Library and IT Facilities

www.aston.ac.uk/ict
www.aston.ac.uk/lis

Access to quality library, learning resources and information technology is an essential part of any university experience and at Aston this is given a high priority. Our facilities are extensive, modern and accessible

access to modern IT and Computing Facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week
large, well-stocked University Library on campus
specialist staff provide support on IT and library resources throughout your studies
Wireless Internet Access in All accommodation/study bedrooms

IT and Computing Facilities

To aid your studies and ensure you are equipped with the relevant IT skills for your career, Aston has invested heavily in excellent computing facilities and integrated the instruction and use of IT into degree programmes. We expect all our students to graduate fully computer literate and consider our IT facilities to be amongst the best and most accessible in British Higher Education, with over 800 computer workstations across the University and a £4 million computing services upgrade during 2004-5.

The University maintains several computer suites around the campus, that are available for students’ use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using a swipe card system. They offer access to a range of networked software packages, database systems and computer-aided learning materials, and are linked to a variety of printers, plotters and scanners.

Each of Aston’s Schools of Study has its own computing labs providing PCs, Unix workstations or iMac computers for their students. These facilities meet the specialist needs of students in each School, for example, language laboratories for language students and computer aided design packages for our engineers. IT facilities are free to our students and are linked by our Local Area Network, which spans the campus and provides access to other networks worldwide. You will automatically be registered for email and will be able to use the Internet to gain access to a vast range of information from around the world.

Website: www.aston.ac.uk/ict

Wireless internet and email access in university residences

From 2004 Aston University has invested in a new wireless (or WiFi) campus access system enabling students to access the Internet from their study-bedrooms on campus using their own PC or laptop equipped with wireless technology. This means that all students living on campus have Internet access in their rooms if they require it, as well as in our open access IT rooms mentioned above.

Library Facilities

The University Library is on four floors and contains over 300,000 books, 800 current printed periodicals and has over 700 reader places. However, a library for the 21st century is more than just books and ‘hard copy’ material.

We also provide online access to over 40 electronic databases and more than 3,400 electronic journals in subject areas such as Business, Management, Finance, Languages and Politics, Computing, Law, Social Sciences, Medicine, Life Sciences, Engineering and Sciences. You can access many of these from any computer on campus and also from home or other locations off campus.

Our online catalogue tells you what’s in the Library, what’s on the reading lists for your course, and lets you reserve and renew books yourself. You can issue books to yourself by using your Campus Card, with our self-issue machines. The Short Loan Collection contains the core reading list material for your course. Facilities for students with additional needs are also available.

Library staff are always willing to help and as a new student you will be given an induction to the Library, to ensure you are aware of all the facilities and services available. With PC labs, a bookshop, photocopiers and printers, group study areas and a coffee lounge, the Library is an ideal place to study. The emphasis throughout the Library is on accessibility and user-friendliness. During term-time, it is open for 75 hours each week, including Saturdays and Sundays. An access control system is in use to keep both you and our stock all safe and secure. The Library is also open during all University vacations (e.g. summer vacations), including Saturdays and Sundays.

Library website: www.aston.ac.uk/lis

Prospective students are given the chance to view our facilities on Open Days.

“There are plenty of IT rooms around campus so it’s always possible to use a computer. The Library is large and it’s easy to take out a book using my Campus Card, even outside the service counter’s opening hours.”
Chantal Hales, French and Business