Frequently
asked questions
Who can join the Library?
How do I join?
How do I find out what books, journals and
videos are available?
Can I request to extend
the loan period of my books?
Can I reserve books?
Are there fines on overdue books?
How many books can I borrow and for how
long?
Do you have any CDs and videos 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?
Can I print out from a computer in the Multimedia
Room?
What is Athens?
How do I get an Athens login?
Does the Library provide training in searching
databases?
What is the National Library for Health?
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?
May I donate books?
What is Grey Literature?
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 our Library
Registration form.
How do I find out
what books, journals and videos 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 .
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.
We can not renew books after a loan period of 90 days or where
the book has been reserved by another user.
Can I reserve
books?
Yes, and there is no charge. Reservations can be made over the
phone, in person or you can make reservations directly from our online catalogue. To do the latter 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.
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 Collection
Books are issued for 3 weeks.
Do you have any
CD’s or videos and can I borrow them?
We do but it varies as to which ones we can allow you to borrow.
What if I want an item
the Library does not have?
We have an Inter
Library Loans Service whereby we contact other libraries and
information sources elsewhere in the UK to borrow or copy the
item for you on your behalf. You must request all items online
via our website using a Library code provided to you 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 and to download a registration form, click
here.
You can also access many services and electronic resources via
our website.
You can return books at night by putting them in the internal
post You can renew books by emailing us at 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 while working nights?
You can only borrow during opening hours. You can however return
books borrowed by using the internal post or by leaving it at
the ERC Reception provided you have out of hours access to the
Library. In each instance you must state clearly your name and
the date you sent it.
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 theoughout 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 Library
staff will show you around. For further information, please speak
to a member of Library staff or click
here.
Does the Library
have a photocopier and if so is there a charge?
We have 2 photocopiers. One is designated for departmental use
and the other is a pay as you go. You can either use the coin-op
or the card system and this is charged 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 for the Trust Intranet, NHSnet or Internet?
The Library Multimedia
Room computers are split between the University 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.
Can
I print out from a computer in the Multimedia Room?
Yes, but if you are on the NHS network, please speak to a member
of Library staff either before or after you have sent something
to print. Printing costs are 6p per sheet. 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
Athens is an authentication system used by academic institutions
and the NHS which allows access to a whole range of electronic
resources acquired by the institution. If you are employed by
the NHS, you will be entitled to an NHS Athens account. For more
information on the resources available via Athens, please
click here
How do I get an Athens
login?
• University staff and students can apply online via the
University
website.
• NHS staff can self-register at: https://register.athensams.net/nhs/.
It’s always best to register form a Trust PC – then
you will receive your login account details immediately. There
is a 15 day wait otherwise.
Does the Library
provide training in searching databases?
We provide training on all databases and how to access online
journals. Please book in advance for individuals and groups.
For further information, please ask a member of Library staff
or click
here.
What is the National
Library for Health?
The National Library for Health is an electronic Library and information
service for NHS staff. Much of the information provided requires
an NHS Athens login. The NLH can be found at http://www.library.nhs.uk
Can I access the
The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures
electronically from my ward or department?
Yes, the Library has purchased an electronic version, a shortcut
to which appears on every intranet computer desktop throughout
the Trust.
Does the Library
provide a literature searching service?
Yes. You just complete our form either in the Library or on our
website. 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?
We can set up electronic tables of journal contents to be sent
to your email address. These are known as
ETOCs.
We can also set you up to receive new citations added to the databases
of your choice on any research area. This is known as Auto
Alerting. It is recommended you discuss your chosen topic
with one of our librarians so we can refine our search strategy
to suit your needs best. The home page of our website also has
a list of latest news for different medical specialities. Please
contact us if you would like to see your own speciality added
to the list.
Can I borrow
items held at John Rylands University Library of Manchester?
If you are a member 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.
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.
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. To access the North West
grey literature services go to http://www.fade.nhs.uk/.
