Support for Students

Teaching and Learning

The library's Teaching and Learning team is here to support you throughout your studies. We offer a range of support to help you develop key research skills, understand how to find and use information, and make the most of the library's resources. From workshops and one-on-one sessions to online tutorials, we provide practical help tailored to your needs. Whether you're working on an assignment, a project, or just need some guidance on where to start, our team is here to help become a confident, independent researcher.

Areas supported include:

  • Research skills
  • Referencing and Reference Management Software
  • Research Data Management
  • AI Literacy
  • Digital Skills

Library Workshops

Library workshops are designed to help you develop essential research skills. These sessions cover a variety of topics, such as finding and evaluating reliable sources, mastering citation styles, using academic databases, and improving research strategies. Whether you're new to research or looking to enhance your skills, these workshops provide practical, hands-on experience with the tools and techniques needed for effective study and research. Led by knowledgeable library staff, these workshops are a great opportunity to ask questions, practice new skills, and connect with other students. They are a valuable resource to help you gain confidence in using the library's services and resources to their full potential.

Recent workshops include:

  • Researching for your Dissertation
  • Discovering Diverse Voices in Academic Research
  • Exploring Voices of Dissent: JSTOR’s Independent Voices Collection
  • ResearchRabbit: Mapping the Literature with AI
  • Referencing 101
  • Introduction to Zotero

Keep an eye out for upcoming events or sign up to our mailing list for alerts about upcoming workshops.

Research Skills Guides

Library research skills guides are resources designed to help you utilise library resources effectively. These guides will help yout to find and access books, journals, search effectively using library search, as well as tips on citation searching and copyright. Whether you are new to the library or looking to refine your research techniques, library research skills guides can support support your research

More guides will be added through out the year, so make sure to check back for updates.

Library One-to-One Support

During the winter vacation our one-to-one support service will be unavailable. Bookings for one-to-one sessions will resume in the new year. Please see our Research Skills Guides for support with searching and referencing.

If you need more personalised support, we also offer one-to-one sessions tailored to your research needs. Whether you need help with researching a topic for an assignment or dissertation, navigating our extensive resources or referencing our team is here to support you.

 

RLF Writing Support

During the winter vacation the RLF one-to-one support service will be unavailable. Bookings for one-to-one sessions will resume in the week beginning 13th January 2025, according to each Writing Fellow's schedule.

As part of the Royal Literary Fund’s Fellowship Scheme, the Library hosts three professional writers who offer one-to-one tutorials during term-time for any member of the university who wishes to improve their writing. Our 2024/25 RLF Fellows are Alison MacLeod, Richard Madden and Rebecca Stott.

Our RLF Fellows can help with any aspect of the writing process, including planning, drafting, constructing an argument and editing. They are able to comment on the writing style of work in progress, allowing students to improve their work before submission.

To book an appointment, please email either Rebecca, Richard or Alison:

Monday or Tuesday appointments: rebecca.stott@rlfeducation.org.uk

Wednesday or Thursday appointments: richard.madden@rlfeducation.org.uk

Friday appointments (online only): alison.macleod@rlfeducation.org.uk

Skills Hub

A key resource to support you in developing skills for academic study is the University of Sussex Skills Hub. The library can support you with research, digital and referencing guidance, but you can also find guidance on writing, critical thinking, group work and more.

Follow the below links to find out more.