Tour
Ground Floor: Reception
During term time the Library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To view our opening times please visit www.sussex.ac.uk/library/hours.
Your student ID card also acts as your Library card. You’ll need this to get in and out of the building, and to borrow books, so it’s important to bring this with you when you visit.
As you enter the Library you’ll see the entry gates in front of you, the book return on the right, and our reception desk on the left (behind which is the café and café study spaces).
We only allow cold food that won’t disturb others to be eaten on the Ground Floor. Food should not be consumed on the first and second floors. Drinks are allowed throughout the building and you’ll find a water fountain on each floor by the main staircase.
Each floor is a different type of study zone and you’ll see signage to clearly indicate which zone you’re in. The ground floor is for Group Study – you can use phones and pcs for calls, online meetings and seminars. The basement, first floor and second floors are for quiet study only, all devices should be switched to silent in these areas. You’ll see different types of seating across the Library so choose a study space that suits you best.
Ground Floor: Info-hub
When you enter through the gates you will see a large desk in front of you. This is our Info-hub. This is the place to go if you have any questions or need any help from staff although we also have an instant messaging chat service on the Library homepage. It’s the big mustard coloured button at the bottom of the page. Just type in your question and one of our team will answer.
In front of the Info-hub you’ll also see touch-screen floor plan (which is cleaned regularly), you can use this to find particular areas of the Library. Each book has a specific shelfmark that starts with a letter, which will indicate where this book can be found. These shelfmarks, and the corresponding books, run alphabetically through the building starting with A on the top floor. At the end of each shelf you’ll find a range guide that indicates exactly which shelfmarks are located there. For example, if a range guide said A100-A200, you’d find a book with the shelfmark A150 on these shelves. You can find out more about this in the ‘Find and request books’ section of the Library website, on the ‘Find a book in the Library’ page.
Ground Floor: Book issue
Opposite the Info-hub, you’ll see a row of self-issue machines and Library Search PCs. You can use the Library Search PCs to look for books, and find their locations in the building. We recommend that you sign-in to Library Search when you use it to make sure that you get access to everything that you should, and also so that you can save results. We run training throughout the year on how to use Library Search effectively. To hear about upcoming training, sign-up to our training mailing list at www.sussex.ac.uk/library/training. If you click on the ‘Help’ link at the top of the Library Search screen you’ll also find guidance on how to search effectively.
Once you have found the books you need, you’ll be able to use the book issue machines to take them out. Scan your library card and then put your books in the machine. If you do not issue them, the alarm will go off when you leave the building. We understand that in a rush, it can be easy to forget these things, so if the alarm does go off, please don’t worry, just come and speak to member of staff on the info hub.
Once you have borrowed a book, it will renew automatically, you will only need to return if it is requested by another user, so remember to check your Sussex emails to see if anything has been recalled.
Ground Floor: Book return
Just past the entry gates, on the right, you’ll see our book return machine. Please return your books one at a time, simply put them in the slot and watch the machine sort them into different trolleys to be shelved in different parts of the Library. You’ll find trolleys waiting to be shelved next to the book sorter. If you’re looking for an item that has been recently returned, this is a good place to search.
When you borrow books they will renew automatically, you will only need to return if it is requested by another user, so remember to check your Sussex emails to see if anything has been recalled. You can also check your Library account from the Library homepage to see if your books need returning.
Second Floor: Research Hive
The Sussex Research Hive is a space on the top floor of the Library reserved for doctoral researchers and research staff at the University. Researchers will need to scan their Library cards to gain access to the space.
Three Research Hive Scholars support the space, engaging with researchers in the community, planning events and fostering a supportive network here at Sussex. You can read their ‘Sussex Research Hive’ blog, along with other Library blogs, at www.sussex.ac.uk/library/blogs.
All Floors: Chromebook Lockers
On each floor of the Library you will find a large silver lapsafe machine from which you can borrow a Chromebook. They look a little like lockers with a touchscreen in the middle. There is one behind the info-hub on the ground floor, and toward the front of the building on the first and second floors. Chromebooks are fast, simple laptops designed to be used on the web and ideal for reading and research. The Chromebook will work anywhere in the Library as long as you're in range of the wi-fi, and all your data is forgotten when you close the lid or press the 'Exit session' button.
To borrow a chrome book, go to one of the self service lockers, press Borrow on the touchscreen and scan your Library card. If there's a laptop available, the locker number will be shown on the screen. Go to the Door release scanner for the locker and scan your card again to open the door. Remove the chromebook from the power cable (this stays in the machine), take out the device and close the locker door.
When you're finished, go back to the screen and press Return. Scan your Library card again. Open the locker and replace the Chromebook, make sure you reconnect the power and then press the door closed. If a Chromebook is not returned within the six hour loan period, a fine of £3 per day will be incurred.
For more information about borrowing and using chromebooks please visit www.sussex.ac.uk/its/chromebooks
All Floors: MFDs
On the ground floor, by the central staircase (and all floors across the Library), you will find big black machines that are known as ‘multifunctional devices’ or MFDs. These machines provide cheaper, more efficient and less wasteful printing, photocopying and scanning. To print, scan or copy, you will need to know you Printing ID number. You will have received this by email. If you need to check it, log in to Cloudprint at https://cloudprint.sussex.ac.uk/ using your Sussex username and password. Once you've logged in, click the [show] button under Card/ID to reveal your printing ID number.
You can find instructions on how to print, scan and photocopy at www.sussex.ac.uk/its/mfd but I wanted to quickly highlight the scanning feature as this will you save you money and paper. Just login to an mfd using you PIN and then press the scan button on the touchscreen, followed by ‘Scan to my email’. The MFD will now scan the document that you have put in the feeder, or placed face-down beneath the lid, and automatically email you your Sussex email address at no cost.