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The University of Manchester Library

Service availability

How to access Library services while our sites are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We’re working hard to provide you with the best digital Library experience in these unusual circumstances. We will update this webpage with new information as we continue to move our services online where possible.

Returning books to the Library

Please visit Library Help for the most up to date information about returning books and resources during the campus closure:

Library service updates

Find out about service availability below:

Accessing resources

  • You can’t access physical resources such as books, journals and printed theses during the closure.
  • Publishers are providing access to additional e-resources, including e-books, during the period of the COVID-19 outbreak on a rolling trial basis. Please note the length of access to these resources varies from publisher to publisher: Resources opened for COVID-19
  • You can still access e-resources.
    • Use Library Search to find ebooks and electronic articles
    • Use Browzine to read popular ejournals
    • Download and use the LibKey Nomad and Library Access browser extensions. These make it easier to access e-resources provided by the Library without having to visit Library Search first.
  • The Order a book and Order an article services are still running, but we’re only able to fulfil orders electronically. Please select your orders carefully so we can manage demand.
  • All databases are still available, with the exception of Bloomberg, Datastream and SDC Platinum. As an alternative to these, we recommend using Thomson ONE (requires Internet Explorer), WRDS and Capital IQ. Contact uml.teachingandlearning@manchester.ac.uk to get help with financial databases.
  • University of Manchester theses from 2010 onwards are available online via Research Explorer.
  • ProQuest and EThOS provide access to a wide range of non-University of Manchester theses.
  • Some of the Library’s Special Collections have been digitised and are available online. We are currently unable to provide access to items that haven’t been digitised. If you have an enquiry about the Special Collections, contact the team (uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk).

Help and support

  • No phone or face-to-face support is available during the closure.
  • Help and support, including student IT support is available online:
    • You can browse frequently asked questions on Library Help
    • Talk to us online via Library Chat 24 hours a day (click the yellow button on the right hand side of the Library website to open a chat).
  • If you’re having problems with an e-resource, contact the e-resources helpdesk (uml.eresources@manchester.ac.uk).
  • If you’re a member of academic staff, contact your Academic Engagement Librarian directly if you need support.

Training and skills

Teaching services

  • Reading Lists: 
    • The easiest way to manage your reading lists and order content for online teaching is to use Reading Lists Online.
    • If you are using Reading Lists Online, we are making all reading list content available electronically wherever possible and your list will link to content directly. Make sure you have added importance tags to your items (particularly core and essential items), so we can address priorities quickly for you.
    • If you have a print reading list item that you would like us to source electronically, contact the Reading Lists team via email: uml.readinglists@manchester.ac.uk
      • If no ebook is available for purchase, we will investigate providing temporary access until the end of July through the Kortext/JISC Free Student Textbook Programme.
  • Special Collections support: Contact us directly to discuss your teaching needs (uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk).

Research services