Library Services

Our Library services are there for everyone. We have books covering all subjects to help you with your studies, as well as a wide range of fiction, lifestyle and wellbeing titles.

There are also thousands of eBooks and eResources available; including vocational learning resources for Construction, Education and Childcare, Digital and IT, Health and Social Care, and Hairdressing.

New! A third ebook collection – Kortext – is now available! See below for details

The librarian can help you find books or ebooks, and support you with finding information, referencing and copyright. Visit us at Dumfries Campus

eBooks
How to request a book
Find a book

Helpful Library Guides

We have written a number of useful guides for copyright and referencing as well as using the library, searching for books, eBooks, and News articles.

Referencing Guide
All Help Guides
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illustration of a young woman sitting on a pile of oversized books reading.

Borrowing Books from the Library

You can borrow up to 15 items, for 4 weeks, using your College ID card. There are self-service terminals available in the Crichton library – please ask service desk staff for assistance if required.

Stranraer students can request books from Dumfries

Items you have on loan can be renewed up to 4 times – unless they are requested by another user. Due dates are the date the item is due back at Dumfries

Reservations can be made for items by contacting the library desk at Dumfries; either in person or by calling 01387 734323

Accessing eBooks and online resources

eBooks
NLS Journals
JISC Resources
ISSUES Online
Vogue Archive
Open Access
Media Plus

eBooks

See the Library or How 2 Guides for further information on ebooks and online resources or contact the library.

There are 3 main ebook collections – EBSCO, JISC EBOOKS FOR FE (ProQuest) and KORTEXT. Each has 1000s of full-text, colour image ebooks to download or read online. Click on the links below to access (use your College username and password to login):

Individual College ebooks can be accessed using this link (select ‘OpenAthens’ and use your College details to sign in): VLEebooks

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Journals, articles and ebooks from the National Library of Scotland (NLS)

Did you know that anyone with a Scottish postcode can access ejournals, articles, ebooks and other digitised resources through the National Library of Scotland (NLS)?

Collections available cover all subjects areas and include:

  • Springer journals and ebooks
  • SAGE journals
  • Cambridge Core ebooks
  • Routledge handbooks online
  • JSTOR
  • Brill journals
  • British Standards Online (BSO)
  • Newspaper and map archives

There are also moving image collections and 1000s of digitised items from the library’s collection. To access, register here (recommended to use a personal email address so you can maintain access). The NLS also provide business databases and offer a business information service to individuals and groups.

Register to Join

JISC Vocational Learning Resources

This interactive resource has been discontinued however the archives of guides, activities and training videos are available to download here: https://beta.jisc.ac.uk/vocational-learning-resources (archived 31 July 2023; available to download until 31 January 2024)

Topics covered:

  1. Construction
  2. Digital and IT
  3. Education and childcare
  4. Hairdressing
  5. Health and social care

Issues Online

More than 60 contemporary social subjects are covered in Issues Online ebooks. These are regularly updated and supported with useful website links, glossaries, newspaper extracts, articles and key facts and statistics. The books are also available to borrow in the library and are updated twice a year.

Click on the link below to access. To login: under ‘Your Home Institution’ click on the link for ‘Go to the login area’. Type or select ‘Dumfries and Galloway College’ then use your college email address and password

Issues Online

The Vogue Archive

The Vogue Archive contains all issues of US Vogue from 1982 – current. Covers, photography and adverts have been digitised in high-quality resolution as well as articles. Useful for exploring: Textile and dress; Fashion history; Photography and graphic design; Popular culture; Gender studies; Marketing and advertising.

Basic Search – The Vogue Archive – ProQuest (login using your College ID and password)

Search via Proquest
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Open access journal articles and resources

Open Access Journals
Open Educational Resources
CORE research papers

Media Plus – Alexander Street

Over 100,000 videos, images, and sound recordings covering a huge range of historical and contemporary topics: Media Plus. You can also create and share playlists (see Help pages for more information)

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The Crichton Library (Dumfries Campus)

The Crichton Library on Dumfries Campus is a relaxed and friendly place, where experienced and helpful staff will welcome you.

Our well-equipped and friendly library is designed to support a variety of approaches to learning. All Full Time, Part Time, Short Course and Open Learning students are able to access all library services and facilities.

During term time the library is open as follows:

  • Monday: 8am – 6pm
  • Tuesday: 8am – 9pm
  • Wednesday: 8am – 6pm
  • Thursday: 8am – 6pm
  • Friday: 8am – 5pm

Summer opening hours : 9am – 5pm

The library also provides an out of hours’ book return service.

Resources available include:

  • A wide range of books and access to the UWS collections in Ayr, Hamilton and Paisley
  • Electronic books and databases
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Stranraer Campus

Helpful Guides and Training and induction slides are here to help you use and access library resources.”