Home University of Edinburgh Library Essentials
April 6, 2026
Need help with using the Library? Help is available.
Having problems finding material from your reading list? Not sure how to reference or cite properly in your work? Need to work on a systematic review but not sure where to start? Or just want to know how to use Google and Google Scholar in an academic context?
The Academic Support Librarian team are running several courses this semester through IS Skills which you can book onto via MyEd. These (mostly) 1 hour sessions allow you to get expert advice and hands-on experience. So why not book on and become an expert yourself? Read More
Trial – Credo Reference
We have trial access to Credo Reference until 31st October. Access is via a specific username and password listed on our EASE protected password page.
Credo Online Reference Service helps researchers build context by providing background information and key terms enabling more efficient research. It gives access to hundreds of in-depth subject encyclopedias and handbooks covering every major subject from Accounting to Art History and Shakespeare to Einstein, as well as Topic Pages which offer an easy starting point and pathways for further research. Some people might find the Credo Mind Map a good way of seeing the relationships between topics in a visual way.
Feedback and further info
We are interested to know what you think of this reference service as your comments influence purchase decisions so please do fill out our feedback form.
A list of all trials currently available to University of Edinburgh staff and students can be found on our trials webpage.
Trial – British Newspaper Archive
We have trial access to the full content of the British Newspapers Archive until 30th November.
The British Newspapers 1600-1950 is the most significant digital collection of British historic newspapers. New conservation and imaging techniques and a new cross-searchable platform adopted by the British Library offers unparalleled access and discoverability to this valuable historical and cultural archive. In addition one will find specially commissioned essays and contextual materials written by expert scholars intended to help non-specialist users with perspective and analysis.
Feedback and further info
We are interested to know what you think of this database as your comments influence purchase decisions so please do fill out our feedback form.
A list of all trials currently available to University of Edinburgh staff and students can be found on our trials webpage.
1984 – The Student’s perspective
Which iconic university building was described by a young student journalist in 1984 as a place “where students go to recover from hangovers”? What did students of the 1980s do when they got hold of their first grant cheque? Which Edinburgh venue hosted gigs by bands as diverse as Kiss, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen and Big Country?
The answers, and much more, are revealed today as part of a new pilot project to digitise microfilmed copies of The Student newspaper from the academic year 1984/85. Copies will be made available in real time at https://libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/thestudent, starting with the 3 October 1984 edition, which is released today, exactly thirty years after it was first published. The papers will then become available on our site on a weekly basis, with the next one due on Friday 10 October.
The papers offer a fascinating insight into what life was like at the University during the 1980s. While the pages are dominated by discussions of the key issues of the day, such as the Miners’ Strike, ‘The Troubles’ in Ireland and the privatisation of state assets, there is still room for topics more directly relevant to students at the University during this period.
The first issue is a Fresher’s Week special which offers students a light-hearted introduction to the various buildings on campus including King’s Buildings (a “distant, exotic, [and] mysterious … land to the south”) and Pollock Halls (“a pretty ordinary sort of place”).
There is also a comprehensive review and listing of the best places for students to eat, drink and let their hair down, both on and off campus. An outline of the capital’s drinking establishments warns unwitting Freshers that they might have to pay as much as 70p for a pint in some of the city’s more expensive locations while the section on nightclubs recommends old favourites Cinderella Rockerfellas, the Hoochie Coochie club and Coasters Roller Disco.
If you were a student in the 1980s, we would love to hear from you about your experiences. You can comment on individual articles on the website https://libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/thestudent or continue the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #thestudent84.
Please contact Gavin Willshaw, Digital Curator, at gavin.willshaw@ed.ac.uk for more information or to be added to the project mailing list.
Discover Special Collections from New College Library
Did you know that, out of the 250,000+ books held at New College Library, over a third are Special Collections? Come and join me at the Pop-up Library (on the first floor of the Main Library) on Wednesday 8 October, 2-4 pm, to find out more.
- New College Library rare book collections include the Acta Sanctorum (1643-1794), early printed Bibles in Latin, Greek, English and polyglot versions, incunabula and the Hymnology Collection.
- Archival collections focus on the papers of significant individuals or groups connected with New College and the Church of Scotland or Free Church of Scotland, including Thomas Chalmers, J.H.Oldham, and John McIntyre.
- New College Library also holds a collection of objects and pictures relating to New College and the Church of Scotland.
Explore New College Library’s Special Collections further at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/is/new-college-special-collections
Or read more on the New College Librarian blog: https://libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk/newcollegelibrarian/
Christine Love-Rodgers, Academic Support Librarian – Divinity
Timetable: 6th-10th October
#LibraryPop
Drop in sessions -1st Floor Main Library
6th October- 10th October
| AM | PM | |||
| Monday | Finding/using Chinese library resources | Getting full text journal articles – fast! | ||
| Tuesday |
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Resources Plus: How do I get hold of the book I need? | ||
| Wednesday |
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Discover Special Collections from New College Library | ||
| Thursday | Smart Searching with Searcher | Rare Book Collections | ||
| Friday |
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Meet Joe Marshall (Head of Special Collections) and Jacky MacBeath (Head of Museums) |
Dawsonera – access problem
One of our major e-book providers – Dawsonera is continuing to suffer from technical issues 
relating to logins and downloading e-books.
They will post updates to twitter @dawsonera when they have updates – they have not been able to provide a timescale for resolution.
This issue is now resolved.
Check the comments section for further updates – last updated 17/11.
Trial – Archaeopress
We have trial access to Archaeopress E-books until 28th October. Access on or off campus via the username and password listed on our password webpage (use EASE to access this).
Archaeopress digital subscription service currently includes over 300 archaeology e-book titles, including British Archaeological Reports. Around 10-15 new files are added each month.
Feedback and further info
We are interested to know what you think of this e-book package and platform as your comments influence purchase decisions so please do fill out our feedback form.
A list of all trials currently available to University of Edinburgh staff and students can be found on our trials webpage.
Trial – Defining Gender, 1450-1910
We have trial access to Defining Gender, 1450-1910 until 23rd October on campus or via the VPN.
Defining Gender includes a broad range of thematically organised documents from 21 libraries providing an excellent opportunity for comparative study and research. Manuscripts, printed works and illustrations combine to address the key issues from both masculine and feminine perspectives. They are indexed to provide ready accessibility for students by person and subject across all five sections.
Please note that PDF download options are not available during trials.
Feedback and further info
We are interested to know what you think of this database as your comments influence purchase decisions so please do fill out our feedback form.
A list of all trials currently available to University of Edinburgh staff and students can be found on our trials webpage.
Managing your digital footprint at Pop-up Library (3 Oct)
Managing your digital footprint will be at the Pop-Up Library on 3 October 2014 
(10:00-12:00)
Do you want to find out how to manage your online presence (digital footprint); how social media can be useful; using social media for research & impact; networking and more? If so, then come along to the first floor, reception desk at the Main Library on 3 October (10:00-12:00).
What can you expect from the session?
- Advice
- Demos
- Information
- Activities
- Freebies
Find us on:
- Website: www.ed.ac.uk/iad/digitalfootprint
- Blog: http://uoedigitalfootprint.wordpress.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/UoEDigitalFoot #UoEDF
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/uoedigitalfootprint
Collections
Hill and Adamson Collection: an insight into Edinburgh’s past
My name is Phoebe Kirkland, I am an MSc East Asian Studies student, and for...
Cataloguing the private papers of Archibald Hunter Campbell: A Journey Through Correspondence
My name is Pauline Vincent, I am a student in my last year of a...
Projects
Cataloguing the private papers of Archibald Hunter Campbell: A Journey Through Correspondence
My name is Pauline Vincent, I am a student in my last year of a...
Archival Provenance Research Project: Lishan’s Experience
Presentation My name is Lishan Zou, I am a fourth year History and Politics student....