The Research Reserve forms a valuable part of our research collections. It holds 50km of rolling stack shelving containing our institutional theses and some older, less frequently used books and periodicals.
Location and facilities
- The Research Reserve is on the lower ground floor of the Main Library, and is accessed via the lift or stairs beyond the Help Desk on the ground floor. See the entrance to the Research Reserve on our map.
- The Allport Room is the Research Reserve reading room, where you can view or collect reference-only items from the Research Reserve.
Allport room facilities
- Book scanner for scanning to USB and email.
- Microform scanner for saving to USB and network drive and sending to email and print. Please contact us to check availability if you are making a special journey to the library to use the microform scanner.
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Opening hours
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Books, journals, theses, etc.
Research Reserve items are only available to consult upon request.
- Most books and serial monographs are loanable.
- Journals and periodicals are reference use only and can only be used in the library.
- Theses are reference use only within the Library. See the University of Birmingham eTheses repository for online access to PhD theses.
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Requesting items from the Research Reserve
- University staff and students can request Research Reserve items, for a physical copy or digital scans, using our library catalogue, FindIt@Bham.
- If you are a visitor, please contact us at researchreserve@mail.libanswers.bham.ac.uk to request Research Reserve items. We will send you confirmation when the items have been retrieved for you to consult.
- If you are an external member with a library account, please request your Research Reserve items via FindIt@Bham. When signing in to FindIt@Bham, you should select the option for ‘External Borrowers’. If you have not already set up a password, please contact us at researchreserve@mail.libanswers.bham.ac.uk.
- More information on requesting Research Reserve items.
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Browsing access
- This service is only available to University of Birmingham academic staff and students.
- You must have a health and safety induction tour before receiving browsing access to the Research Reserve. The tour will introduce you to the collection and allows you to browse the Research Reserve safely on subsequent visits. Tours take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You must book at least 24 hours ahead. Book your tour online.
- After your induction, you can browse the Research Reserve during Allport Room opening hours. When you arrive, please report to the Allport Room, where staff will give you access to the Research Reserve.
- If none of the regular tour times are suitable for you, or if you are Academic Staff and wish to arrange a group tour for a student cohort, please contact us at researchreserve@mail.libanswers.bham.ac.uk.
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Photos of the Research Reserve and how to access it
Rolling stacks in the Research Reserve.
The lift and stairs down to the Research Reserve.
The door to the Allport Room.
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