Library Services for Distance Learners

The University Library offers a range of services and support for distance learners.  We are committed to developing our services to distance learners and are keen to hear of any practical suggestions to improve the service.  If you have any comments on our services then please contact the Arts Sub Librarian who has a special responsibility for reviewing the library needs of distance learners (irrespective of subject area). This guide refers you to the most useful sections contained in our ‘Guide to Library Services’ which is available from the Library directly or may be downloaded from our Library Services pages.

• Library Induction for Distance Learners
• The Library Catalogue
• Passwords you will need
• Enquiries and Help
• Document Delivery Service (Formerly known as Inter-Library Loans)
• Help by Subject - your Faculty Subject Guides
• Access to Other Libraries
• Useful Library Contacts

Library Induction for Distance Learners

The Library has developed a short online tutorial to introduce you to the Library services and facilities available at the University of Ulster. Click here to begin.

The Library Catalogue

You can access our library catalogue from home or from your workplace if you have a computer connected to the Internet.  A short guide to using the catalogue is available in the Library catalogue Help section.

Passwords you will need

You will require your Blackboard Learn username and password.

Blackboard Learn

What is it?
Your Blackboard Learn password allows you to access your module course work and all the electronic services the University provides to support Distance Learners.

Where do I get it?
Go to Campus One for advice on logging on to Blackboard Learn
 

What if I lose it/forget it?
Contact the Campus One help site at Campus One for help.

Athens Authentication on Blackboard Learn

The Library offers access to a range of electronic resources including databases and electronic journals. Athens is an access management system to control access to web based electronic resources at the University of Ulster.
When you log on to Blackboard Learn your Athens account is automatically activated - no other usernames and passwords are required

When you log on to Blackboard Learn, follow the link to Library Services (inc. Athens).

From the next screen, click on the link for the Library Service Point (shown below)

From the Library service Point, you will have access to Databases, Electronic journals, your Module Reading list and other resources.

Athens Authentication on the Portal

You also have Athens authentication using the University Portal at Portal.ulster.ac.uk. Once logged on (using the same password details as for Blackboard Learn), an Athens authentication message will appear on the screen.

Click on the Learning Resources tab to access the Library's resources and services.

Checking your Athens account details

Returning students (i.e. not new students) may also have an individual Athens username and password. If you fall in this category you can check what your Athens username and password details are by clicking on the Banner tab in the Portal and following these steps:

Enter your User ID and PIN and click on Login.
At the next screen click on the Personal Information tab.
Then on View Student ID, Password and Email Address.
Scroll down to the bottom of this screen to view your Athens username and password

What Does Athens Authentication Give Access to?

• Databases which are indicated with an in the Resource Description column in the Databases A - Z  table.

• Electronic journals

• Most Electronic books (which can be found using the Library Catalogue).

Other Passwords

Some databases do not use Athens Authentication and so will not display the symbol. Information on the username and password for these resources appears on the Password and Access information link in the Special Instructions column in the databases A-Z  table. If you are off-campus, the password details will not appear automatically for security reasons, but  there will be a link to a secure page providing these details. You can log on to this page with your Blackboard Learn username and password.

For further help on passwords see the  Guide to Passwords.

Enquiries and Help

Enquiries should be directed to the appropriate Subject Librarian either by phone or e-mail - a list of their contact details is available at the end of this document and on the Faculty Support section of the Library Contacts page. While we cannot undertake research on your behalf we can provide advice and guidance on possible sources, both printed and electronic.
There is also a Library Subject Enquiry Form which will be directed to the correct Subject Librarian.
Details of our opening hours are available. Vacation opening hours will vary though we usually offer some form of extended opening during the Summer Semester.

If you require help with Blackboard Learn access then please use the Blackboard Learn Helpdesk link on the Blackboard Learn page.

Document Delivery Service

The Inter-Library Loans Service has been re-launched with increased functionality as the Document Delivery Service, though you may still see references to the Inter-Library Loans Service in some documentation.

Distance learning students may request photocopies of journal articles up to a maximum of 4 per week.   This includes copies of articles held by the University of Ulster Library, but please check the Electronic Journals Database (available on the Library Service point within Blackboard Learn) to ensure that the articles are not  already available to you in that format.

All students registered on Distance Learning courses should use the Place Request form to request articles from the Document Delivery service. Please enter your Network Username and Password when prompted (This is the same as your Blackboard Learn login details)..

On the next screen click on Request a book or journal article from another library. Fill in all the details of the article you want, choose Coleraine as the Collection site, as it will be the Coleraine Office which will be the contact point for this service. 

 Please ensure that the bibliographic details of your request are complete and accurate.  Delays will arise if the form is returned to you because you omitted some vital information.  You can send the request by clicking the Confirm button, but please print the form first.  You should then sign the copyright declaration - the document delivery service is offered in accordance with the terms of UK copyright law, which requires your signature. You may FAX it to the Coleraine Office at +44(0) 28 703 23084 or send it to:

Document Delivery Service
Learning Resource Centre
University of Ulster
Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA

Please state clearly on the cover fax sheet or covering letter (if posting) that you are a distance learning student. Alternatively, send an email to the Document Delivery office (illcol@ulster.ac.uk ) to notify them that you are a distance learning student and that you are submitting requests.

We may process the request, but we cannot legally send you the document until this signed form has been received.

Use the Place Request tab to make further requests, and Logout when you are finished.

When the document is available you will be sent an e-mail with a hyperlink from which you can download or print the document as an Adobe Acrobat file. Please Note

• You have 14 days to do this, after which time the document will be deleted
•  You are only allowed to access the document from the secure server once
• You may print only one paper copy, from which you may not make any further copies. You may not make further electronic copies or convert the file into any other format. You may not cut and paste or otherwise alter the text

 You can get a free Acrobat reader from the Adobe Web site if you do not already have one. We will only use postal delivery if you advice us that you are unable for any reason to receive and print documents electronically.