recommend
that you use recorded delivery or registered post. Return all items to the distance
learning service.
Article Request Service
Before requesting journal articles to be sent to you it is advisable to check the Library
catalogue or summon as many journals articles are available to view online.
Using Summon to check if the library has access to a
particular article
Enter words from the article title and/or author(s) surname if known into the Summon
search box on the library homepage and click GO.
At the next screen log in to Summon (you need to do this if off campus). The login option
is at the top left hand corner of the screen.
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Now Log in using your University username and password.
Look for your journal article within the results. You may wish to REFINE your search to
“Journal Article” using the REFINE YOUR SEARCH options on the left of the screen.
If your article is in the list and has a Full-Text Online link then you should be able to
access it online. Click on the full-text link to go to the article:
If the SFX screen appears click on the full-text online link click it for full-text access.
You should now be taken directly to the journal article. You should not need to log in
again.
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Journal access problems
The full-text link takes me to the correct journal but not the correct
article
In some cases it might happen that the full-text link doesn’t take you to the article you
need. Instead it takes you to the journal homepage. In such cases take a look at your
reference (year, volume number, issue number and page numbers of the article) and then
search or browse the contents of the journal for the paper you need.
The full-text link takes me to an SFX box which says I don’t have
access to the article
If this happens you will need to double check what access the University has to the
particular journal by using the library catalogue, see instructions below.
The journal article isn’t listed in Summon
In such cases it is likely that the University does not have a subscription to the journal.
However it is advisable to double check whether this is the case by searching for the
Journal title using the library catalogue, see instructions below.
How to check access to a journal article using the Library
Catalogue: a second option
Occasionally you may need to double check what journals are available / not available for
you to view through Bradford by using the library catalogue http://catalogue.brad.ac.uk/ .
The important thing to be aware of is that the library catalogue does not list all the
articles within journals it just lists the journal titles.
So for example if we are looking for the following article:
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In the Catalogue search box you would need to enter the title of the Journal (not the title
of the article). In this case the journal title is: Journal of English for Academic Purposes.
Select Search Catalogue.
Select the Journal Titles search. Enter the title of the JOURNAL. Click Submit.
If we have the journal title as part of Bradford journals the title will be listed and the
record will show you how much access we have and from which supplier.
Click on the link within the “Available online” box to go to the journal webpage.
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Log in using the EZproxy log in option.
At the Journal homepage you will then need to browse past issues to find the article you
need. Browse for the year, volume, issue and pages for the article. Alternatively use the
search option if given.
Article request form
If the journal is not available to view online then you will need to submit an article
request form.
All requests for articles must be made using our article request form available at:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/help/distance-learners/article-request-service/ .
Complete the form available near the bottom of the page. There is a PDF or Word version.
At the moment the forms must be signed by hand therefore you will need to print the
form. It should then be either posted or faxed to the distance learning service.
Unfortunately email attachments are not acceptable.
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Payment for articles
Each request currently costs £2. Payment can be made by opening a Distance Learning
account (call the Library on +44 (0)1274 23330, then select option 1 to set this up.
Explain that you wish to open a distance learning account) minimum payment is £5.00 if
paying by credit/debit card.
Alternatively for requests of 5 items or more (£10.00) payment by cheque is acceptable.
Make all cheques payable to University of Bradford.
All article requests must be paid for in advance.
Delivery of articles
Many items are now available electronically and can be sent to you by email. If possible
we will send you a link to an electronic item. In other cases we will post a photocopy to
an address of your choosing as indicated on your form.
Interlibrary loans
Requests for articles which are not in stock will be passed to the Interlibrary Loans
department who will normally obtain copies from the British Library; these will be
delivered electronically.
You will be sent an email message (to your Bradford email) to inform you when your
document is available. Click on the link to download the test document first (as
recommended by the British Library) and then click to download the real document.
Further information is available at:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/media/library/documents/sed.pdf .
Note: you are only allowed to access the document from the secure server once. So do
not click on the link if you do not intend to open the document.
ALSO:
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You must open the article within 30 days of the email being sent.
You can only print the item TWICE. The second time is allowed in case you have
problems with your printer at the first attempt.
You can download the document to your PC but it will only remain accessible for
the remainder of the 30 days from the date of the email.
If you want a permanent copy, it is recommended that you print it the first time
you open it.
Electronic Sources
If you have access to the Internet you will be able to search Summon or subject specific
databases in order to find journal articles by subject.
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Summon
Summon is the default search option on the top of the Library homepage.
For more information about Summon see http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/libraryresources/summon/ .
A guide is available at:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/media/library/documents/summon_quick_guide.pdf .
Databases
Databases contain references to journal articles, book chapters, book reviews, conference
papers etc. Some databases specialise in certain subject areas, others are more general.
Some databases will only have references in other cases there may be access to the full
document as part of the database, seen as “full-text” or PDF. In other cases you may see
an SFX link.
Click the SFX link to check for any full-text articles available for you to view.
If you have problems accessing the full-text please refer to the section above entitled
Journal Access Problems.
Sometimes your search within databases will retrieve items which you cannot access. In
such cases you will need to obtain the article through the Photocopy Request Service.
Access to databases
In order to find out which databases are the best ones for your subject area use the
library subject pages available at http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/subject-support/ .
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select your subject area.
Click on “Find Articles Using Databases”.
Click on the title of the database.
Click on the database title again.
Log in with your University username and password.
Arranging for you to use other libraries
We can arrange for you to access, and borrow materials, from UK academic libraries that
are nearer to you. Under a scheme called SCONUL Access you can join a number of
academic libraries in the scheme.
SCONUL
If you wish to join the scheme you need to apply online at
http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access .
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Make sure that you select Distance Learning Student for the kind of user option. Select
University of Bradford. Click Find.
Select the University Library you wish to join from the list given:
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Click Apply for access:
Enter your details. All fields must be completed, agree to the terms and conditions and
click Submit:
Your application will be sent to the SCONUL representative at Bradford who will
check your application and then email you with further instructions.
The email you receive from the SCONUL representative at Bradford will be you SCONUL
membership. Take a copy of the email to any library you wish to join. It is advisable
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before travelling that you contact the University you wish to join in order to check their
opening hours and also ask about any other documentation you need to bring with you.
The level of access given to you will depend on the University library you are joining.
If you wish to join multiple University libraries you do not need to apply again. Use the
original application email.
For more information please see http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/my-library/visitingother-libraries/ .
Email
Please check your University of Bradford email regularly as this is the main method by
which we will contact you.
You can log on to your email from the University’s internal homepage. Click on the
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/internal .
Within the Quick Links section on the right of the screen click on “Email - Students”.
The University uses Office 365.
Login with your Bradford username and password.
If you have any further questions about your email you can contact
library@bradford.ac.uk.
An email user guide is available at http://www.bradford.ac.uk/it-services/help/helpsheets/email-and-calendaring/student-email/ .
Enquiries
If you have questions about any of our services or would like more information, please
contact us. For names, phone numbers and emails of all library staff please see the
contact list at http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/about-us/contact-us/ .
Further help
Subject Support webpages: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/library/subject-support/ .
IT help: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/it-services/contact-us/ .
Library and IT videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9jml3rMzUzw8riT18fi4KDo7RCVqmwTg.
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