Frequently
asked questions
Who can join the Library?
How do I join?
How do I find out what books, journals,
and DVDs are available?
Can I request to extend
the loan period of my books?
Can I reserve books online?
Are there fines on overdue books?
How many books can I borrow and for how
long?
Do you have any CDs or DVDs and can I borrow
them?
What if I want an item the Library does not have?
What if a journal I want is missing from the
shelves?
Can I access Library services out of hours?
How can I borrow items and access the Library
while working nights?
Can I be shown how to use the Library?
Does the Library have a photocopier and
if so is there a charge?
Are there computers available in the Library
and where can I find them?
Can anybody access these computers?
How can I find out which network I can use?
Is there wireless access in the Library?
Can I print out from a computer in the Multimedia
Room?
What is Athens and how do I get an NHS Athens account?
Why when I access some e-journals on a Trust computer, does the interace look wrong?
Does the Library provide training in searching
databases?
Does the Library provide training in how to use Microsoft applications?
Can I access the The Royal Marsden Hospital
Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures electronically from my ward
or department?
Does the Library provide a literature searching
service?
Does the Library provide a current
awareness service?
Can I borrow items held at John Rylands
University Library of Manchester?
Can I have access to electronic resources provided by John Rylands University Library of Manchester?
Can I download software applications provided by Manchester University?
May I donate books?
What is Grey Literature?
Does the Library offer any help to its dyslexic or visually impaired members?
Can I borrow an iPad from the Library?
Who can join the
Library?
All those who work or study within this Trust. In addition to
this we allow all those who work for other Trusts within Greater
Manchester as part of the GMHelp scheme.
How
do I join?
Bring your staff identification badge and complete one of our registrations forms. For further information, cick here.
How do I find out
what books, journals and DVDs are available?
You can visit the Library and either ask a member of Library staff,
or search our computer catalogue yourself within the Library.
You can also search our catalogue
from anywhere outside the Library by visiting our website. We also have a number of book/resource lists accessible via our web page.
Can I request to
extend the loan period of my books?
Yes, you can renew your books over the phone, by email or in person.
if you have the book for 6 months, we will ask you to bring it into the Library. You may have it back if there are no reservations.
Can I reserve
books online?
Yes, and there is no charge. Reservations can be made directly from our online catalogue. You will need to enter your user code which is available from us on request. We will email or ring you as soon as your reservation is available. You can also reserve items by phone or in person.
Are there fines on
overdue books?
Yes, 20p per item, per day.
How many
books can I borrow and for how long?
A maximum of 6 items will be issued at one time. You can also
borrow additional books from our Books to Inspire, Health and Wellbeing, and Fiction collections.
Books are issued for 3 weeks.
Do you have any
CD’s, or DVDs and can I borrow them?
We have many DVDs and CDs which you can borrow, ranging from Medical DVDs to Health and Wellbeing DVDs. Many of our health books are also accompanied by a DVD or CD.
What if I want an item
the Library does not have?
We have an Inter
Library Loans Service whereby we contact other libraries
in the UK to acquire the item for you. You must request all items online
via our website using your Library usercode - available on request.
There is a charge for this service.
What if a journal
I want is missing from the shelves?
If it turns out that the journal is out on loan, you have an option
to wait for it to be returned or request it as an inter library
loan. There is a charge for this service. If it is actually missing
from our collection, please inform a member of staff it is missing.
We will then try to get you the article as a free inter library
loan.
Can I access Library
services out of hours?
The Library’s Multimedia Room has 24 hours access. For further
information click
here.
You can also access many services and electronic resources via
our website.
You can return books using our Book Returns Box which is situated outside the library entrance 24/7.
You can renew books by emailing erclibrary@manchester.ac.uk. We will email you the new renewal date or request the return of
the book if it has been reserved by another user.
How can I borrow items
and access the Library whilst working nights?
You can only borrow during opening hours. You can however return
books borrowed by using the internal post or by leaving it in our Books Return Box.
You may use our website to access services and resources at anytime.
If you want to renew a book and the Library is closed, please
email us erclibrary@manchester.ac.uk
and we’ll respond during our next working day. You may either
have to return the book or you will be provided with an extended
renewal date.
Can I be shown
how to use the Library?
We have regular inductions tours and Bitsize training sessions thoughout the year which we will advertise on our newsletter and on our website. We will show you around the Library and tell you in brief
the services and resources available to you. Alternatively you
can just visit at your own convenience and a member of the Library team will be happy to show you around. You can even bring your colleagues if you like. For further information, please speak to a member of Library staff or click
here. . We also offers a series of short Bitsize sessions to help you make the most of the Library services.
Does the Library
have a photocopier and if so is there a charge?
We have a photocopier. It is designated for departmental use or you can pay as you go, using either the coin box or the card system. Charges as follows:
B&W A4 – 6p : A3 – 12p
Colour A4 – 50p : A3 – £1
Photocopying cards cost £1.00.
Are there computers
available in the Library and where can I find them?
Yes. They are situated in the Library Multimedia
Room.
Can anybody access
these computers?
The Library Multimedia
Room computers are split between the University of Manchester Network and
the Trust Network. You can only access those computers on the
network you are eligible to use. They all have Internet access.
How can I find out
which network I can use?
You are able to use either network as long as you or your manager
have completed the relevant network registration forms and they
have been cleared by the network manager. As a general guide:-
• You are eligible to use the Trust network if you work
for or study in this Trust.
• You are eligible to use the University Network if you
work or are a student of the University of Manchester.
The final say is made by the manager of each different network.
Is there wireless access in the Library?
Trust Network. Wireless access is available in the Library but only for Laptops purchased through Trust IT. They may consider re-configuring a laptop in special circumstances. Contact x2820 for further information.
University Network. Wireless access is available in certain areas of the library e.g. the reference area. You will need a University of Manchester login. For further information, ask a member of Library Staff or click
here.
Can
I print out from a computer in the Multimedia Room?
Yes, but if you are on the NHS network, you need to collect the printouts from the Library office. Please speak to a member of the Library team. Printing costs are 6p per sheet. NHS printing is not available out of hours. If you are on the University
network, a printer is located in the Multimedia Room. Print credits
are required. A Print Credit Top-Up Station is located in the
Library's photocopier room.
What is Athens and how do I get an NHS Athens account
Athens is an authentication system used by the NHS which allows access to a whole range of electronic
resources acquired by the institution. If you are employed by
the NHS or a student on placement at an NHS organisation, you will be entitled to an NHS Athens account. For more
information on UHSM NHS Athens and to register,
click here
Why when I access some e-journals on a Trust computer, does the format look wrong?
This is a caused by the UHSM firewall and can prevent you from getting to the full-text of an article. It happens most often with Wiley and Ebsco e-journals and also when doing an advanced Cochrane search. To solve the problem, leave the e-journals webpage open and click on a new Internet Explorer tab. Enter a URL that will force Barracuda to open. e.g. www.hotmail.com. Enter your username and password into Barracuda and then go back to the e-journal webpage and refresh the page.
Please click here to view a presentation illustrating the steps to take.
Does the Library
provide training in searching databases?
We provide training on all databases and how to access online
journals. Courses are advertised on our home page. You can also request a one to one training session via the link on our home page. We can also provide tailored training sessions for groups.
For further information, please ask a member of Library staff
or click
here.
Does the Library provide training in how to use Microsoft applications?
This kind of training is offered by the Trust IT department. Tel: 291 2304.
NHS staff can also access the Cheltenham Courseware Library which provides online access 100 quality computer training courses such as Microsoft Office. To access the courses, click here. Please contact us for the username and password required or visit our intranet page.
Can I access the
The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures
electronically from my ward or department?
Yes, the Library has purchased the latest electronic version which is accessable using your UHSM Athens account from the Guidelines section on the Trust's intranet. You can also gain access outside the Trust with your Athens account.
Does the Library
provide a literature searching service?
Yes. You just complete our
online form or if you prefer, you can fill in a paper copy of the form. You
may also discuss your search terms with a professional librarian
in order to give us a better understanding of the information
you require. We can search more than one database for you including
Medline, CINAHL, Embase etc. We can email citations and abstracts
of the results to you and help you discover how you can obtain
the full text of any articles you are interested in. This service
is currently free of charge.
Does the
Library provide a current awareness service?
Yes, there are a number of ways you can keep up to date in within your speciality and we can help you do this. To view the range of current awareness services click here.
Can I borrow
items held at John Rylands University Library of Manchester?
If you are a member of John Rylands we can borrow items for you on your behalf
at no cost to you. You will need to transfer the details of the
item you want from the John Rylands catalogue, onto our Hospital
Book Loan Request Form, making sure you include the shelf
number.
Can I have access to electronic resources provided by John Rylands University Library of Manchester?
For remote access to the full range of e-resources provided by John Rylands Library you need to be a Manchester University student or member of staff. If you are not either, but work in conjuction with a university department, you may be able to apply for honorary staff status to gain full access. You will need to contact the university department concerned. Alternatively, John Rylands has a NHS membership scheme whereby anyone working for the NHS in the North West can join the library and have access to electronic resources whenever they visit the library. Please click here for further information. NHS members are entitled to FULL onsite-access to all electronic journals and databases.
Can I download software applications provided by Manchester University?
Yes, but only if you are a student or member of staff of the University of Manchester. Click here to see the list of applications available.
May I donate books?
We only accept books less than 10yrs old. This date varies depending
on the subject matter and if we already have a more current edition
in stock already. If we do accept books from you we reserve the
right to withdraw when we consider it out of date. The BMA website also lists a range of disposal agencies for donating books to developing countries.
What is Grey Literature?
It consists of publications with little or no general distribution. It is
the material that all health bodies generate for internal use
including NHS circulars, government reports, policies, procedures,
care pathways and clinical guidelines. We have put together a Grey Literature Guide that you may find useful.
Does the Library offer any help to its dylexic or visually impaired members?
Yes, we automatically add an extra week to the loan period of everything you borrow from us. For more information click here
Can I borrow an iPad from the Library?
We have iPads for loan plus another for use in the Library. The service is for UHSM staff and the loan period is 7 days.
Please click here for further information.
