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Library Services

Information for: Staff

Using the Library Service

If you’re new to Cardiff Metropolitan, simply bring your MetCard to Llandaff or Cyncoed Learning Centre to start borrowing. You may borrow up to 30 physical items at any one time. See Borrowing and Requesting for more information.

In addition to print books and eBooks, our libraries hold print and electronic journals. Our print journals are reference only.


MetSearch

Use MetSearch, the Library Service’s discovery tool to:

  • search for print books
  • access ebooks
  • see our journal subscriptions
  • find articles in our electronic journal subscriptions
  • identify the University’s research outputs on figshare, and more.

Though not a substitute for a thorough literature search, MetSearch streamlines searching across a number of our full text, abstracting and indexing databases. If you’d like advice on maximising your use of MetSearch, please speak with one of our academic librarians.


Special Collections

Both Llandaff and Cyncoed Libraries hold special collections in support of learning, teaching and research.


Study Spaces

Staff and students enjoy access to a variety of study spaces in our Cyncoed and Llandaff Libraries, including group study rooms exclusively for student use. You’ll also find networked PCs and Macs, alongside multifunction devices for your printing, photocopying and scanning needs.

Obtaining material not held by the Library

Interlibrary Loans

Books, journal articles, conference papers and other material not held in Cardiff Metropolitan, which you require in support of your research, may be requested via our Interlibrary loan service


Teaching Material for the Library Collection

Books not held in the University’s libraries, which are required for teaching, must be requested by creating a module reading list using Leganto. Digitisations of articles in journals to which we do not subscribe, and which you include on a module reading list, must also be requested using Leganto. The Library Service also offers a digitisation service for book chapters on your reading lists. Using Leganto for your digitisation ensures the University complies with its Copyright Licensing Agency licence and does not infringe copyright legislation.


Research Material for the Library Collection

Books not held in the University’s libraries, which you deem relevant and valuable additions to our collection, but which are not used in teaching, should be requested either by emailing LibraryAcademicServices@cardiffmet.ac.uk or by completing the Purchase Request form on MetSearch. If you wish to recommend a new journal subscription, please email LibraryAcademicServices@cardiffmet.ac.uk with evidence of how the subscription will support the University’s learning, teaching and research.


Borrowing from Other University Libraries

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal borrowing scheme, allowing Cardiff Met academic and support staff, research postgraduates, full-time taught postgraduates, and part-time, distance learning and placement undergraduates to borrow from most university libraries in the UK and Ireland. You must register with the SCONUL Access scheme in advance of attending another university library.

Getting the most from Electronic Resources

Databases

The Library Service offers access to full text, abstracting and indexing databases containing journal articles and conference papers, plus access to image and video databases, databases of statistical and mapping data, market reports, British Standards, financial data, newspapers and much more. These databases are listed both alphabetically and by discipline on our Databases A-Z, and most are also accessible via MetSearch.

For assistance in locating and in using the full functionality of these resources, including creating search and citation alerts relevant to your research, please speak with one of our academic librarians.


Easy Access to Electronic Resources

The Library Service provides tools, including Browzine, Lean Library and LibKey Nomad, which facilitate access to our electronic resources.

  • Lean Library is a browser extension offering one-click access to library-subscribed journal content and eBooks, wherever you are online.
  • LibKey Nomad is a browser extension offering one-click access to library-subscribed and open access journals, wherever you are online.
  • Browzine, in both app and browser formats, provides an easy, browsable interface for eJournals from multiple publishers.

For more information see Discovery@CardiffMet on the Library Services website.


Reference Management Tools

Cardiff Metropolitan supports the use of Endnote and Zotero reference management tools to store and manage your bibliographic references and pdfs of articles and to automate adding citations to your documents. MetSearch includes a My Favourites function, for basic reference storage and generation. Attend an EndNote or Zotero workshop or speak with one of our academic librarians if you are unfamiliar with any these tools.

Accessing Research Support

We offer specialist support for researchers in conducting literature reviews, optimising your use of figshare, the University’s research repository, open access publishing and harnessing research-related technology.

Developing your students’ Academic and Library skills

Library Inductions

Timetabling a library induction guarantees your students know where and how to find key information in support of their learning. Depending on your preference and library staff availability, we are able to offer an interactive presentation within your school and/or tours of the Cyncoed or Llandaff Libraries. Please email LibraryAcademicServices@cardiffmet.ac.uk with your requests.


Information Literacy Skills

Empower your students with information literacy skills, skills which underpin their learning. Our academic librarians offer training in how to discover, access, evaluate and organise information effectively, giving students the competencies and confidence to succeed.

We have a programme of multi-disciplinary workshops in the autumn and spring terms. The workshops are widely advertised, and your encouragement for students to attend is welcomed. Our academic librarians may also be available to offer subject-specific workshops, embedded within your timetable and aligned with your curriculum. Please email LibraryAcademicServices@cardiffmet.ac.uk with any such requests.