Information for new students

This page is intended to help you understand what library services are available within the University, from books and articles to study skills.

Libraries available to you

As a new student you should, in general, be able to access at least three libraries:

Your college library

College libraries usually aim to stock popular books from the undergraduate reading lists. Coverage does vary, and you may find that smaller colleges with only a few computer science students are not able to all books on the reading list. Because college libraries usually cover all subjects, they are unlikely to hold any more specialised resources.

Your department library

This is where you will find subject-specific resources. The Library team can also offer more specific advice on appropriate resources, referencing, poster design, presentation skills and other transferable skills to support your studies. At the West Hub you can find your physical books as well as support with all our library services. The physical collections for Computer Science, including all titles from the reading lists, are available to borrow from the West Hub and/or accessible online. You can find the physical collection on the second floor, by the lifts, and access electronic resources through our catalogue iDiscover, and A-Z Databases.

The University library building

The main Universitry Library holds in excess of 7 million volumes, and is also one of the six national legal deposit libraries. It is most useful for the more difficult to find items, or if you ever need to consult special collections.

West Hub

The West Hub, located on the opposite side of J.J. Thomson Avenue houses the physical collections for computer science, and also offers a range of study spaces and catering facilities. This short video offers an overview of the space and facilities provided.

You library team

Your library team will be happy to help with any queries you may have. We are also your first point of contact for any subject-specific enquiries. You can reach out to us by visiting the West Hub Information Desk on the first floor, or by booking a 1:1 for support with referencing, revision tips, note-taking techniques, literature searching, finding resources, presentation skills, poster design and more.

Contact us or come and visit to get to know your librarians and find out how we can support you.

Understanding Cambridge libraries

The broader library system in cambridge, with the three level structure outlined above will be unfamiliar to some. Although it does not work like, for example, a large network of public libraries, we believe the strength is that individual libraries are able to concentrate on their own specialism, hopefully resulting in a better service. There is a useful guide for new students, who may also find the libraries gateway useful. Alternatively there is also an induction video available: