Answers

An Introduction to the Library Portal

_______________________________

The Library Portal will play an important role throughout your time at Arden because it's where you will access all the online academic resources you'll need to complete your studies. Arden's Library is free, fully digital, open 24/7, and accessible from any device as long as you have an internet connection. Just use your normal Microsoft 365 Arden login details to access the Library Portal and its resources.

---

Getting to the Library Portal

You'll first need to navigate to the Learning Success Hub. To do this from iLearn, just select Learning Success Hub under 'Resources' in the top right-hand corner.

 

 

From the Learning Success Hub home page, navigate to the Library Portal by either scrolling down to the 'Library Portal' tile or using the 'Library' drop-down menu at the top.

 

 

---

 

Key Features

Library search

The first feature you will see on the Library Portal is the search bar that allows you to locate resources within our Library catalogue (you can also find this on the Learning Success Hub homepage). This is where you can search for resources of all different types such as eBooks, journal articles, newspaper reports, and so on.

 

 

Simply type in your keywords, such as 'Criminal Justice', and click 'Search', and you will be taken to the Library catalogue where you will see resources relevant to the keywords you have searched for. You can read them online, save them or add them to a project folder to access them more easily later, use filters to find more relevant results, and so on.

 

 

If you would like a more detailed overview of searching for academic resources, watch our video or read our written guide on Searching the Library Portal.

For more information on adding resources to a project folder, watch our video or read our written guide on Setting up a Project Folders in the Library Catalogue.

 

A-Z List of Databases

A lot of the resources that appear in our Library catalogue come from the many different academic and industry-related databases that we subscribe to. You can access these databases directly from the A-Z List of Databases page on the Library Portal.

For example, if a business student wanted to look at company information, they could go directly to Orbis. To locate a specific database, you can either search for the name in the search bar or click on the first letter of the database name. Then, simply click on the name of the database to open its information page.

 

 

Use the 'Open Database' button to access it.

To browse subject-relevant databases, you can use the subject filter.

 

 

Browzine

Another feature on the Library Portal is Browzine, a platform specifically for browsing journals. If you're looking for a specific journal, such as the British Journal of Criminology, you can search for it in the search bar. Each journal is divided up into publication year, volume and issue number, and then you can see the articles available in each issue.

 

 

Alternatively, you can browse by categories to see journals relevant to that field; this can be a great way to get an overview of the kinds of research happening in your area of study.

 

 

Subject guides

For a one-stop shop of all these library features tailored to your area of study, try getting to know your Subject Guide. These have been created by the Library team in collaboration with the academics in your school as a useful collation of information and resources relevant to your subject.

 

 

Simply select your subject and then you will find your module reading lists, relevant journals and databases, tailored useful links and research tools, and a direct link to your referencing guide. You will also find a 'Search for Library resources' button at the top, which will take you directly to the Library catalogue to begin your searching.

 

Reading lists

The Library Portal is also where you will find the reading lists for all your modules in one place.

 

 

On the All Reading Lists page, search for the module title or code to locate your module and view all your Key Texts, Essential Resources and Wider Reading.

 

Accessibility tools

With some already built-in to our Library resources and some external tools such as SensusAccess and RNIB Bookshare, we have a range of accessibility tools designed to support you throughout your studies. Our Accessibility Tools page offers further information and guidance.

 

---

 

Help with using the Library Portal

If you ever need some guidance with using the Library Portal or your resources, we have a range of services available to support you:

 

Workshops

The Library Team offer a selection of online group workshops to help you understand the Library Portal and locate resources for your studies:

• An Introduction to the Library
• How to find eBooks in the Library Portal
• How to find journal articles in the Library Portal
• Searching for sources beyond the Library Portal
• Introduction to Library Accessibility Tools

You will also find a broad variety of workshops run by the Academic Skills Team and English Language Hub, covering topics such as academic writing, referencing and grammar. Book your place now via our Workshops page.

 

One-to-One Appointments

The Library Team offer online one-to-one appointments to provide tailored support with any element of the Library that you would like help with. Appointments are available every weekday with all of our Librarians. You can also book an appointment with an Academic Skills Tutor or an English Language Hub Lecturer. Book a slot with us via our One-to-One Appointments page.

 

Online chat / email

For a quick question, don't hesitate to contact us using either our live online chat - using the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the Learning Success Hub - or by emailing us at Library@arden.ac.uk. Our service hours are 09:00 - 17:00 (UK time), Monday to Friday, and we're always happy to help!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

You may find the support you need in our Frequently Asked Questions on our Help page. Use the search bar to search for your query and browse the list of existing answers. If you can't find your answer, try contacting us using our online chat or by email, or use the Ask a Question link to complete an online query form and we'll respond by email.