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Off Campus Guide: Home

Off Campus Guide

The library holds a wide range of specialist books, journals, databases and archives to inspire your creative and research practice. There are librarians to help you find, access and use resources effectively to shape and inform your research. Building upon the Library Induction this guide will help you understand -

  • how to find research resources
  • how to use resources when doing your research
  • becoming part of the research community
  • how to disseminate your research
  • where to get help when needed

The library is here to help - Contact the Library.

LibrarySearch
LibrarySearch provides the easiest way to find and access library print and online resources. It allows you to search across almost all library collections and resources, whether you are on or off campus.

When accessing a resource or service directly, for example ResourceBank, you will need to login using your University username and password. For more information about how to search effectively take a look at Searching Techniques.

Reading Lists
Reading lists enable you to find and access books, journals and other resources you are expected to use to ensure you complete your course successfully. They can be found within your course and unit areas on myUCA.

Google Scholar
Google Scholar provides a simple way to search for scholarly literature online. It is an Internet search engine that specifically searches for academic resources across many disciplines and sources. Google Scholar will provide you with a link to online sources, but please note these may be behind a paywall or access to abstract only.

Subject Resources
Provide a quick and effective way to find key databases and other electronic resources in particular subject areas.  For more information see - Subject Resources.

When accessing electronic resources off campus campus you'll need to login using your University username and password. 

You may be presented with various login options - 

  • it may say login via your University, Library, Athens or Shibboleth login
  • choose any of these options and if asked select UK Access Management Federation and continue with your login.

OpenAthens LoginWhen you are taken to the OpenAthens login you need to type University for the Creative Arts into the Find your organisation search box.

Select University for the Creative Arts login. OpenAthens Login

Login with your University username and password, the same details you use to access myUCA.


Logging into electronic resources off campus - 

If you have any difficulties accessing electronic resources contact eresources@ucreative.ac.uk.

The Library purchases electronic books wherever possible because they - 

  • can be accessed at anytime, on and off campus, wherever you have an Internet connection
  • allow multiple users at one time, so no waiting for a book to be returned
  • provide additional features such as making annotations, highlighting, and searching within the text
  • they are more accessible, font sizes change be increased and they can be read by screen readers

Use LibrarySearch to find electronic books; if the book is available electronically, you will see a link to access it, as in the example below -

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You will be prompted for your University username and password.  The read online option will allow you to view the book online.  Because of copyright restrictions you will only be able to print a proportion of any book.



As well as viewing electronic books online, you can also download a copy to your laptop, tablet or mobile phone.  You can either download selected pages or a chapter to keep or download the entire book for a limited time.  To download the entire book, you’ll need to install Adobe Digital Editions for your computer of if you are using a tablet or phone, you'll need to go to the App Store and install Bluefire Reader.



Use of all library electronic resources is governed strictly by licence agreements. Resources may be used for study and research but not for commercial purposes. Electronic resource sources must be properly cited with copyright/ownership notices. You must not share your password or pass content from eresources to anyone else. Please contact eresources@uca.ac.uk for queries relating to the licenses for specific databases or for any problems regarding access.

undefinedJournals are available in print or electronic formats, or sometimes both.

The Journals A-Z will give you a listing of all library journal titles.

LibrarySearch enables you to search for text across multiple electronic journals and will provide links to relevant articles when these are available.


The following video will show you where to find the key electronic journals on the Subject Resources guides, look at searching within e-journals and demonstrate how to search the Journal A-Z list.


Finding Articles

LibrarySearch is the name of the UCA search engine for library electronic resources. If you are off-campus, it is your primary search tool to search for library e-books, e-journals, databases, still images, moving images and streaming audio and video. You will need your University login details to access most electronic resources.

LibrarySearch is easy to use, the video will show you how to limit your results so that you only find material available to read or watch online.

Database A-ZDatabases are collections of related articles, images, electronic books and other resources.


The library subscribes to over 50 databases, details of these and how to access them can be found in the Database A-Z.

The following video will show you where to find the key e-journals on your Subject Guide, look at searching within databases and demonstrate how to search the A-Z list.

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