The library supports all North Highland College staff and students irrespective of location, and resources include books, journals, local newspapers, videos, CDROMs, maps, and reports. Online resources also give you access to many full text articles, pictures, and sound clips on many subjects.

As part of the UHI Millennium Institute, we can also source items from the library catalogue of fifteen other partner colleges.

Non-college or UHI users can join as external users with limited borrowing and online rights. The Library Users Charter is available from the librarian.

Location

At our Thurso campus, the library is down the corridor from the main reception desk. There are also campus libraries at Alness, Dornoch, Wick, DERC, and ERI.

Library staff and contacts

Borrowing North Highland College library items

Most books, magazines and other stock can be borrowed.

• Books – four week loans
• Bursary copies – eight week loans
• Magazines and videos – one week loans

Some items are for overnight loan or reference only. Students on UHI and HE courses can borrow twelve items at a time. Students on North Highland College or nonvocational courses can borrow six items at a time. Items should be returned or renewed by the due date on the date label.

Renewals

Loaned items may be renewed unless someone else has reserved them. Loans may be renewed a maximum of three times.

Borrowing from libraries within the UHI

Items may be borrowed from any college within the UHI. Please complete an intersite loan form. These are available from the library. Library staff will source these items from other colleges on your behalf. There is no charge for this service.

Please note that some other colleges charge late fees, so if you need an item renewed, it is wise to do this before the return date.

Borrowing from non-UHI libraries

We may in some cases be able to borrow items from the British Library or other sources. Please complete an intersite loan form. These are available from the library. Requests of this nature need to be authorised by the librarian or a senior member of staff. Students may require a tutor to authorise requests, depending on the number of items required.

Delivery for remote staff and students

Remote students can have items posted to their home, a different college, or any UHI campus. Items may be returned directly to other UHI campuses or returned using the freepost label which will be enclosed with the package when it arrives.

Facilities

Throughout the library stock area, are easy seats - some of which are equipped with writing shelves. The study room is a quiet area with eight networked PCs, seats, and study tables. The PCs are intended for coursework use. There is no cost for printing but the IT department monitor the use of consumables and reserve the right to charge should this become excessive.

Selfservice photocopier

A4 and A3 black and white copies can be made. Images can be lightened, darkened, reduced or enlarged. Copyright rules are clearly displayed by the copier.

Lamination and comb-binding is also availbale. The prices for these services are displayed at the library counter.

Library catalogue

This is accessible from any internet PC, and details the stock held by The North Highland College and all other UHI partners. There is a dedicated catalogue PC in the library. If you require help, please ask the library staff. An online guide to the catalogue is available from the librarian or at the library counter.

Online resources

A wide range of resources on many subjects are available, including full text articles, pictures, maps, video, and sound clips. For most of these, you will need an Athens ID and password. Forms to request these are available from the library. Registrations are valid for eighteen months and can be easily renewed.