News and problems

Barbour recently moved to a new platform with little warning.  We are currently working with Information Services to set up our authentication system that allows you to log into the platform, but at the moment, Barbour is temporarily unavailable.

We are very sorry for this service interruption.  We are working to restore access to Barbour as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Planned IT maintenance may cause temporary service disruption on Friday 30 October between 10:00pm – 4:00am (UK time). During this maintenance window, VLeBooks may be unavailable or intermittently interrupted.

Thank you for your understanding while this essential work is carried out. 

A security vulnerability was recently detected in the main off-campus authentication system used to access Library eresources.  The authentication system was prophylactically locked down, a security fix found, and that fix is currently being rolled out.  There may ongoing interruptions to access to electronic resources while the fix is applied.  We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. 

Workarounds

Connecting to the Eduroam Wi-Fi network should avoid the problem on campus.

Connecting via the VPN should avoid the problem if you are working off campus.

Intermittent construction noise disruption is expected from Monday 19 October as construction of the exciting new student hub commences.  Demolition work outside the Library, erection of scaffolding around the building site, and ground works next week may all be noisy from time to time.  

Signs have been positioned around the area of the ground floor most likely to be impacted.  The further you sit from the side of the Library overlooking the construction site, the less likely you are to notice any noise.  The 'café side' of the library is likely to be the quietest on all three floors.  In the unlikely event that noise disruption reaches the Individual Silent Study Zone on the second floor, please move into the smaller journal room and close the connecting doors to keep out the noise.

Reusable sound cancelling earplugs are available for free on request from the Library Reception that will neutralise almost all sound disruption wherever you are sitting.  If you are particularly sensitive to noise, please ask for a pair to use in one of the quieter areas of the Library.

Some clients are encountering an error message when attempting to log into Westlaw.

If you encounter an unexpected error message after logging into Westlaw advising that there is a problem with your registration, please follow this guidance.  You will need to complete the webform provided by the supplier of Westlaw and choose option number 3: "I am not seeing any of these screens and am getting an error!"

While Library staff are happy to help walk you through this process and can follow up with the supplier they are unable to resolve your difficulties.

We are very sorry to report that the ageing large format scanner in the Map Library has finally broken.  As a result, the Library is no longer able to offer a large format scanning service.  We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Laptops you borrow from the lockers in the Library may block third party cookies by default.  This appears to interfere with authentication for many electronic library resources.

Solution

Click on the crossed-through eye icon in the web address bar at the top to allow third-party cookies (the icon should become an un-crossed eye), then reload/refresh the page (click the circular arrow in the toolbar or press F5).

Some clients have reported difficulties accessing the Library catalogue from overseas.  We are very sorry for the difficulties caused.

Workaround

The only known workaround is to connect to the University computer network using the VPN and then to search the Library catalogue through the EBSCO Discovery Service.

Here is a stepwise guide to the workaround:

1. Follow the guidance on MyPort for the operating system you are using (e.g. Windows 11) to install, configure, and then connect to the University computer network using the GlobalProtect VPN.
2. With the VPN connected, go to the Library homepage, click on "Search all Library resources".  The Library search page will appear.
3. Enter your Library catalogue search in the first search box on the Library search page - the EBSCO Discovery Service (not the Library catalogue search box).
4. Log into the Discovery Service, if asked, using your University network login and password.
5. Select the "All filters" box under the search bar in the Discovery Service.  A panel will open on the right side of the screen.
6. In the right-hand pane, untick "Full Text Only and Print" and tick instead "Catalogue Only".
7. Click the blue "Apply" button underneath. 

You should now be seeing only search results from the Library catalogue.  You can change your catalogue search as many times as you wish, so long as you do not close the browser window.

Tip: Selecting the "Full text online only button underneath the search bar will show you only ebooks that you can read online.

Help is available online

If you run into any difficulties or the above workaround does not work for you, or if you are unable to install or connect via the University VPN for any reason, please chat with a live librarian online 24/7 or email us.