Students are at the heart of everything we do here in Library and Computing Services and we are listening and continuously improving our services to help you make the most of your studies here at Herts.
- Find the right study space for you
- Use a Uni computer
- Herts in your pocket!
- Supporting your digital skills development
- Skill up!
- Finding and using resources
- Staying safe online
- Help and support
Find the right study space for you
Our Learning Resources Centres (LRCs) are your one stop shop for study spaces, computing, printing, books and resources. We’ve listened to what you’ve told us and have acted on your feedback to make the following improvements to our services and spaces to help you succeed in your studies.
- Studying Education? You'll now find the main Education book collection on the first floor of the College Lane LRC. The Teaching Experience Collection has also moved to its new home in room 1J112A, a dedicated school library-inspired space where you can explore resources, discover new ideas, and prepare for placements and teaching practice.
- Need a study break? From mid-October until Christmas, we’ll be running a range of fun activities on the ground floor of both LRCs. From pet therapy, sports and games to craft sessions and video gaming, there's something for everyone. Check the Student Calendar or the LRC digital screens for the latest information.
- Designed by students, for students – we're transforming the Creative Arts technology suite on the ground floor of the College Lane LRC into a more flexible and creative space for designing, collaborating and bringing ideas to life. Developed in partnership with postgraduate design students, the new space reflects the way Creative Arts students learn, create and work together.
Inclusive services and support
Plan your visit and explore what’s available online and in person to support you with your studies:
- Find accessible study spaces, technology and library resources
- See Ask Herts: https://ask.herts.ac.uk/learning-resources-centres
- Take a virtual tour or try out our virtual escape room activity
Use a Uni computer
Whether you're bringing your own device or using one of our PCs in the LRCs or computing labs, we're continuing to invest in the technology, software and services that support your studies.
- Dedicated Engineering and Computer Science PC zone – Engineering and Computer Science PCs are now located together in a larger dedicated study area on the first floor of the College lane LRC. The new space includes PCs with larger and dual monitors making it easier to access and use the specialist software you need. See Software availability at UH for a full list of specialist software.
- Free Adobe Creative Cloud – all students get free access to Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Express—perfect for creating presentations, videos, social media posts, and more. Find out more at Adobe Creative Cloud at Herts.
- £5 print credit to get you started – Every student receives £5 print credit at the start of the academic year, ready to use on any LRC printer for printing, copying and scanning. If you need specialist printing support, our Document Services team is always happy to help. Find out more at ask.herts.ac.uk/printing-on-campus.
- Coming soon: long term PC loans: Need a computer for your studies? Our long-term PC loan scheme will be returning soon and will be available to all students, subject to availability. Once relaunched, you'll be able to borrow an all-in-one Windows PC, including a keyboard and mouse, and keep it until the end of the academic year
Forgotten your device? Don't worry. You can borrow a Chromebook for 4 or 12 hours and use it anywhere on campus. Find out more at ask.herts.ac.uk/computer-loans-for-herts-students.
Find out more about using computers in the LRCs: ask.herts.ac.uk/using-computers-in-the-learning-resources-centres
Herts in your pocket
The Herts Mobile app is your one stop shop for University of Hertfordshire information, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using the app you can:
- Access your virtual ID card
- Find answers to your questions all day, every day with AskHerts
- Get library reminders for book reservations, returns, and overdue items.
- Use the Maps feature to find your way around campus.
- Receive notifications for timetable changes, events, and more.
- Find available computers by building, floor, and zone.
- Plan your LRC visit and check how busy it is
Coming soon - Ask AI! We’ll soon be launching an exciting update to Ask Herts, giving students instant, AI-powered answers to their questions, with the familiar search results still available underneath for further detail.
Take a look and download the app today at mobile.herts.ac.uk
Picture of a map on a mobile phone
Supporting your digital skills development:
Digital skills are essential for studying, working and thriving in an increasingly digital world. Whether you're new to Herts or looking to build your confidence with the latest tools and technologies, we offer a range of resources and support to help you succeed throughout your studies and beyond.
See our latest resources to help you stay ahead in today's digital world:
- New student? Get off to a great start with the Get Started with Herts Digital Checklist, to help you become familiar with the everyday digital tools you'll use here at Herts.
- Boost your digital skills – check that you're ready for learning at Herts with Digital Essentials, a great way to develop and assess the key digital skills needed for your course. You can also join on-campus workshops or explore resources in the Digital Skills unit of the Herts Academic Skills site to build your confidence and get the most out of your studies.
- Get Digital Skills support from our Student Technology Mentors in the LRC Study Success Hubs, 14.00 – 16.00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 24 September.
Need help? Contact the Digital Capabilities team at digital@herts.ac.uk with any questions or feedback.
Find out more on the Digital Skills page on Ask Herts.
Skill up!
Looking for extra help with your assessments and assignments?
- Pop along to our Study Success Hub in the LRCs from 28 September and speak to a member of the Library team at our drop-in skills sessions Monday to Thursday 13:00 - 15:00. See session dates and locations.
- Explore Library SkillUP on Canvas – Our Library SkillUP site is packed with practical guidance on searching, reading, evaluating information, referencing and academic writing to help you work more effectively and achieve your best.
- Not sure where to start? Take a look at the Get Started unit on Library SkillUP or download the Library Quick Start checklist to help you get familiar with Library resources and support.
Need help? If you can't make it to campus during a Study Success Hub session, you can:
- Talk to the team via Module Chat, Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 16:00.
Outside of these times, you can continue to book a 1-to-1 appointment or speak to a librarian if one is available on campus. Simply ask at the Welcome Desk.
Find out more at go.herts.ac.uk/libraryskillup.
Finding and using resources
Whether you prefer print or digital resources, we're continually improving the ways you can discover, access and use the materials you need for your studies.
- More eBooks and e-textbooks available – We're continuing to expand our digital collections, giving you access to even more eBooks and e-textbooks to support your learning wherever you are studying.
- A fresh new look for Library Search – From September 2026, Library Search will have a refreshed design to make finding resources easier and more intuitive. While it may look a little different, you'll still be able to search for and access all the same books, journals, articles and online resources you rely on, now through a more user-friendly experience. Find out more: Library Search
- Read for pleasure, anytime – explore our Reading for Pleasure collections in the LRCs or download the free Libby app to browse, borrow and enjoy a wide range of digital magazines, eBooks and audiobooks. Get started today at libbyapp.com/library/uherts.
Plan ahead – Don't forget to use our reservations service to reserve books and collect them from the campus that's most convenient for you. Find out more at ask.herts.ac.uk/book-borrowing.
Staying safe online
Your safety and security are important to all of us at Herts. To help protect your account and University systems, all students are required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) when logging in to University services.
We recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone. From 1st February 2027, SMS and phone call authentication options will no longer be available – if you are currently using these options, please switch to Microsoft Authenticator to access your University account.
This is especially important for international students, as the app works regardless of your location and does not rely on mobile phone signal or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Starting University is an exciting time, but it's also important to stay aware of online scams, phishing attempts and other cyber threats. For practical tips on protecting your personal information, devices and finances, take a look at our Staying Safe Online Checklist.
Plan Ahead – Make a note of our planned IT maintenance dates, which are essential for keeping University systems secure and running smoothly. You can also check the Service Status page for the latest updates on our systems and services.
Help and support
We are always here to support you during your time at Herts and we’re continually improving our services to make it easier for you to get the help and support you need:
- At the start of term, look out for our additional Welcome Desks in the LRCs, where Library staff and Wi-Fi Warriors will be available to help with any questions about Wi-Fi, books, computing, StudyNet, the LRCs and other University services.
- Online support – access extensive help, guidance and support resources at ask.herts.ac.uk.
- 24/7 telephone support – speak to our Helpdesk team at any time on 01707 284678.
- Service Status page – stay informed about planned maintenance and any issues affecting key services such as StudyNet and Wi-Fi by visiting status.herts.ac.uk.
Don't forget to follow @uniofhertslibrary on Instagram and TikTok to keep up to date with the latest library news, events, study tips and service updates.
Finally, a big thank you to all the Library and Computing Services staff who work hard throughout the year to deliver and improve these services. We hope you find them useful and that they help you make the most of your time at Herts.