Library Basics Week 3: Accessing information resources
Deakin Library is your portal to the resources you need to succeed in your studies.
Find your unit resources
You can discover which textbook, if any, is required for any unit by entering the unit code on our Find my textbook page. This page also contains information about buying textbooks.
Most units have a reading list, which tells you what to read from week to week. Find these via the Access Unit Readings box on the Library homepage. Then simply search for your unit code and click the link to the correct year and trimester.
Access external resources
Google results or other external search engines often lead you to paywalled scholarly content. When that happens, use our LibKey Nomad browser extension. This tool provides instant access to paywalled content included in our subscriptions.
Can’t find what you need in Deakin Library’s collection? Request a book, book chapter or article through interlibrary loan. Books arrive as physical copies and can be borrowed for four weeks, while articles and chapters are scanned and emailed. Domestic students can request books to be posted to them, but overseas students – including those at GIFT City – may only receive book chapters and articles.
Borrow and read in print
For some of us, nothing replaces the experience of turning the pages on a real, printed book. While Deakin Library has millions of digital resources, our shelves are still stacked with thousands of physical books as well. You can find them by browsing at your campus library or placing a request through our website.
Book lovers who want to disappear into new worlds in between required reading will find something to love in our Reading Nook collection. It’s filled with popular novels, biographies, travelogues, memoirs, creative nonfiction and graphic novels. You’ll also find plenty of literary classics in our general collection. Whether you’re after a gripping story or a new research perspective, there’s something waiting for you on our shelves.
Read the news online
Whether you need news articles for your studies or just want to stay informed, the Library offers subscriber-only access to many national and international newspapers. Access an online version of the daily paper for The Age, The Australian Financial Review, or the Sydney Morning Herald. Deakin users can also register for free access to News Ltd Newspapers online.
Explore our full list of news subscriptions – including international papers like The New York Times, The Independent and Al Jazeera – on our A-Z Journals and Newspapers page.
Get further help
Have specific questions about accessing resources? Get in touch with us on Library Chat or contact the Scholarly Services Librarian who specialises in your subject area for further advice.
Are you in your first trimester at Deakin or returning to study after a break? We’ve got you covered. Each week, we’re sharing a tip, tool or service we think you should know about. The Library is key to your success at uni – make the most of everything we have to offer by following our Library Basics series.
Next week’s Library Basics blog will continue this topic, focusing on the incredibly useful Library resource guides. Subscribe to Article to get the latest blogs from Deakin Library directly in your inbox.