Library

Visiting the Library

During semesters, the Keele Campus Library is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.  

Counter services close earlier and opening times vary during vacation periods, so please always check Library opening hours before visiting.

For details of opening hours at the Health Library, please click here.

Your Keele Card

Upon registration you should receive a Keele Card.

This is your ID card and also acts as your Library card.  

Your Keele Card can alsoo be used other University services, such as printing (provided by IT Services):  view more details here.

Using the self-service points across the campus, you can put money onto your card.

Study Areas

There are specific areas in the Library for private, silent and group study.   

Study spaces available in the Health Library and the Keele Campus Library are summarised below:

Campus Library

Health Library

View the Keele Campus Library Floor Plan here

View the Health Library Floor plan here

Semester Study Carrels for Postgraduates

Taught and research postgraduate students can apply for a private study carrel. Situated on the top floor of the Library, these single occupancy rooms each have a desk, chair, window, heater, bookshelf, bin, network point and electric socket. A carrel can be booked for one semester only and we recognise 3 semesters: 

Semester 1:        October – January
Semester 2:        February – May
Semester 3:        June –September

To request a room, please email your name, degree, School/RI and preferred semester to the Library Special Collections Administrator h.burton@keele.ac.uk

Demand is high and the Library has just 15 semester use study carrels, so do apply sooner rather than later. You will be added to the waiting list and emailed when a room becomes available. Previous occupants may re-join the list, but priority will be given to new applicants.

When a carrel becomes available, you will be asked to complete the Semester Study Carrel Agreement and to bring a £10.00 deposit for the key. This deposit is refunded upon safe return of the key at the end of the semester.

If you have any queries, please email Helen Burton at h.burton@keele.ac.uk

Photocopying

There are self-service photocopiers on all floors of the Keele Campus Library, most of which are operated using your Keele Card.

There are also copiers which can be operated with coins.

For the location of photocopies at both libraries please view our floor plans.

Please be aware of Copyright regulations when you are photocopying.

Copyright information is displayed next to the photocopiers. For more detail, please check our Guidelines on Copying Copyright Material

Inductions & Training

Contact your School's Liaison Librarian to:

• Arrange 1-2-1 tuition (such as help with literature searching)
• Any general queries about using information resources
• Contact details for the Liaison Librarians
• Please note: If you are based at the Hospital Campus contact the Training & Information Support Librarians - view their details here

For details of "open" sessions, view:

• Details of training sessions delivered at the Keele Campus Library
• Details of training sessions delivered at the Health Library  
   

PG Distance Borrowing

The Library offers a Postal Loans service, normally for a fee of £5.00 per parcel to cover the costs of sending items by Recorded Delivery.

You can also return borrowed items by post.
 

Using other University Libraries

Keele University Library participates in access schemes for higher education libraries based on reciprocal borrowing, via SCONUL.  

For further details, please view our SCONUL access page.

If you need more information on loans at other libraries, contact Debbie Steventon or telephone 01782 734159. 

Inter-Library Loans

Most items not available in the Library can be borrowed or copied for you from other libraries in the UK and the items can be posted to you. The fees for this service vary depending on the item.

For further details on this service, refer to our Inter-Library Loan Service pages

Books & Print Journals

The Library has a wide selection of printed books (in the region of half a million) and subscribes to many journals.

• Books and journal titles can be located using the Library Catalogue

Theses / Dissertations

A copy of each postgraduate research degree thesis accepted by the University is stored in the Campus Library and appears on the Library catalogue.

Hard copy theses cannot be borrowed – please ask at the Library Info Point if you wish to consult a hard copy thesis in the Library.

An increasing number of Keele theses are available electronically through our Research Repository and via EThOS where you can immediately download full text or order, free of charge, a digital copy of a Keele thesis not yet scanned. (Requests for theses from other Universities may incur charges).

For guidance on depositing your research degree thesis in the Library, please see the Ethesis webpage.

E-Resources

A wide range is available to assist you with your studies.  Use the Find section of this site to find/access databases, ejournals and ebooks you need: view it here.

Accessing e-resources off-campus

Most online resources are available to part-time students and distance learners remotely. For more detailed on how to access this information, refer to off-campus access to e-resources

Also view: the related further information page.

You will find information about the various types of resources you can use on our Find... pages

Reference Management Software

Keele uses and suppports RefWorks, which is available online via your Keele IT account username & password.

Find out more from our RefWorks webpage.

Accessing e-mail off-campus

The Library contacts students via their Keele email accounts. Keele Webmail allows you to access your email account remotely.

You will receive notification including the following:

• Reminders and overdues;
• Notification to collect items you've reserved.

For more information on Keele Webmail, visit the IT Service pages.

Contact us ...

View all Library contact details on this page.