Welcome to your Library!
The University Library and its staff are here to support your studies, providing you with access to information – online, multimedia or print – and the skills to make the most of it. Much more than a collection of books. It offers places to study, a café and access to a range of support services.
Use this guide to make a start in finding out how you may use the Library and access its resources and services.
You can see all of the Library's Welcome events (daytime tours, evening tours, mystery books, escape game) in the UoR Welcome App - download the app to add these events to your timetable, along with lots of other Welcome Week events.
Our daytime Library tours run every 30 minutes between 10:00–15:00, Monday – Friday of Welcome Week. Meet in the Library foyer to join a guided tour and find out how to find and borrow books, where to find the right study space for you, and how to access help and support throughout the year.
This year we are also offering Evening Library tours at 17:30 and 18:00 on Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 September. No need to book, just meet in the Library foyer for a short tour to learn the basics of using the Library
Alternatively if you prefer to do things at your own pace you can pick up a self-guided tour map from the Library, or take a look at our online tour below;
Pop by the Library Café from 12:00 - 14:00 on Monday 22 September to get started with crochet, with help from the Library Woolverines. They
crochet squares to make blankets for the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and work on other projects together every Monday in the Café. All yarn and hooks provided.
Drop in to the Library foyer from 11:00 - 15:00 on Tuesday 23 September and enjoy some peaceful crafting - make a badge inspired by the University Museum and Special Collections and discover our rare books, archives and museum collections.
Library staff have recommended some great reads from the Library collections. We’ve placed them in paper bags and mixed them up, so why not borrow a mystery book from our lucky dip to try something new? Available all day Tuesday 23 September and Wednesday 24 September in Welcome Week while stocks last!
How fast can you solve the clues to unlock the secret box, learning about the Library as you go? Come to the Library foyer between 12:00 – 16:00 on Thursday 25 September in Welcome Week and join a team to solve the Escape Challenge.
The Library's Wellbeing Collection can be found on the Ground Floor of the Library, in the Quiet Study and Holds area. Some of the collection is also available online, and you can view all of the print and e-books on our online Reading List below.
These books cover a lot of different topics, including mindfulness, coping with change, relationships, diet, anxiety and student life. 
Students and staff can borrow any of the books using their campus cards, or log onto the e-books to read online using their University username and password.
In this short video we'll introduce you to the basics of using the Library. Find out who can help you with your studies, where to study, how to find and borrow a book, and where to get that essential coffee break.
Explore the Library with this quick online guide with maps and images - you can always revisit this before your first visit to the Library building.