Library Support

Arts & Social Sciences Library closed (summer 2025)

Please note this summer the Arts and Social Sciences Library will be closed for refurbishment. During this period alternative bookable study spaces have been made available in Senate House via the usual Library Support study space link.

What we do

We are a dedicated team within the library who can offer a range of services and work with you to ensure that our libraries are accessible.

Who we can help

We support students with a range of disabilities, learning differences, and other health and mental health conditions: 

  • learning differences (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD among others)
  • health and mental health conditions
  • autism 
  • sensory impairments
  • mobility difficulties

For the following students, where access to the library is difficult, or time on campus is limited, we can provide additional library services to support access to our print resources:

  • Part time students
  • Carers and parents
  • Short-term health or mobility difficulties
  • Students on a work placement 
  • Commuter students*
  • Distance learners (online only)

*If you are a student or research postgraduate on a campus-based programme, but you do not have a Bristol address.

Please complete our 'Tell us about you' form (top right, green box) as this will guide you through the services that are available and who we can support.

Things we can't help with

Unfortunately, we cannot support the following students under the following circumstances alone 

  • students who have a Bristol address but are temporarily away from campus (e.g. summer break)

Services to support access to resources

What is the book retrieval service? 

If your time on campus is limited or if the library and shelves are inaccessible, we can have books ready for you to collect at your selected library. We can transfer books to any of our staffed libraries to collect at the Information Desk. 

A maximum of five books/journals can be requested at one time. 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process. 

How do I order books? 

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box). 

Who can use this service?

Any registered user to support access to print resources where time on campus is limited. Disabled students may also nominate a person to collect books on their behalf. 

I'd like to browse the shelves, is there help available to find books?

Contact us or ask any library staff member to help you find and locate books directly from the shelves. We have roving staff who can help. We can also support you to help yourself by providing a brief tour of your subject areas in the library. 

Scan and email service

If you are unable to come to campus or if the library is inaccessible we can scan and email the book chapter or journal article you need. 

  • It is your responsibility to be aware of and follow copyright conditions.
  • We only send scans to a University of Bristol email address.  

eBooks and eJournals 

We do not scan materials if they are available online such as eBooks and eJournals.  We ask that you check online availability before you place the order via Library Search. Your Subject Librarian may be able to purchase an eBook if we do not currently hold one. Please see: suggest a book purchase 

How do I order scans?  

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box). 

How long does it take? 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process although this can vary. 

How much does it cost? 

It is a free service. 

Who can use this service?

  • Disabled students where there are access requirements

Students who live outside of Bristol and are:

  • on a placement
  • research postgraduates 
  • distance learner (conditions apply)

I want help to use the scanner and printer in a library

We can support any library user to help yourself by providing quick a guide to using our scanners and printers. Contact us to arrange a time or you can ask a library staff member to help you

I am print disabled and require printed materials in a digitised format. Do I order scans via this route? 

No there are different copyright restrictions. Please use our alternative format service. There is further information here. 

Book postal service

If you are unable to come to campus or if the library is inaccessible we can post books to your home or work address. Normal loan policies apply. If a book is requested by another user you may have to return it by post.

A maximum of five books/journals can be requested at one time.

eBooks

We do not post books out if they are available as eBooks. We ask that you check online availability of the books before you place the order via Library Search and with your Subject Librarian as they may be able to purchase an eBook if we do not currently hold one. Please see: suggest a book purchase 

How do I order books for postage?  

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box).

We use first class recorded delivery so you or an assigned person will need to be in to sign for/take collection of the book(s) on delivery. 

How long does it take? 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process.

How much does it cost? 

It is a free service. Please remember that you may need to return the book if it gets requested by another user. Books on loan to you do remain your responsibility.

How do I return books by post?

Returning items is your responsibility, and we request that Royal Mail Signed For or equivalent is used. Please see our Postal Services page for more information.

Who can use this service? 

  • disabled students where there are access requirements

Students who live outside of a BS postcode area and are:

  • on a placement
  • research postgraduates 
  • distance learner (conditions apply) 

We cannot support the following students:

  • students who are studying online only 

Please contact your School.

What is the Alternative Format service? 

Library Support can provide alternative formats for disabled students who cannot access essential reading from your Reading List for materials provided by the library.  We can work with you to support your access to resources via:

Where library resources cannot be made accessible via the above routes, we will request an accessible copy via RNIB BookShare or directly from the publisher.

If we have been unable to source an alternative format which meets your requirements (within an agreed timeframe) then at this point, we would discuss with you the next possible steps:

  • Scanning parts of a book
  • Scanning a whole book (it can take up to 4 weeks to scan and edit a whole book)
  • Finding a substitute title

This might involve discussion with yourself, an academic contact in your School and your Subject Librarian. 

Before you make a request

  • Contact us to discuss your requirements. We will discuss with you how best to meet your requirements. 
  • Please check Library Search to see which of your resources are already provided in as eBooks. Please see accessibility information provided on the eBook library page. 
  • Where resources are required for a dissertation or for independent research then managing this would need to be discussed in the early stages of the research process as it can take up to 4 weeks to scan and edit whole books. Please contact your Subject Librarian to discuss your requirements first.

Make a request

Request a book in an alternative format

This form allows you to submit requests to the alternative format service provided by Library Support. 

 

Library Support contacts

Our dedicated Library Support team can discuss individual requirements and answer any questions you have about accessing the library and using our services.

Register to use our services: 

  • Book an appointment (in-person or online) 
  • Drop-in to see us in the Arts and Social Sciences Library. 1pm-3pm Monday to Friday during term time
  • Tell us about you using this online form (some services will still require an appointment)

Contact us: 

Don't worry if you aren't sure if we can help, we will pass you on to the relevant team as required. 

  • Book an appointment (in-person or online) 
  • Drop-in to see us in the Arts and Social Sciences Library: 1pm-3pm, Mondays to Fridays during term time
  • Email: library-support@bristol.ac.uk
  • Tel: +44 (0)117 928 8502 | Internal 88502
    (Textphone users can call via typetalk: 18001 0117 928 8502)

Library Support team office hours (Arts & Social Sciences Library) are 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. If you can't make a drop-in appointment, please ask for us at the Welcome Desk and we may be able to see you at short notice.