The University of Sheffield
The University Library

Getting started at the University Library


Our role

Welcome to the University Library. Our role is to provide access to the information resources required by members of the University for research, learning and teaching. There is a wealth of material to support learning and research at the University; over 1,300,000 printed volumes and an extensive range of high quality electronic resources. Many resources are accessible from off-campus via the internet.

Our sites & services

The Library delivers its services from five sites. Membership of the University Library entitles you to use the services of all site libraries. To gain entry to the Library and to borrow books you need a valid UCard or Library Card. University staff and students need a valid UCard to use the photocopying and printing facilities.

How we contact you

All initial messages from the Library are sent by email. It is important that University staff and students check their University email account daily. Other Library users should check their preferred email account daily.

Access for non-University members

The Library is open to those outside the University who have a genuine need to use material not available in other local libraries.

MUSE

MUSE, the University of Sheffield Portal, is a web facility designed to give staff and students of the University personalised access to the University’s online resources. Wherever you are in the world, provided you can access the internet with a modern web browser, it should be possible for you to access electronic web-based services provided by the University of Sheffield. MUSE provides an easy-to-use, secure access to online information. For example, you can:
  • Send & receive emails from anywhere in the world using Webmail
  • Access your Novell filestore easily from off campus
  • Access Star, the Library catalogue
  • View details of your Library account, including a list of your current loans
  • Renew your Library loans & check for reservations & document supply items that are ready for collection
  • Access many of the Library’s electronic resources, including ebooks, ejournals & databases
  • Access the Library’s Information Skills Resource through MOLE (WebCT)
  • Check the status of your pre-pay account, used for services such as photocopying & printing

Help & guidance

Staff are on hand at each site to offer advice and assistance. If you have problems, for example, locating material in the Library, accessing electronic resources, or need help with your Library account please ask any member of staff. Alternatively, please email library@sheffield.ac.uk for help.