Built Environment: Books and e-books
Image Credit: BCU Assets
Books are an excellent way to broaden your knowledge or start researching a subject. There are multiple ways to find and get relevant books:
- Online resource lists prepared by your lecturers;
- The Library Search box on every page of the library website;
- Browse shelfmarks or e-book and digital collections to which the library has subscribed for you.
The library also has resources and services in case you can't find a book.
Resource Lists
Resource Lists provides easy access to course materials curated by your lecturers for your modules. You can search for lists using the module code, module title, name of your lecturers, or access your resource list directly from your module's Moodle page. The links provided in your resource lists for individual items will take you directly to Library Search or to the full text of e-books and e-journals.
If you can't find your resource list, talk to your module leader or contact us at Library Chat.
Browsing
Looking for other books on the real or virtual shelves is another way to discover interesting titles. Look for the shelfmarks corresponding to related topics. Online you can browse and search the e-book collections BCU has subscribed.
Shelfmarks e-booksDigital Collections
If you can't find a book
Learn new search techniques
The Birmingham City University Library Search is available on every page of the library website. Learn how to refine your search results, check an item's availability, discover related resources and build advanced search queries.
When an item is not in stock
There are many options available to you when a book is not in stock:
- Reserve a book that is already loaned.
- If you found a book held by another library, you can request an inter-library loan.
- And finally, you may also suggest a book for purchase.