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Library search

Search for books, ebooks, journal articles and other library resources using Library Search, the University's online catalogue. You can also access your module reading lists and tools to help you find resources more easily.

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Search for books, journals and online resources

Library Search is your starting point for finding library resources.   Search our library catalogue to discover books, ebooks, journal articles and more, with access to both physical collections in the LRC and resources available online. Use Library Search in the Online Library to find:

  • Books and ebooks
  • Journal articles
  • Academic resources
  • Online collections

Access Library Search: Online Library

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New look Library Search coming in September

Library Search is getting a fresh new look. From week commencing 7 September 2026, you'll be able to access the same books, journals, articles and other resources through an updated search experience that's easier to use and more mobile-friendly for searching on the go.

You'll still access Library Search in the same way – through StudyNet or via the Online Library. The books, journals, articles and other resources available won't change, but the search results page and some filter options will look a little different.

Using saved searches?

If you have saved searches you wish to keep, please save or export them before September as they cannot be transferred to the new Library Search.

  •  Access current Library Search (Summon) and log into your personal account:
    • Perform a search in Library Search.
    • Log in at the top right of the screen, and choose either of the “Log in with SAML” options.
  • View Saved Items: Navigate to your "Saved Items" or "Folder" area where your results are stored. Look for the bookmark icon.
  • Select and Export:
    • Select the items you wish to keep and look for the "Export To" dropdown menu
    • Choose a format such as RIS (compatible with EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley) or CSV/Excel to keep a spreadsheet of your references.
  • Save Search Queries: Summon typically does not have a bulk "export" for the text of the search queries themselves. It is recommended to copy and paste the search strings (e.g., “climate change” AND “renewable energy”) into a Word document or Note file so you can easily run them again in the new EBSCO-powered search in September.
  • Email: You can also use the "Email" function within Summon to send a list of your saved citations to your University email address as a permanent record.
  • Print: You can also use the “Print” function to either save searches as a PDF or print it out.

Updated guidance and support materials will be available through the Library SkillUP Canvas module.

If you have any questions about using Library Search, please contact librarians@herts.ac.uk

Improve your searching skills

Need help finding resources?

The Searching section of Library SkillUP provides guidance on searching effectively and getting the most from Library Search. You can join the Canvas module and add it to your dashboard.

Access Library SkillUP

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Access your reading lists

Your module reading lists contain essential, recommended and background reading for your course.

Access your reading lists through Canvas or visit readinglists.herts.ac.uk and search by module code or title.

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More digital resources

We're increasing access to:

  • Ebook versions of popular textbooks
  • Digitised book chapters
  • Digitised journal articles

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Access journal articles off campus

The free Lean Library browser extension helps you find and access journal articles more easily when studying away from campus.

Get started with Lean Library

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Visitors and non-members

Non-members can also access the library catalogue.

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Contact Us

Helpdesk - Library and Computing Services

Library and Computing Services

Today - Open 24 Hours
Please refer to the LCS Service Status page for updates on service availability. https://status.herts.ac.uk. Online and telephone support is available 08:00 to 18:00 Monday - Friday and 9:00 - 17:00 Saturday - Sunday (Late August - Early May) with telephone support only available outside of these times.