Using the Reading Room

Reading Room:

• provides access to: books, magazines, newspapers and weekly publications, official gazettes, doctoral theses, academic journals, dictionaries and encyclopaedias, specialist collections, statistical publications,
• here you can make use of the following on-site services:

– assistance from a librarian in searching for information,

– the print collections,

– desktop computers,

– databases,

– the online catalogue,

– a self-service scanner,

– board games (more information),

– relaxation areas.

 

How does the Reading Room organise its collections?

• The Reading Room’s collections are divided into sections. Each collection is assigned a symbol next to its call number and a colour.
• The Reading Room’s collections are available:
  – via open-access shelves: you can search for publications on the shelves yourself,
  – on request from the Reading Room’s stacks: you can order them via the Library’s online catalogue after logging into your Reader Account. Once you have received confirmation that your order is ready for collection, please report to a librarian at the Reading Room’s User Services Desk.
• Books are arranged on the open-access shelves by call number (i.e. the numbers assigned to books; you will find these on the back cover, handwritten on a barcode sticker),
• current periodicals are available on open access and are arranged alphabetically by title.

 

Who can use the Reading Room?

• You may use the Reading Room if you are aged 15 or over.
• If you wish to access the collections held in the Reading Room’s stacks, you must register with our Library.

How to use the Reading Room’s collections?

You can use the Reading Room’s collections on-site, in comfortable surroundings conducive to study and work. The entire Reading Room is air-conditioned.

The following facilities are available to you:

• self-service lockers for storing coats, rucksacks and bags,
• baskets for carrying collections and personal belongings,
• tables for individual work,
• booths (cubicles) for individual work,
• tables for group work,
• rooms for team work (more information).

In the Reading Room, you will also find:

• power sockets for connecting your laptop,
• free Wi-Fi access.

When you have finished, please return any publications you have found yourself in the open-access section to the trolleys located next to the shelves; return items from the stacks to the User Services Desk.

Requests from the stacks are processed on an ongoing basis (or the following day for requests made outside the Library’s opening hours).

 

Self-service scanner:

• you can use it free of charge in the Reading Room,
• bring a storage device (USB stick) with you to save the scanned sections,
• details

Borrowing books from the Reading Room – a service for PUEB staff and PhD students:

• to use this service, you must have a Reader’s Account;
• submit your request electronically via the Library’s online catalogue;
• you may only request books located in the open-access area of the Reading Room,
• once your request has been processed by a librarian, you will receive an email informing you that the book is ready for collection,
• collect and return the requested book at the Lending Library; it will be held for you for 5 days.