Distance Learning - TESOL: Services
Library services for distance learning students
Where possible the Library tries to obtain online resources to support Distance Learning. There are still some books and journals which are only produced in print format, and where this is the case, we do our best to try to give you access to what you need, but there are copyright restictions which we need to comply with.
Use the Search box on this page and on the Library homepage to search for books, journals and other materials, See the "Searching the Library" tab for more details on how to search.
We offer a range of options for Distance Learning Students to get help and support from Library staff, please get in touch if you have any questions.
Search the Library
Requesting things the Library doesn't have
When you request something on Inter-Library Loan the Library will find other libraries that have that item and request it from them, either as a scanned document or photocopy (in the case of journal articles or book chapters) or request that they send us the physical item, (as in a book.) Please note ebooks cannot be supplied via Inter-Library Loan, only print books. If you are requesting a book and can't collect it from the Library in St Andrews please use the morebooks service instead to ask that the Library purchase an ebook.
The ArticleReach service is specifically for journal articles. Requests are automatically sent to ArticleReach and if the journal isn't available, it will be passed on to Inter-Library Loans.
Please search the Library first and check if we already own the resource you need. If it is something we don't have, you can use the Inter-Library Loans service to request it.
See the Inter-Library Loans guide for more information on this service.
If you've come across an e-book which you can't access you can recommend the e-book to the Morebooks service.
- Search the Library to see if the e-book is already available.
- If the e-book isn't available email morebooks@st-andrews.ac.uk from your student email account
- Include the title, author, year and if possible, a link to where you've found the information about the book
- Include in your email that you are a distance learning student
- You can expect a response within 2 working days.
The Library cannot send print books outside of the UK, for insurance purposes. So if you're based outside the UK then we advise that you only ask for e-books.
If you need help accessing an e-book the Library has, see our E-book Collections guide, or contact the Library.
Library Support
You can chat online with Library staff without an appointment, Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm.
Email Library@st-andrews.ac.uk :
- Use your student email address if possible
- Include details of the course you're doing
- Tell us what you need help with
- If you're having problems using something online, try to include details of what you're trying to use. if you're getting any error messages include these.
- Tell us how you would like us to get back to you.
You can request a one-to-one online consultation with one of the Academic Liaison Librarians. If you would like to request this email Library@st-andrews.ac.uk and tell us:
- What you need help with
- What you'd already tried and what you've already found
- What dates and times you are available.
- What module/course you're registered on
Consultations are available Monday-Friday, 9.00-17.00 (UK time zone). Online consultations are conducted using Microsoft Teams.
If you'd like a phone consultation please email Library@st-andrews.ac.uk to arrange this, and include:
- The subject or course you are studying
- What you need help with
- Details of any question, or topic you need to search, or the assignment you are working on
- Suitable times and dates for us to contact you
- Your phone number
UK-Based Students
We can post books to addresses in the United Kingdom only, for distance learning students. Please check the Library has the books you want by searching for them, and email Library@st-andrews.ac.uk with:
- book title, author, and year
- classmark
NB: The Library cannot post inter-library loan books, these must be collected from and returned to St Andrews, some Inter-Library Loan items can only be used on Library premises. If you need a book email morebooks@st-andrews.ac.uk and ask if the Library can purchase an ebook.
There is a charge of £6.70 to cover postage costs by registered mail, and insurance. You can request multiple books in your request, there will just be one postal charge for multiple books.
If you need to post books back to us, please post them to:
User Services
University of St Andrews Library
North Street
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9TR
We recommend you ask for a free proof of postage receipt when returning books by post.
Books will renew automatically, and we'll email you the new due date. If someone else recalls a book you have out on loan we'll email to let you know, recalled books cannot be renewed, and must be returned by the date given in the email. If you don't return a recalled book by the date given in the email there are fines of £2 per day, the maximum fine is £20.
The University of St Andrews is a part of the SCONUL access scheme. If you are resident in the UK you can register to use other SCONUL participating UK University Libraries. In some cases access is reference only, borrowing is at the discretion of the individual Libraries. More information can be found on the SCONUL website.