Tackling an assignment can be tough but there is no need to struggle on your own. Library staff are here to support you and there are a variety of ways you can get help when you are feeling confused or getting stuck. We’ve outlined the help we offer below allowing you to pick the support that is right for you.
We also welcome your feedback on the Library and our services. Please email your comments/suggestions directly to library@port.ac.uk.
Chat to us
Online chat if often the best the place to start. We can help with referencing, finding information and accessing resources as well as general questions about the Library Service. Our online chat service is staffed by our own University of Portsmouth Librarians during the day (Monday – Friday) and by our out-of-hours librarians during the night and at weekends.
If you don’t need an immediate answer then email us your question at library@port.ac.uk and we will respond within one working day.
You can phone us on +44 (0)23 9284 3228. Phones are staffed between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
How we can help you
We understand that university study can seem daunting but friendly Library staff are here to help you. You can get instant answers to most questions at any time 24/7 by chatting to a librarian in real-time online. For general enquiries, you can also phone us, and you can always email the library and we will respond as quickly as we can.
Library staff are here in person to help you find books and explain how things work. You can always sit down with a librarian for a face-to-face demonstration of how to use library resources, get help finding information, improve your referencing skills or answer any other academic questions. Pop in and see us anytime between 11 am and 3 pm Monday to Friday each week. The office is just off the Atrium.
If you need more help with your referencing than we can offer, you can book a referencing skills session. For more in-depth academic enquiries, you can also make an appointment with your subject team for truly expert help finding highly specialist academic information. You can find the contact details for your subject team on your Subject page on the library website. So, if you need help with anything, please ask! We are always here to help.
Library skills drop-ins
If you’d prefer to speak to a librarian in person, drop in on our Library Skills Librarian between 11am - 3pm. Drop in for help with referencing, accessing resources and developing your search skills. The Library Skills Drop-Ins are located at the desk near reception, just ask staff at reception to point you in the right direction.
Book a Librarian
Working on a project or dissertation? Ask your Faculty Librarian for a one-to-one tutorial to discuss the best resources and search strategies.
Additional referencing help
We have extensive referencing guidance available on Referencing@Portsmouth. Here you can find how to cite and reference many different publication types as well as how to format your finished reference list.
APA 7 Referencing appointments (online)
Need a bit more help with APA Referencing? Book an 30 minute online appointment with one of our referencing experts by emailing library@port.ac.uk. We can look at specific referencing examples you are having difficulties with, and answer questions you have about formatting your reference list or in-text citations.
Help for researchers
You can contact your Faculty Librarian to discuss key resource for your research
If you need help with open access publishing or research data management, contact the Research Outputs Team