Our Collections
How to Search our Collections
We provide easy access to an extensive collection of books, journals and online databases, including our unique heritage collections. The Library holds a large collection of e-resources to ensures you have access to resources both on and off campus.
Library Search is the tool you need to search our resources and collections. You can search for the following:
- Books and e-books
- Journals and e-journals
- Databases
- Audio visual material
- Music scores
- Theses and e-theses
- Newspapers
- Special Collections
To search for Archival manuscripts, please use the Archives online catalogue
Through Library Search you can also:
- Check the availability and location of items in the collection
- Access e-resources
- Recall items that are already on loan
- Access your Online Reading Lists
- You can log-in to your Library Account from Library Search and:
- View items you have borrowed and check the return dates
- Renew items on loan
- Keep track of material you have recalled
Need help?
Visit our FAQs webpage for more details of how to search our collections
Can’t find the resource you need?
The Academic Support Team can help you to gain access to the resources you need, even if they are not already held in our collections. If you would like some further information on any of the resources we hold, or how to search our collections, please contact the Academic Support Team.
How do I find books in the library?
Accessing E-Resources
Reading Lists
Reading Lists give you access to all of the material you will need to study. These lists are helpful tools that contain details of all your core text, recommended reading and links to e-books, journal articles and book chapters. You can access your reading list via Blackboard or via Library Search.
Bangor University staff can find out how to create reading list via the Reading List Help pages.
Inter- Library Loans
Short Loan
To cope with the heavy demand for particularly popular books, a Short Loan Collection is available in each of the University branch libraries.
The Short Loan collection consists of books that are set as essential reading by teaching staff for their modules. As these items are in heavy demand they have a shorter loan period than ordinary items.
All short loan items are listed on the library catalogue as having “1 Day or 3 Day Short Loan" as their location and can be found on the regular library shelves in all branch libraries other than Deiniol, where they are held in the Short Loan room. Please ask for assistance if you are unable to find these.
Please note: Short Loan items do not automatically renew and incur heavy fees for late return.
Short Loan Period |
Penalty |
24 hour loan |
£2.00 per hour for first two hrs and then 50p for a part of any hour thereafter |
3 day loan |
50p per day |
Placing a Book in the Short Loan Collection
A Guide for Academic Staff
Teaching staff may transfer any titles on reading lists that are essential reading for essays and assignments and those which are module core texts into the Short Loan Collection. Requests can be made by completing the online Short Loan Request form
The library also offers a digitisation service which will digitise chapters of books and journal articles at the request of academic staff. We will contact the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) for permission, and digitise the appropriate chapters/articles and make them available to students through the Library Catalogue. More information can be found on the Reading List Help pages
Accessing Other Libraries
There may be times when you want to visit other libraries across the UK to use their study spaces or look at their collections. Please see the information below regarding the ability to access or borrow from other libraries:
LINC y Gogledd – Public, Further Education Colleges and University Libraries in partnership across North Wales.
SCONUL Access Scheme – A co-operative venture between higher education libraries across the UK. **Due to current university campus restrictions, this service has been suspended until further notice.**
National Libraries – How to register to use the British Library (London) and the National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth).
Searching Other Library Catalogues
Library Hub Discover – Gives you access to details of materials held in over 140 UK national, academic and specialist libraries.
Welsh Libraries Find a Book - Brings together publicly accessible library catalogues from all across Wales into a single search, with the ability to limit results to Linc y Gogledd libraries.
Using Wi-fi at Other Institutions
eduroam is a global network of research and education institutions. It allows secure access to an internet connection for users at any eduroam enabled site by using their log on credentials from their home site. This means Bangor users can travel to any eduroam enabled site and connect to the eduroam network there, and guests from other eduroam sites can connect to our eduroam network at Bangor.
Can’t find the resource you need?
The Academic Support Team can help you to gain access to the resources you need, even if they are not already held in our collections. If you would like some further information on any of the resources we hold, or how to search our collections, please contact the Academic Support Team.
How to obtain material in accessible formats
Ordering New Resources (University Staff)
Please contact the relevant Academic Support Librarian for your School with any queries about ordering new resources to be added to Library stock.
Click here for contact details.
Academic staff are discouraged from purchasing material directly. The Library usually obtains discounts from regular suppliers, therefore reimbursement will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.