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Accessing resources: Books and Journals in other Libraries

An overview of how to access resources and answers to some FAQs/common queries

Getting hold of material from other Libraries

If you want to get hold of a book that we don't have in our Library, see Requesting Resources for advice.

Books and journals in other Universities

Other libraries in Edinburgh, and the rest of the UK, may give access to print books, journals and other materials not held in Heriot-Watt University (though access to their subscribed electronic resources may be restricted).  We belong to a number of co-operative arrangements, which mean that Heriot-Watt staff and students can have access to the collections and services of these Libraries. For more information please see our Accessing Other Libraries guide:

Before visiting another Library you should always check whether or not they have the item you need, by checking their Library Catalogue.  You should also decide if it is easier to visit one of these libraries or use our Inter Library Loan Service, which allows us to obtain items from other libraries.  Generally, books are delivered to the Library for collection and journal articles are sent electronically. Find out more about this service here:

National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland (NLS) receives, on legal deposit, a copy of almost all books and periodicals published in the UK, plus many published abroad.

The Library is open for reference only (i.e. its stock cannot be borrowed). It has reading rooms in two buildings: George IV Bridge Building, and Causewayside Building.

You can search the NLS Library Catalogues, to see what they have in their collecitons.

Other resources that search for books