The Library is now fully open. In line with Scottish Government advice, the University does recommend the use of face coverings in busy or crowded areas. Please show consideration for any ‘Distance Aware’ badge wearers.

The Library will be open Semester 3 hours from Saturday 14th May.

The Library team will continue to support students and staff who are working remotely. Most services and guides can be accessed via the Library website.

Information for Students

We will do all we can to support your studies during this time. Please get in touch and let us know how we can help.

Using the Library

Is the Library open?

The Library is fully open and it is no longer necessary to book seats in advance. All desks are available for use but please try to maintain 1m social distancing where possible.

Full details of the times that the Library is open can be found on our opening hours page.

Many Library services are also available online and Library staff can be contacted via email. Contact us at library@rgu.ac.uk with any enquiries.

Do I have to wear a face covering?

In line with Scottish Government advice, the University does recommend the use of face coverings in busy or crowded areas. Please show consideration for any ‘Distance Aware’ badge wearers.

How do I book a space?

It is no longer necessary to book a space in the Library. All desks are available for use but please try to maintain 1m social distancing where possible. Please note that only individual study space is available within the Library and there are no group spaces available at present.

Can I use the Library without a seat booking?

Yes, you can now use the Library without an advance seat booking. All desks are available for use but please try to maintain 1m social distancing where possible. Remember that only individual study space is available within the Library and there are no group spaces at present.

Can I use the printers in the Library?

Yes, you can access the Library to use the printers.

Can I browse the bookshelves in the Library?

Yes, you can access the Library to browse the shelves and borrow books.

If you would like to request an item via Click and Collect or Postal Loan, or request a scan of a segment from a print book or journal, please see our guide.

Is there anywhere else I can study on campus?

The Student Union, located within the Aberdeen Business School building, has study facilities available. This includes group pods and rooms which can be booked in advance. Please visit the Union website for more information.

Loans, Returns and Charges

I have items on loan, can I return them?

Any library items will continue to automatically renew as long as your account is in 'good standing'. This means that your account is not expired and you do not have any overdue items or late fees. Please contact us for advice if required.

Items can be returned in three ways. You can visit the Library in person, use the dropbox located within the foyer of the Sir Ian Wood Building or return items by post. Postal returns should be addressed to University Library, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ. We recommend that you obtain proof of posting.

If you have graduated and still have books on loan please see the relevant question below for information.

Will I be charged for late items?

Now that the Library is fully open the usual borrowing rules will apply and charges will be made for any items that become overdue.

If you still have items that were due for return in academic year 20/21 these will be charged at standard overdue rates but the periods where the Library was fully closed will not count towards these charges. The Library was closed 21st March - 27th September 2020 and 5th January - 26th April 2021. Outwith these dates the Library was open and accepting returns in person and by post. Please ensure all overdue items are returned as soon as possible.

Please contact us at library@rgu.ac.uk if you would like to discuss charges on your library record

My course has finished and I still have library books. What should I do?

Please arrange to return your Library items as soon as possible. You can visit the Library in person or use the dropbox located in the foyer of the Sir Ian Wood Building.

Former students who have moved away from Aberdeen, or are unable to get to the campus, should contact us at library@rgu.ac.uk for advice on postal returns.

I can't come to the campus. Can I still borrow books?

Our Postal Loan service is available to any students unable to come to campus. Please be aware that all items are subject to recall if another student requires them and you are responsible for paying the return postage. We recommend you take a look at our guide to Postal Loans before using this service.

I’m an Online Learner. Can I still get postal loans?

Yes. The postal loan service is available. Please note that the service has been extended to all students and staff this year so timescales may be longer. Make sure you submit your requests in plenty of time!

The book I want is on loan. How can I get it?

If the item you want is on loan you can place a hold using Library Search. The borrower will receive an email advising them they have 7 days to return the item and you will be notified via your RGU email address when it is available for collection. If you have requested a postal loan you will be notified when the item has been sent to you.

I've received an email saying I have to return an item early. Why is this?

All Library items are loaned subject to recall. If you have received a recall email then it means that another student is waiting to use the item.

All Library items, including postal loans, are subject to recall. If the items are not returned by the new due date then overdue charges will be applied to your Library account.

Can I request Inter-Library Loans?

We will continue to try to obtain items via Inter-Library Loan (ILL). Please apply for items in the usual way by selecting the ILL request button in LibrarySearch. The ILL service may be limited to items that we can obtain in PDF form only, and we may find it difficult to supply any hardcopy books or journals. We are entirely dependent on the services operating at other Libraries across the UK and not all Libraries are currently offering loans of print stock. Please note that there will be delays to the usual timescales for this service as staff at many Libraries across the UK are still working remotely. There may also be some items that we are unable to obtain.

Resources, Services and Help

What resources are available online?

All of the Library online resources continue to be available as normal. Students can access millions of resources via LibrarySearch or the databases that the Library subscribes to. This includes e-books, online journal articles, reports and more.

Are there guides to help me use the online resources?

Yes, guides are available on the Library website to help you use a range of Library services including guides to specific databases, referencing templates and research techniques. You can also see our Library Support page for more information.

How can I access items on my reading list?

We are aware that some Reading List items are available as print books only. We are investigating how we can make more items available online and will work with Schools to try to ensure that students can access as much of their reading material online as possible. We must advise though that it may not be possible to obtain some items in an online format. Browsing the shelves in the Library is permitted again and print items can also be obtained via our Click & Collect and Postal Loans services. See the appropriate question in these FAQs for more details.

Can I get help with referencing, research skills or RefWorks?

Yes. Guides are available on the Library website to help you with referencing, research skills and RefWorks. You can also book an online appointment with one of our Academic Support team or attend one of our online workshops. See the relevant FAQs on this page for details.

In addition, you can email the team for advice at library.support@rgu.ac.uk. Email is monitored 0900-1700 Monday-Friday.

Can I make an appointment with an Academic Support Librarian

Yes, the Academic Support team are available for 1-1 and small group online support sessions. They can help with topics including referencing, using databases, literature searching and RefWorks. For full details, and to book, please visit our Workshops and Appointments page

Are the Library Workshops available?

Yes, the Academic Support team are running their Harvard Referencing, Search Smart and RefWorks Workshops remotely. For full details, and to book, visit our Workshops and Appointments page. Details of 1-1 and small group online appointments are available here too.

Resources related to the COVID-19 outbreak

During this time, many publishers have made material relating to COVID-19 openly available to access. Find out more at https://library.rgu.ac.uk/covid19-resources

I’m a research student and in need of some support with writing/referencing and referencing software/literature review/the RDF Planner. Is help available?

Colin MacLean, Research Support Librarian, is available as usual to offer help and advice for Research Students on any aspects of work you are concerned about, including literature reviews, access to resources and the RDF Planner. Please feel free to contact Colin by email at c.maclean@rgu.ac.uk


Information for Staff

We will do all we can to support you and your students during this time. Please get in touch and let us know how we can help.

Using the Library

Please see the Using the Library section in the information for students. The same details apply for staff with one difference. We request that staff use their own workspace rather than using space in the Library. The Library has limited capacity due to social distancing and the space is prioritised for student use.

Loans, Returns and Charges

Please see the Loans, Returns and Charges section in the Information for Students. The same details apply to staff loans.

Is the Inter-Library Loans service available?

We will continue to try to obtain items via Inter Library Loan (ILL) and requests will be sent through to Schools for approval as normal. We may be limited to those items that we can obtain in PDF format only, and we may find it difficult to supply loans of hardcopy books and journals. We are entirely dependent on the services operating at other Libraries across the UK and not all Libraries are currently offering loans of print stock. Please note that there will be delays to the normal timescales for obtaining items as staff at many Libraries across the the UK are still working remotely. there may also be some items that we are unable to obtain.

Resources, Services and Help

What online resources, services and help are available for my students?

The vast majority of Library services continue to be available as normal. Students and staff can access e-books, online journal articles and databases via LibrarySearch or by going to our dedicated Subject Databases webpage.

We are providing a remote enquiry service via email, Facebook and Twitter and we have also moved our Academic Support 1-1 meetings and workshops to be delivered online. See the relevant sections in the Information for Students area for more details.

Please encourage your students to make use of these resources and services. The Library team are here to help!

Resources related to the COVID-19 outbreak

During this time, many publishers have made material relating to COVID-19 openly available to access. Find out more at https://library.rgu.ac.uk/covid19-resources

Can I have items added to my Reading Lists?

Yes, please contact readinglists@rgu.ac.uk for help. For full details about the reading lists service, please see the Reading Lists for Staff guide.

Can items be digitised and added to my Reading Lists?

Yes, items can be digitised and added to reading lists. However, while eBooks and print material available in the library can be accessed to create digitisations, if items are out on loan, or need to be ordered, then fulfilling digitisation requests will take longer than usual. The reading lists team will keep in contact with you to let you know the status of any requests, so please contact readinglists@rgu.ac.uk with any requests and for advice. For more details about what can be digitised, please see the Digitisation Service for Staff guide.

Is the Library still ordering books?

Yes, the library has been able to order eBooks throughout lockdown and is pleased to announce we have now restarted print book orders. If you have any requests for your reading lists, please contact readinglists@rgu.ac.uk and for any other titles you would like to recommend, please use the book recommendation form.

Academic Support

Are the Academic Support Team available for meetings?

Yes. Please contact Ross or Lindsey directly, or email the team at library.support@rgu.ac.uk, to arrange their attendance at online CPMTs, Validation meetings, Staff/Student Liaison Committees, School Academic Boards etc. They are also available for 1-1 or small group meetings via Blackboard Collaborate. All of the normal Academic Support activities are continuing, albeit on a remote basis.

Can I have a Blackboard Collaborate session, or a Panopto recording, for my students?

Yes, the Academic Support team will be happy to deliver live sessions via Blackboard Collaborate or provide a Panopto recording. Please get in touch with library.support@rgu.ac.uk to arrange this.

Research Support

I have outputs that I want to have included in OpenAIR, can I still do that?

The Publications Team are working to support Open Access and the REF. Please keep submitting your Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAMs) as normal. Any questions? Please feel free to email publications@rgu.ac.uk

I need some help and advice about literature reviews/database searching/referencing software/publishing venues/research evaluation and profiles. Is help available?

Colin MacLean, Research Support Librarian, is available as usual to offer help and advice for Staff and Research Students. Please feel free to contact Colin by email at c.maclean@rgu.ac.uk

My research student is in need of some support with writing/referencing and referencing software/literature review/the RDF Planner. Is help available?

Colin MacLean, Research Support Librarian, is available as usual to offer help and advice for Staff and Research Students. Please feel free to contact Colin by email at c.maclean@rgu.ac.uk

For further information on the RGU-wide response to Covid-19, please see RGU Covid-19: Advice for Students, Staff & Community.