Getting started

Information and guides to help you get started using the Library services and collections.

Welcome to the Library

We’re delighted to welcome all new and returning students and look forward to supporting your learning journey with a wide range of library and learning services.

Here’s our three quick steps to get you started. Below this you will find our how to guides to help you get started using the Library services and collections.

Step 1

Watch our Welcome video to find out what we have to offer in the way of books, study space, laptops, academic skills support and so much more.

Step 2

Head to our ‘How to’ short videos below to get up to speed on: 

  • Finding and borrowing books
  • Getting academic skills and maths learning support
  • Finding books, journals and other information online
  • Requesting interlibrary loans
  • How to print and photocopy
  • Finding and using your reading list
  • Access and use your personal digital textbooks.

Step 3

Ask us loads of questions:

  • In person at the Library Welcome Desk on Level 1 of the Library building
  • Email: library@surrey.ac.uk.

Follow us @surreylib on social media for library updates, news and activities.

How to guides

Find and borrow a book

Watch our videos on:

Find a journal article

You can use SurreySearch to find all the journals and journal articles that are available to you.

A video is available on how to find a journal article on SurreySearch.

You can also access articles in other ways.

Open Access

You can find Open access copies. If you install an Open Access plugin or browser extension you can search the internet for open access versions of articles.

There is a video on how to find Open Access resources.

  • LibKey Nomad - provided free to you by the Library, this is a web browser extension that links you directly to articles subscribed to by the Library as well as open access alternatives and will automatically take you to the full-text if available.
  • Unpaywall - you can install the web browser extension which will automatically point you to any open access version of paywalled articles.

InterLibrary Loan Service

You can use the InterLibrary Loan (ILL) Service to request journal articles (or books) you need that are not available in the Library.

Request an article from the author

You can contact the author directly and ask for a PDF of a preprint. The author’s name and institution are usually shown on the preview page of the article. This version is only for private use and can’t be shared with colleagues or other students.

Get learning support

The Academic Skills and Development and Maths and Statistics Advice teams offer advice and guidance for taught students at Surrey, helping you to enhance and develop your academic, numeracy, personal and professional skills. 

Watch our video on how to access help with your studies, and find out about our appointments, drop-ins, and workshops.

Don’t forget, you also have access to the My Learning Development at Surrey module on SurreyLearn which is full of useful guides, online resources and video tutorials that you can access 24 hours a day.

Book an appointment with the Academic Skills and Development team

Our Academic Skills and Development team offer advice on all aspects of your studies such as writing, referencing, researching and critical thinking skills.

Find out more about what guidance you can get.

Book an appointment with the Maths and Statistics Advice team

Our Maths and Statistics Advice team offer guidance on all aspects of mathematics and statistics such as data collection, tests, numeracy and software to name a few.

Find out more about what support you can get on our MySurrey webpages.

Find resources online

You can use our SurreySearch to find various resources, watch our videos below to find out more about what you can search for.

Print on campus

The University offers a PrintSurrey service, which allows you to send a print job to any of the hundreds of printers across the campus. 

Take a look at our videos and guides about printing on campus.

Get help using Library services

Watch our video about how to get help using Library services.

You can find us at the Library Welcome desk on Level 1 of the Library, call us on +44 (0)1483 689235, or email us on library@surrey.ac.uk

Find and use my reading list

How to find and use your reading list

Access and use your personal digital textbooks

Customising Your Experience

Reading

Sharing

Studying & Revising

How do I download BSI Online pdfs?

Please see the instructions on how to download BSI Online Standards as pdfs on your own device.

Downloading BSI standards to your own device 859 KB
How do I request an Interlibrary Loan?

For information on interlibrary loans, visit the Interlibrary Loan page, or watch the video on Interlibrary Loan requests.

Library ‘Know How’ tours

Find out all you need to know about Library services, spaces, and stuff! How to get help with anything Library and study support related, where the best places to study are, how to find and borrow or return a book, and much, much, more!

Join our friendly student ambassadors for this 30-minute tour and get a head start! 

Maximum of 20 students per tour. You can just turn up, but we recommend booking online to avoid disappointment so sign up to be sure of your place.

There are also quiet tours, with a maximum of five students per tour if you prefer.

Library staff will be available at the end of the tour to answer any further questions you may have.

Book a library tour

Tour times
  • Monday 21 September - 11am, 2pm, 3pm
  • Tuesday 22 September - 11am, 2pm, 3pm
  • Wednesday 23 September - 11am, 2pm, 3pm
  • Thursday 24 September - 11am, 2pm, 3pm
  • Friday 25 September - 11am
  • Monday 28 September - 11am and 4pm
  • Wednesday 30 September - 11am and 2pm
  • Thursday 1 October - 11am and 4pm
  • Monday 5 October - 11am and 4pm
  • Wednesday 7 October - 11am and 2pm
  • Thursday 8 October - 11am and 4pm.
Quiet tour times

These tours will have smaller groups and be at quieter times of the day.

  • Tuesday 22 September - 9am and 6pm
  • Wednesday 23 September - 9am and 6pm
  • Monday 28 September - 9am and 6pm
  • Friday 2 October - 9am and 6pm.

Get in contact

Please contact us if you have any questions, or would like further guidance.

To provide feedback on our services you can use our online feedback form.

Watch our video about how to get help using Library services.

MySurrey Help is packed with answers to the most common questions.

Search MySurrey Help

MySurrey Help

Search MySurrey Help to find useful articles about life at Surrey