Service Availability

How to access library services while our buildings are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We’re working hard to provide you with the best digital Library experience in these unusual circumstances.

We will update this webpage with new information as we continue to move our services online where possible. Find out about service availability below:

• Latest Information

  McClay, Biomedical and Medical Libraries

  • Although the library buildings are closed until further notice, the Library at Queen’s is open online for business.

  Book Loans

  • Your loans have been renewed until 15 June in the first instance
  • No fines will apply during the closure period
  • A Book Return Bin has been set up at Receptions in Queen's Elms BT1 and BT9 for you to return books while the Library is closed

  Subject Librarians

  • Throughout this period, your Subject Librarian is available to provide online support.

  Inter-Library Loans

  • During the Library closure period Inter-Library Loan article requesting has temporarily been extended to Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students to increase access to resources.
  • Select the Inter-Library Loan option under the Library Catalogue search box on the Library Home page to place a request.
• Accessing resources

  Current staff and students can access most e-resources off campus (from home).

  When you are accessing e-resources off campus you will need to use your University login, this is the same username and password you use to access your Queen's University Belfast email and Queen's Online.

  You should use the Library homepage as a starting point and use the following services to search:

  • Library Catalogue for e-books, e-journals and databases, e.g. JSTOR, Lexis, Scopus and Web of Knowledge
  • Article Search for full text articles
  • E-Journals A-Z for e-journals
  • Databases A-Z for online databases
  • Google Scholar for full text articles – see  How do I set up Google Scholar to access full-text from home?

  If you have any questions about accessing databases or about which resources Queen's University Belfast subscribes to, please contact your Subject Librarian.

  If you would like to see information about resources relevant to your area of study please select the appropriate Subject Guide.

  Digital Resources at Special Collections lists a number of digital platforms accessible off campus including digitised manuscripts and online exhibitions.

  Certain publishers have temporarily free access to their resources in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. These are listed on the Additional access to e-books and other e-resources page.

  The Open Access to Research - A list of useful resources page contains a list of Coronavirus content that is being shared openly.

  If you are still experiencing a problem, please Request IT Support.

• Help and support

  Face-to-face support is not available during the closure but it is available online:

  • Your Subject Librarian can provide advice on your research, finding information or using electronic resources including reference management software
  • For queries about books on loan please email borrower.services@qub.ac.uk
  • General queries should be emailed to library@qub.ac.uk
  • Contact the IT Service Desk for help and advice on all IT related services.

  You can also talk to us using Library Chat (click on the blue box on the right of the Library homepage) and browse the frequently asked questions in our LibraryHelp.

  The Student Wellbeing Collection contains a number of e-books that can be accessed off campus.

  The FAQs on the University website is intended to answer the concerns of both staff and students and is being constantly updated to reflect the latest guidance, so please use this as your primary source of information the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Training and skills

  You can request an online training session by contacting your Subject Librarian or Special Collections.

  To enhance your information literacy, please explore the Library’s Subject Guides.

  The Library has developed a Transition Skills Online training programme to assist students making the transition from school to higher education.

• Teaching and Research services

  Please contact your Subject Librarian to discuss your teaching needs.

  You can still get help and advice on the Library’s research services via:

  • Electronic theses - email: e-thesis@qub.ac.uk
  • Open access - email: openaccess@qub.ac.uk
  • Research data management - email: rdm@qub.ac.uk
  • Special Collections - email: specialcollections@qub.ac.uk