Getting started with the Library

Your Library is here to support your learning and research. We can help you get started with using our spaces, resources and services.

Jump to a section of this page:

• Reading lists
• Finding books and journals
• Bringing resources to you: Lean Library
• Studying in the Library
• Understanding referencing
• Getting support

Reading lists

Every course module has assigned reading lists, with essential and further reading chosen by your tutors. Your reading list is a great starting point for your research, because the contents have been evaluated as being useful for the topics you need to study.

You can find your module reading lists in each Moodle module or through the library web pages. Search for the relevant list by the module code or title.

Library and Learning Services will buy all essential texts as ebooks, if the publisher has provided it in this format for libraries. You may also find scans of key chapters in your reading list, which you can download and save or print. Again, this is dependent on the necessary permissions from individual publishers.

Find your reading lists

Finding books and journals

The most common resources you will use during your studies are books and journals. Books can be textbooks, specialist academic books, professional books, fiction, workbooks, and more. Journals are publications which are issued on a regular basis, like magazines and newspapers, and all of their articles are pieces of academic research, in short, in-depth accounts.

The Library has both ebooks and print books for you to access. Most journal articles are also available online. Our print books are either reference only (so they stay in the library) or they are borrowable. Ebooks and online journals are available for you to access wherever you are, whenever you need.

Searching for ebooks, printed books, and journals

Learn how to find and use ebooks, books and online journal articles with us using our library catalogue. For more details, visit our Accessing ebooks and Accessing and searching for journals and articles pages.

Explore our video tutorials to discover how to find and borrow printed books and journals on our York campus.

Bringing library resources to you: Lean Library

As well as our library catalogues which tell you what resources we have, you can also access tools that help you know if your library has a resource wherever you are on the internet.

Found a book on Google or Amazon? Found a journal article whilst searching the internet? Our Lean Library browser extension will pop up and tell you if we have it already, and take you straight there.

Lean Library browser extension

Studying in the Library

Our library is a place where you can study and connect with others.

You may spend a lot of time studying in your library, or in other parts of our campuses, or you might be studying at home, in a coffee shop or whilst travelling. Our Sounds of Campus YouTube playlist brings the sound of different study and mindfulness spaces on our campuses to you, so you will never be far from us.

Sounds of Campus (YouTube)

Understanding referencing

Referencing is something you will need to do from the beginning of your studies, and you'll see it as a requirement in many of your assignment briefs.

There are lots of reasons you should reference the sources you use in your work. These include: 

• Making sure credit is given to the author or creator of the work.
• Showing your reader how much you have researched.
• Linking evidence to your arguments.
• Enabling your reader to follow up on the texts you have used.
• Showing your reader the types of resource used.

Your tutors and your librarian will support you to learn referencing skills during your modules.

Referencing styles

There are many different referencing styles. At York St John University we use 5 different styles, and the style you use will depend on your course. Your tutors will always tell you which one you should use on your degree. Find out more about the different styles and the support for using them on our dedicated pages.

Referencing guidance

Plagiarism and academic integrity

When researching and writing your assignments, you need to be aware of the ethical issues surrounding the use of information, and how to avoid unintentional plagiarism (where you use other people's work and present it as your own). Our dedicated module on Moodle will help you to learn how to avoid plagiarism.

Academic integrity module (Moodle)

Getting support

You can access support from our team in multiple ways.

• Email us at support@yorksj.ac.uk
• Call us on the phone at 01904 876 696
• Visit our information desks in Fountains Learning Centre on our York campus
• Use the Learning Success Hub for library, study and digital skills help
• Book a tutorial with a library, study, maths or digital specialist