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Welcome Guide

Getting Started FAQs

Find out the answers to our top ten frequently asked questions when getting started with UEL Libraries.

 

To start using the libraries, students must be fully enrolled & have a valid UEL ID Card.
This will give you access the library buildings as well as its services and facilities. 

Typically, student library accounts will be created/updated within 24 hours of enrolment/re-enrolment.

To access unlimited Unlimited WiFi while on campus, current UEL students can select the network 'Eduroam' and sign in with their UEL username and password.

A valid UEL ID Card will get you access to any of the UEL Libraries.

Docklands Campus Library is located in:
University Way
London E16 2RD

Stratford Campus Library is located in:
Water Lane
London E15 4LZ

A timetabled Shuttle Bus Service is available to help students travel between the two sites easily.

Docklands & Stratford Library buildings are open throughout the year, with 24/7 opening hours during term time. The helpdesk can be located on the Ground Floor of Stratford Library, and on the First Floor of Docklands Library.

Check out our Current Building & Helpdesk Opening Hours

You can also ask any question and the 24/7 Chat staff can help you get started or refer you to the most relevant department or person to help with your query.
  • Academic Services Librarians host a range of Skillspace Workshops that will support the way you find, access, evaluate and use resources. If you would rather have an online one-to-one appointment with them, you can refer to the Subject Guides pages for individual contact.
     
  • Digital First Aiders offer peer-to-peer support for your technology related queries.
     
  • Students assessed by the Disability and Dyslexia Team can also make use of our dedicated accessibility rooms, extended loan periods, book fetching services and access to alternative formats.
     
  • We also have a great collection of video guides on our LALS YouTube channel. QR codes for most of these can also be found around the physical library spaces!

Track My Future is the personalised online platform for students to make the most of their time while at the University of East London.

Students can use the latest version of iOS/Android, or one of the last two major versions to download the TMF App directly to their personal devices or access via TMF Web Link

Once in, click the 'Study Dashboard' to easily access all Library Services including Library Search, Library Account, FAQs, Room Bookings, Workshops & Events, etc. 

Use Library Search and select 'Books' to limit your search results to only physical books from UEL libraries.

The easiest way to search for a specific book is to enter the title of the book and the surname of the author/editor in the search bar. You can also enter keywords to give yourself a selection of related resources. Once you hit Enter, you can customise your results from the right hand panel. 

If a resource is showing as available for loan within one of our libraries, you can access it directly from the shelves. Remember to take a note of the unique shelf number (between 000-999) which is allocated to each resource. This shows where they are stored within the library.

Don't forget to check out the LALS YouTube channel for more subject specific video guides!

  • Borrowing:

    Your UEL ID Card is also your Library card, and you will need it to enter the library buildings and borrow physical material from the self-service machines or Helpdesks. 

    Once you have completed a Library Search and found the book you are looking for on shelf, take the item to the self-service machines and click Borrow on screen. The screen will prompt you to scan your ID and place the books inside the reader. You can place multiple items in one go, just make sure they are all detected and show a green tick on screen. You can chose to receive a receipt of this transaction via email. 

     
  • Renewing:

    All loans are issued for 7 days and are set to renew automatically. The only time this will not happen is if another user has requested the same item issued to your account. This usually happens when we have limited copies that are in high demand. If this happens, you will be notified via email and will have a further 7 days to return the items back to us. This library is unable to extend loan periods when items are reserved. 


  • Returning:

    It is important to return items on time to ensure equal access to all Library users.

    When you bring items to return, make your way to the self-service machines and click Return on screen. You do not need to scan your ID for this, and can return multiple items in one go. Simply follow the instructions on screen, and make sure all items are detected by the green tick. Returned books must be placed on the designated trolleys to the left/right of the self service machines. 

If there are no more copies on shelf, the first available copy of a title can be held for you. If the item you have requested is issued to another user, they will be notified to return it within 7 days and will not be able to renew.

You can also request items available at another UEL campus, for example: if a book is located at the Stratford Library, you can place a reservation to pick it up at the Docklands Library, and vice versa. 

You must be signed into your library account on Library Search to request items. You can also view and manage your requests by clicking your name on the top right hand corner. 

When a reservation is available for collection, you will be notified via email. Items will be held for 7 days before being returned back to the shelf or allocated to the next user. 

At both libraries, reserved items are kept on the Hold Shelf located near Helpdesks. Items are organized numerically by student ID number. Remember to check the reservation slip to make sure you’re collecting the correct item!

Collected items must be issued to your library account at self-service machines or Helpdesk.

Use Databases to find and access to all our online library resources from journal articles, images, AV files and much more! If you want to find out which of these is most relevant to your area of study/research, see relevant Subject Guides

You will need your UEL credentials to log into most of these online resources. If you are ever prompted to more than one login option, look out for: 

- Login via OpenAthens
- Login via your Home Institution
- Login via Shibboleth (regardless of what country you are working in, select your location as: UK Access Management Federation or United Kingdom & select your institution as: University of East London).


Here are some useful video tutorials to help you get started:

If your question is still not answered here, try:
Library, Learning and Archive Services: Ask Us (FAQs)