Our collections
Collections
We have three collections, the Main Library collection, the Teaching Practice (TP) collection and the Print Journals collection; as well as our own University Archive.
Ground floor
The Ground Floor of the Library is open 24/7 throughout most of the year. It has:
- Two Self-Service Machines - use your library card to borrow and return books, as well as check your library account.
- Main desk - librarians are on hand between 08:30 and 19:00 weekdays and 11:00 and 16:00 weekends to answer your questions.
- Two dissertation PCs - we store limited numbers of recently submitted dissertations. Visit our Learning Space to view the dissertation abstracts we have available.
- Four catalogue PCs - search our catalogue to find books and journals. We have catalogue PCs on every floor of the library.
- Study spaces - Our desks and bean bag areas are popular with students wishing to talk in groups.
First floor
This is the quiet floor, where we ask you to be mindful of your fellow students should you wish to talk in groups. You'll also find:
- Reference books - marked 'REF' and may not be taken outside of the library.
- Main collection - these books are numbered from 000 to 372, catalogued using the Dewey Number System.
- Two catalogue PCs - search our catalogue to find books and journals, there are catalogue PCs on every floor.
- Study area - open-plan desks, seating and plugs for your laptops. Popular with groups, but we remind you that it is an area for quiet study.
- Lockers - keep your items safe whilst studying. The key is released using a single £1.00 coin.
Teaching Practice Library
Also on the first floor is the Teaching Practice Library. Here you'll find:
- Teaching Practice collection - resources for trainee teachers including children's literature, (classics, picture books, big books), workbooks and multimedia packs. These are marked TP (Teaching Practice), TP MOS (Teaching Practice Oversize) and MMP (multimedia packs) on the catalogue.
All users can borrow from the Teaching Practice Library, but BEd., Schools Direct and PGCE student can borrow up to 20 additional items from the Teaching Practice Library using their TP Card. See our Borrowing page for more information. - Two group work rooms - group work rooms 1 and 2 contain desks, seating and interactive whiteboard screens. They are bookable at the Library Help Desk.
- IT suite - students can access these PCs by using their network login and password.
- Flexi-Study Space - Open-plan room with a combination of soft-seating, couches and individual study booths with lamps. When using this space, please ‘read the room’ and take your cue from other users – if other users are already in the space and studying quietly, please keep noise to a minimum. If the users are noisy when you enter the room, and you’d prefer to study in peace and quiet, please move to the Library’s quiet or silent study areas.
Second floor
This is the Silent Floor where talking is not permitted. Here you'll find:
- Main collection - books numbered from 373 to 999.
- Oversize section - these are large books and are catalogued as MOS and have a star sticker; numbered from MOS 000 to 999.
- Print Journals - catalogued alphabetically by journal title.
- Silent Study Booths - individual, panelled study booths with plugs for laptops.
- Group work room 3 - desk space and seating for students for groups of six. Bookable at the Library Help Desk.
- Group work room 4 - conference style table and seating for groups of eight. Bookable at the Library Help Desk.
- SLT Resource Room - resources for Speech and Language Therapy students.
- Two PAHC PCs and Printer - Plymouth University students may use these computers with their network login.