e-Library

e-Library Frequently Asked Questions

What is e-Library?
Who can use e-Library?
Do I need a username and password?
What is a Guest login?
Can I access e-Library from off-campus?
What should I do if I am asked to login in order to access full text?
How do I use e-Library?
What is meant by a resource in e-Library?
What is the difference between a resource and an e-journal?
Why didn't my CrossSearch display any results?
Some resources are marked as Full Text but I can't always access the full-text of articles that I've found in e-Library? Why is this?
How can I see the full-text of an article, if it is available?
What if full-text is not available?
When cross-searching, why don't I get the same results in e-Library as I do if I search the databases' own websites?
What does Search n link mean?
Can I customise e-Library?
Where can I get more help?
Contact us
How can I give feedback about e-Library?

What is e-Library?

e-Library (previously known as 'Search it') provides access to the Library’s electronic resources. You can search across multiple resources in a single search; make your own personalised list of favourite resources, e-journals and references; and automatically run searches using your chosen resources.

Who can use e-Library?

All of the University's staff and students with an active library account can use e-Library.  Associates who are actively teaching CCCU students are also entitled to e-Library access if they have a valid library record. Please see the 'Do I need a username and password?' section below for further information. 

Non-University members can also access e-Library as a 'guest', although access will be restricted to freely available resources only.


Do I need a username and password?

Yes, you will be prompted to login to e-Library using your e-Library username and password. Your e-Library account details are the same as your University computing username and password.  Please contact the i-zone if you are unsure of these details.

New staff will need to apply for a Library account first by completing either a Apply for a Library ticket form or, in the case of Associate Staff, a Associate Personal Details Form. You will be notified via your University email address when your e-Library account has been activated.

N.B. Due to licensing restrictions, only Associates who are actively teaching CCCU students will be entitled to e-Library access.  Requestors, e.g. Head of Department or named equivalent, will need to confirm whether Associates are to retain access to their e-Library account prior to each Academic year.

What is a Guest login?

The 'Guest Login' option allows users without an e-Library account to access e-Library. However, access will be restricted to freely available resources only.

Can I access e-Library from off-campus?

Yes - you can use your e-Library account to login wherever you are. However, there are a few resources that can only be accessed on campus, these are indicated by a red Campus only icon next to the resource's name.

What should I do if I am asked to login in order to access full text?

If you are prompted to login in order to access full text on the resource's web site, choose the Athens login option and re-enter your e-Library account details if prompted for a username and password.

How do I use e-Library?

Please refer to the user guide for a brief introduction.

What is meant by a resource in e-Library?

In e-Library, a resource is an online database, collection of e-journals or e-books, or a library catalogue.

What is the difference between a resource and an e-journal?

A resource generally consists of a collection of data, such as an online database or searchable website. An e-journal is an online version of a journal.

Why didn't my CrossSearch display any results?

There are several possible reasons for this;

  • you may have forgotten to select a resource to search; to do this, click in the tick-box to the left of the resource's name.
  • you may have selected too many resources for a cross-search; the maximum number is 25.
  • the resource(s) may contain nothing that matches your search. Try again with a different search.

Some resources are marked as Full Text but I can't always access the full text of articles that I have found in e-Library. Why is this?

Unfortunately, the University may not have a full-text subscription to all of the journals that are provided within that particular resource.

You can use the 'Find e-journal' option in e-Library to check whether we have access to a specific journal title.  Enter the journal name in the search box, click 'Go' and a link will be displayed if we have access to the title.  Click on the link to view available holdings.

How do I get to see the full text of an article, if it is available?

Click on the Find it icon next to the relevant result to display a list of holdings, if available in full text.

Please note that you will need to log into some resources, for example JSTOR and ScienceDirect, in order to access full text articles from off-site.  Look out for login, Athens login or sign in links and choose the Athens login option. Enter your e-Library account details if prompted for a username and password.

What if full text is not available?

If full text is unavailable, please check the Library Catalogue to see if we hold a print copy. If we do not have a print copy either, you have the option to request a copy via Inter-Library Loans.

When cross-searching, why don't I get the same results in e-Library and in the databases' own websites?

e-Library initially examines the first results that are returned by a resource and then sorts them according to the sort criterion you have specified (Rank, Title, Author, Year, Resource). When you search using the database's own site, however, the results may have been sorted using some other criterion and this will affect whether or not they are selected for display near the top of the CrossSearch results.

Note: you can click Next to display more results, and Get More to retrieve more results.

What does Search n link mean?

The Search n link icon means that a resource can be cross-searched, but its results cannot be displayed in a combined results list for technical reasons. Instead, the results for this type of resource are displayed in the database's own web site, and are accessed by clicking on the Jump link in the results screen.

Can I customise e-Library?

Yes -

  1. by clicking on My Space and Preferences, you can adjust

    • how the results are displayed on the 'Find Resource' screen-
      • table view (summary details) or
      • brief view (slightly more detail);
    • how the search results are displayed -
      • table view (summary details) or
      • brief view (slightly more detail) or
      • full view (all the detail that is available);
    • the number of results displayed per page; 10, 20 or 30.

  2. in a Cross-Search results list, if you have searched more than one resource, you can choose to have the results sorted by

    • Rank,
    • Title,
    • Author,
    • Year or
    • Resource.

Where can I get more help?

Context-sensitive help is provided via the 'Help' link in the top right-hand corner of all e-Library screens.

In addition, useful information is available by clicking on the icon to the right of a resource's name.

Contact us

If you have difficulty logging into e-Library, or if there are problems with a particular resource, please contact the i-zone. If you would like help with searching within e-Library, please contact your Liaison Librarian.