Library Services
The Crichton Library at Dumfries Campus is a shared library managed by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) on behalf of UWS, Dumfries and Galloway College and the University of Glasgow. Based on Dumfries Campus, it provides library services for students and staff across all three institutions.
You can access thousands of eBooks and online resources, including vocational learning resources for Construction, Education and Childcare, Digital and IT, Health and Social Care, Hairdressing and many other subject areas.
Need a hand? The librarians can help you find books and online resources, as well as provide support with research, referencing and copyright.
View the library in 360º in our 360º viewer
Borrowing Books
You can borrow up to 15 items, for 4 weeks, using your College Student ID card. There are self-service kiosks in the Crichton library. Books can usually be renewed unless they’ve been requested by another user.
If you can’t find the book you need or need help borrowing, renewing or reserving items, contact library@uws.ac.uk or speak to the librarian.
Helpful Library Guides
Whether you’re looking for books and eBooks, learning how to search library resources, or need help with referencing and copyright, these guides are a great place to start.
Dumfries & Galloway College and UWS have created a range of helpful guides to support your studies.
Accessing eBooks and online resources
eBooks
The Dumfries Campus Library provides access to thousands of eBooks and online resources to support your studies. You can read them online or download them to your device using your College username and password.
Our main eBook collections are:
- EBSCO eBooks
- ProQuest eBook Central
- Kortext eBook platform
- VLEeBooks (Choose ‘OpenAthens‘ and sign in with your College account)
Need help?
Visit the Library or see our Library Help Guides for advice on finding and using eBooks. If you’re having trouble accessing an online resource, please contact digitalservices@dumgal.ac.uk
Journals, articles and eBooks from the National Library of Scotland (NLS)
If you have a Scottish postcode, you can register for free access to millions of books, manuscripts, academic journals, eBooks, newspapers, maps and other digital resources through the National Library of Scotland (NLS).
Collections cover a wide range of 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
We recommend registering with your personal email address so you can continue accessing your account after leaving college.
Issues Online
Contemporary Social Issues
Issues Online provides access to more than 60 eBooks covering contemporary social issues. Each title includes articles, key facts and statistics, news extracts, glossaries and links to trusted websites to support your learning and research.
Printed copies are also available to borrow from the library, and the online content is updated twice a year.
To access Issues Online, select “Go to the login area”, choose Dumfries and Galloway College as your home institution, then sign in with your college email address and password.
The Vogue Archive
The Vogue Archive provides full access to US Vogue from 1892 to the present, including every issue, cover, advertisement, photograph and article in high-quality digital format. It’s a valuable resource for students studying:
- Fashion and textiles
- Fashion history
- Photography and graphic design
- Popular culture
- Marketing and advertising
To login choose ‘OpenAthens‘, select ‘Dumfries and Galloway College‘ and sign in with your College account.
Open Access
Journal Articles and Resources
Open access resources are free to use and provide high-quality research, journal articles, books and learning materials from universities, researchers and publishers around the world. They’re a great way to find reliable information to support your assignments and research.
- Open Access Journals
Search thousands of freely available peer-reviewed journals across a wide range of subjects. - Open Educational Resources (OER)
Access free textbooks, learning materials and teaching resources. - CORE Research Papers
Search millions of open access research papers from repositories and journals worldwide.
MediaPlus – Alexander Street
MediaPlus gives you access to more than 100,000 streaming videos, images and audio recordings covering a wide range of historical and contemporary topics.
You can search, watch and listen online, as well as create and share playlists to support your studies and group work.
The Crichton Library (Dumfries Campus)
The Crichton Library on Dumfries Campus is a relaxed and friendly place to study, borrow books and get support from the UWS library staff.
All Dumfries & Galloway College students can access the library’s services and facilities. Whether you’re studying full-time, part-time or on a short course, the library offers a range of resources and study spaces to support your learning.
Opening Hours – Term Time
| Service | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Librarian Staff Available | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 7pm | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 1pm |
| Library Study Spaces | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 9pm | 9am – 6pm | 9am – 9pm | 9am – 5pm |
Opening Hours – Summer
| Service | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Librarian Staff Available | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 1pm |
| Library Study Spaces | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm | 9am – 5pm |
Stranraer Campus
As a Dumfries & Galloway College student studying at Stranraer, you have access to the same library services and online resources as students at Dumfries Campus.
- Access eBooks, journals and online resources using your college account.
- Borrow books from the Dumfries Campus Library.
- Contact the librarians for help with finding books, accessing eBooks, referencing or any library enquiry.
- Use the DGC and UWS Library Guides to help you make the most of the library services.