Semester 2 - Information for Students
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Checkout DCU Library in Semester 2!
Welcome to the library, both new and returning students. This page will help you to discover what DCU Library has to offer and introduce you to the library’s resources and facilities.
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Opening hours available here
- The Library opening hours vary throughout the year. Check the library website regularly for updates.
- For our extended opening hours the library will open for ‘Study Only’. Library staff will not be available, however, self service machines can be used to borrow and return library materials. PCs and printing facilities will also be available.
- Email support available Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
- Phone support available Monday - Saturday, 9:30am - 5pm
- Library staff are available to answer quick queries via our online chat service, Chat With Us. Available Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.
- DCU Library online resources (eBooks, eJournals) available 24/7
In most cases, your lecturer will provide you with a module reading list. This list will comprise references to book chapters, books, journal articles, and other sources such as newspapers, websites and reports. You will need to locate these online or in print in order to read them.
Take a look at the short video we’ve created to help you make sense of your reading list and help you find the items on it.
Library Search is DCU Library's discovery platform. Use it to search the Library's collections: books, eBooks, journal articles, and more.
Take a look at the quick video on how to find a book /ebook
To access any of our extensive online resources (eBooks, eJournals and databases), always start your search by signing into Library Search with your DCU email and password.
Then, simply click on the eBook, eJournal or database you wish to consult.
If you experience any problems accessing our resources please contact library@dcu.ie
If you forget your DCU log in details please contact ISS
BORROWING
Borrowing Entitlements
- Undergraduates can borrow up to 14 items
- Taught and Research Postgraduates can borrow up to 20 items
- Bachelor of Education (B Ed) students can borrow up to 20 items
- Some books can only be borrowed for 48 hours. These books can be identified by red tape around the base of the book spine
To borrow, you must have your DCU ID card.
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- Bring the book to a self service machine found in any of our three libraries.
- Press Borrow and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Always print or email an issue receipt to view the due date of when the loan is to be returned to the library.
Remember: Only TWO 48 Hour Loans can be borrowed at a time
Tip: Sign in to My Library Account online to check the due date of each item you have on loan.
To avoid borrowing restrictions, all loans must be returned to any DCU Library site on or before the due date.
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- Bring the book to a self service machine found on the ground floor in the library.
- Press Return and follow the onscreen instructions.
- A book that has been requested by another patron or its home library it cannot be returned on a self service machine. Return these books to the Issue Desk (or Book Return Facility outside staff service hours).
- Always print or email a return receipt to confirm the transaction.
An external Book Return Facility is also located outside the O’Reilly Library and is open to receive materials from all DCU libraries during Study Only and library closure times.
Remember:
- There are no fines, however, you may not borrow additional materials or renew loans until all overdue loans are returned.
- It is the responsibility of the patron to be aware of the due date for material and to return material on time regardless of any reminders.
Not finished with a book by its due date? No problem!
It’s easy to go online and renew your loan.
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- To renew a book, sign in to My Library Account and select the Loans tab.
- Click on the Renew button beside the book(s) you wish to extend the loan period.
- Books can be renewed a maximum of 3 times before they must be returned to the library.
- Books that have been requested by another patron cannot be renewed.
- Always renew a loan before the due date as after that date has passed the book will need to be returned to the library.
Contact issuedesk@dcu.ie for assistance.
Remember: 48 Hour Loans CANNOT be renewed.
Tip: The Library will send you a courtesy reminder the day before the due date (to your DCU email account) to indicate an item you have on loan is due for return.
All items in 1 Week and 3 Week loan collections can be requested if they are on loan to another patron. Items from the 48 Hour loan collection: core module materials cannot be requested.
Tip: Always sign in to Library Search to get access to Request options where available.
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- Locate the book record and click on the blue Request link in the Availability and request options box.
- Requests can be picked up from the library where it is held.
- Click Send Request to confirm.
- The library will send you a notification to your DCU email account when the book has been returned and is ready to be picked up.
- You will have 3 working days from receipt of this notification to pick up the book from the Issue Desk of your chosen library.
- 2 requests can be placed at any one time.
- To view or cancel requests, log in to My Library Account and select the Requests tab.
Remember: Items available on the shelf (not on loan) cannot be requested and are available to borrow.
Library Store Collection
The Store is a large collection of supplementary material held in storage in O’Reilly Library.
Books from this collection are available only on request via the book record in Library Search and can be picked up from your chosen library.
Before submitting a request, please ensure there is no alternative means of accessing the title - either in main collections, or as an eBook.
Requested items are typically supplied within 48 hours when pick up is O’Reilly Library. Supply time to Cregan Library or Woodlock Hall Library is generally 2-3 days.
As a DCU registered student you have access to a personal My Library Account to allow you to keep track of loan dates, renewals, and requests.
Take a look at this quick video on how to sign in to My Library Account.
The Library offers a range of study spaces both for individual and collaborative study. From soft seating study areas to traditional study desks with secure wifi (Eduroam) available throughout the buildings.
Please note Woodlock Hall Library study spaces are dedicated to individual study only.
Group Study Rooms are bookable spaces for registered DCU students who wish to collaborate in groups for project or other academic-related work. These rooms are available for 1 hour and 2 hours slots and can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance. Each student is permitted to book a maximum of one room for use in a single day. A Group Study Room may be booked online through the ‘Book a Group Study Room’ quicklink on the library website.
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Terms & Conditions to Note
- We ask that you study quietly to respect those studying around you.
- When leaving the library for whatever reason please bring all your belongings with you.
- Food is not permitted in the library
- Smoking/vaping of any kind is not permitted within the library
Our team of Subject Librarians will run various classes and workshops to help build your skills in finding, using, evaluating and organising information.
Your lecturer will organise these classes with your Subject Librarian.
The library also provides workshops open to all students which you can attend, for example, Citing & Referencing. Select the ‘Classes & Workshops’ quicklink on the library website for the upcoming calendar.
LETS Online Library Tutorials
We encourage you to check out LETS: Library E-Tutorial for Students our suite of short online tutorials, designed to help you locate, evaluate and use information ethically and effectively.
We have tutorials on:
- locating books and journal articles
- searching library databases
- effective search techniques
- what is plagiarism? And how to avoid it;
- how to cite and reference.
