Collections
The following are collections of material you will find in our libraries:
Main Lending
This collection of over 15,000 books forms the main stock of both site libraries, and supports the courses taught at each site. Here you will find texts on your reading list, along with other core texts and relevant publications. We also cover subjects not taught at the College that complement your studies or even just stir your interest.
Availability:Items are available to borrow as either 1-week or 4-week loans.
Arrangement:Items are arranged on the shelves by number with books on the same subject appearing together. The library catalogue provides details of each item's number.
Fiction
This small but growing collection includes classic and contemporary titles.
Availability:Items are available to borrow as 4-week loans.
Arrangement: Items are arranged for browsing on carousels within each library.
Reference
This collection includes general reference works such as dictionaries, thesauri, year books, specifications and directories, as well as subject-specific reference works. Copies of popular items and core texts that otherwise could be out on loan are also included, to ensure a copy is always available for consultation.
Availability:Items are generally for consultation within the library only and cannot be borrowed. Text books from the Cathedral Street reference collection may be borrowed at the discretion of library staff between 1pm Friday and 10am the following Monday (adjusted to take account of public and College holidays).
Arrangement:Items are arranged on the shelves by number with books on the same subject appearing together. The library catalogue provides details of each item's number.
Journals
We subscribe to a significant number of journals in most subject areas taught by the College. They are a good way of keeping up-to-date with news and developments in your subject area.
Availability:Journals are not generally available for loan, though some titles have been incorporated into the main lending collection and can be borrowed. These will appear on the library catalogue.
Arrangement:Current issues are arranged alphabetically in display racks or on tables, with some oversize issues displayed separately. Back issues are held on the shelves, again arranged alphabetically.
Newspapers
We take the main Scottish daily newspapers, including the Herald, Scotsman, Guardian and Daily Record, along with the Times Educational Supplement and the Times Higher Educational Supplement.
Availability: Newspapers are not available for loan. However, we do subscribe to a number of electronic newspaper aggregation services, which you can access through our e-Library.
Arrangement: Today's editions are found in the display racks, with past editions boxed and kept for about a month.
Audio-Visual
This collection includes videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs and audio cassettes.
Availability:Items are available to borrow as either 1-week or 4-week loans.
Arrangement:Items are arranged on the shelves by number with items on the same subject appearing together. The library catalogue provides details of each item's number.
EFL (English as a Foreign Language)
Available at the Cathedral Street Library to support the learning needs of people whose first language is not English.
Availability:Items are available to borrow as either 1-week or 4-week loans.
Arrangement:Items are arranged on the shelves by number with books on the same subject appearing together. The library catalogue provides details of each item's number.
