We are committed to providing excellent service, access to a wide range of resources, and study spaces to suit your need. Whether you are on campus or further afield you’ll find members of the team on hand to offer help and support.

Library building and study spaces

We have flexible opening hours and offer a range of study study spaces, so whether you need a space for collaborative, quiet or silent study you will find the space that works for you. 

Collaborative study spaces can be found on the ground floor and bookable group study rooms. These spaces are for group conversation and are mobile phone friendly.

Quiet study spaces can be found on the first and second floors. These spaces are for whispered conversation and mobile phones on vibrate

Silent study spaces can be found on the third floor.  These spaces are for individual study with no conversation and mobile phones on silent. 

Bookable Group Study Rooms

We have 6 group study rooms available in the Library. You can book a study room daily between 09:00-21:00

Ground Floor

  • L014 capacity 1-4
  • L017 capacity 2-6
  • L018 capacity 2-6

Second Floor

  • L207 capacity 2-6
  • L208 capacity 2-6
  • L209 capacity 2-8

Laptops and computers

Laptops are available to borrow from one of the 3 self-service laptop cabinets in the Library. These can be found on the ground floor and second floor. They can be borrowed by Aston University staff and students, for use in the Library providing you have your uniCARD.

Laptops are issued for 4 hours (battery life is approximately 4 hours and they are issued without a power cable or mouse). They are issued to you on your uniCARD - you will need your uniCARD to return your laptop.

There are 127 computers available for student use in the Library. You can use them on a first-come, first-served basis and you can log-in with your university username and password. There are computers on the ground, second and third floors.  The computers on the third floor are in a silent study area. You can check the availability of computers in the Library here.

Software available across the University can be accessed via the AstonApps portal. Please see the IT student software guide for further information.

Remember to save your work regularly either to your home drive or in your OneDrive space via the Microsoft 365 Portal.

Using your own laptop in the Library

You can use your own laptop anywhere in the Library. There is Wi-Fi throughout the building and power sockets to charge your laptop. If you would like to print documents from your laptop to the printers in the Library, then you may need some additional software. Please check the Digital Services setup guides for details.

Printers / Copiers

There are printer/copiers on the ground and second floor of the Library. Printer/copiers can also scan to email (at no cost). The printer/copiers are connected to the University network. 
 
To print and photocopy you will need to tap your uniCARD on the machine.

For help or queries if your card doesn't work with the printers contact the IT Help Desk: 08:00-18:00 Monday-Thursday, 08:00-17:00 Friday), email it_helpdesk@aston.ac.uk or telephone +44(0) 121 204 3445. 

Please make sure that you keep within the copyright restrictions on printing/photocopying which are displayed near to each of the printer/photocopiers.

Stapling your documents

If you want to staple, you can do this within the Printer Properties when you send your work to print or you can use the stapling facilities on the printers. 

Quick Print

There are four workstations on the Ground Floor reserved especially for printing from USB memory stick and H: drive. 

How to...very brief video guides

Watch our short videos to guide you through using our different Library services, such as printing and borrowing books.

    uniCARDS

    You can use your uniCARD to:

    • Enter and leave the Library
    • Borrow books and laptops
    • Collect your printing
    • Pay any Library fines

    Please look after your uniCARD and never lend it to anyone else.  Please take it with you when you leave the Library, even for a short break.

    If you lose your uniCARD please contact the IT Helpdesk as soon as possible for a new card and to put a block on your card If you have forgotten your uniCARD Library staff will be able to advise you on alternative study spaces and computer labs that you can use in the main building.