Students at our UK partner colleges have access to all Library resources. Whilst you may not be able to visit the physical Library on the University of Portsmouth Campus, most of our resources and services are available to access online.
This page explains how to access Library services, find academic resources, develop your research and referencing skills, and get help when you need it.
Accessing Library Services Online and In Person
Online:
Most of our services are available online and you can log in using your University username and password. You can also access our 24/7 Online Chat for any queries about resources and referencing.
In person:
If you are likely to visit our building regularly to study in, or would like to borrow books in person, you will need a University of Portsmouth student card. These are often distributed by your college. If you do not have one, please contact library.registration@port.ac.uk to request it.
Check our opening hours too, before you visit. We are often open 24/7 during University term time, but vacations and holidays may vary.
Postal Loans
A Postal Loans Service is available if you would like us to post books to you. We will deliver to any address you nominate on your request form as long as your workplace, friend or relative is willing to sign for them on your behalf. This service is for anyone with a University of Portsmouth student card. To request a student card please contact library.registration@port.ac.uk.
Postal loans can be requested for books held in the Library stock. Books are posted out to you free of charge on the understanding that you are responsible for their safe return and for the return postage costs.
Document Delivery Service
The Document Delivery Service allows you to request a scan of a book chapter, an article, or a conference paper. You will need a University of Portsmouth student card to access this service.
Finding and Referencing Resources
Online Reading Lists
You will find links to ebooks, journal articles and other sources which lecturers want you to read for each module gathered together in online reading lists.
Using these can save you time when trying to find recommended reading as you just click ‘View Online’ next to any item you want to read. Details about the extra steps needed to access online resources we buy for you are available here.
To help with further research, you can then use the Discovery Service and Subject Pages mentioned in the sections below.
The UoP Discovery Service
The Discovery Service is a search engine to help you find articles, books, journals and other academic resources. The Discovery Service searches the Library Catalogue and over 100 databases at the same time, helping you find books, ebooks, journal articles, conference papers and more from a single search.
You can use the Discovery Service by clicking on the 'Search Library resources' button at the top right of this page.
More information on how to use the Discovery Service.
Your Subject Page
Visit your Subject Pages to find information and resources particularly relevant to your subject area. These pages have been carefully curated by your Faculty Librarian. They are useful when you are researching for an assignment or trying to find particular types of information, for example, newspapers, journals, or audio-visual resources. They are often the best place to start when researching an assignment.
Referencing
Referencing can be hard, but there is no need to struggle on your own. The Library is here to support you and there are a variety of ways you can get help when you are feeling confused or getting stuck. We have created extensive referencing guidance on our dedicated Referencing@Portsmouth pages.
Information Literacy
There is so much information available online that it can be difficult to find the most reliable and relevant sources. Visit our Information Literacy pages to learn about searching and evaluating information more effectively.
How to Get Help
Our friendly Library staff are happy to help with any questions and queries. You can get support in a variety of ways, from our librarian-staffed online chat service to emails and appointments. Check out our dedicated help page to see all the ways you can access the support you need.