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Library facts and figures: Home

Key information and statistics about the Library services and facilities

Library Facts and Figures

In line with the key principles of our Library Mission statement and in support of the University of Bath’s wider objectives, we are constantly working to develop and enhance our services, facilities, resources and engagement with all Library users. The following facts and figures from the 2022/23 academic year showcase recent highlights from our work.

Key Facts and Figures

Images of books, journals and computer equipment and text 'Key Facts and Figures'

  • The Library is open 24/7, all year round
  • There were 698,686 entrances to the library in 2022/23.
  • The Library provides a huge range of digital and print resources:
    • More than 423,000 e-books and 25,000 e-journals.
    • More than 100 subscribed electronic databases for research.
    • More than 100 additional free databases and resources curated by Subject Librarians.
    • More than 318,000 print books.
    • Over 140 print journal titles.
  • There are 7 colour printing, copying and scanning devices in the Library
  • Staff and students can borrow up to 30 books at any one time. We automatically renew unreserved standard loan items once every week.
  • Over 6000 e-theses are available via the University of Bath's research portal PURE
  • The Library provides a range of flexible learning spaces. 
    • The Library has over 1,400 study spaces.
    • Over 500 PCs.
    • All study spaces have access to power and there is wireless access throughout the building.

Impact and Engagement 2022/3

  • Thank you to our students for their feedback! All of the following scores were above benchmarks, sector averages and averages for mission groups and comparators:
    • Our 2023 National Student Survey results showed 92% student satisfaction with the Library for Q.19 in 2023 (up from 89% in 2022!).  
    • Our 2023 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey score showed 94% student satisfaction with online Library resources and services and 88% satisfaction with support for using IT and accessing resources.
    • Our 2023 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey score showed 93% satisfaction with access to physical Library resources and services, 94% satisfaction with access to online resources and services and 85% satisfaction with support for using IT and accessing resources.
  • Engagement with the Library’s Instagram account continued to rise, reaching over 1,500 followers by the end of the 2023/23 academic year.
  • Our Library guide 'Reading for pleasure' continues to grow with collaboration across the University. The guide includes 14 reading lists and 3 book clubs, alongside additional resources to support wellbeing and inclusivity.
  • Lists include LGBT+ (in collaboration our student LGBT+ group), Black History and Culture (with the SU and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), Disability Awareness, and Wellbeing (with Student Services), as well as international and popular fiction. This year we introduced a new Neurodiversity list.

Online Resources 2022/3

Image of a person infront of a giant tablet accessing electronic resources. Text reads Online Resources.

  • The Library homepage was viewed 517,087 times in 2022/23.
  • In line with our Digital First approach we continue to negotiate deals to increase the number and range of electronic resources available. In 2022/23 our users downloaded over 2.18 million e-book sections and over 3.4 million journal articles.
  • The Library's subscription to PressReader gives all University members access to more than 7000 of the world's top newspapers and magazines in 60 different languages.
  • 7985 interlibrary loan requests were processed for our users and to supply other libraries via our new, enhanced service.
  • The Library Scanning Service for Teaching Staff increases the accessibility of our print collection. At the start of the 2022/2023 academic year the Library was making 3648 scanned book chapters and journal articles available to students via Library Lists/Moodle courses.

Library Support 2022/3

  • In 2022/23 we resolved over 16,016 'Ask a Librarian' queries made via the online TOPdesk service.
  • The Library's LibChat service allows users to ask Library staff questions live online during standard working hours and fielded nearly 305 enquiries last year. That's an increase of over 100 from the previous year!
  • 7522 new Library cards were printed for our students in the arrival period..

Training 2022/3

  • Library staff from our Research, Academic and Operational Services teams delivered 473 hours of training in library and research skills, digital and information literacy to students and staff in 2022/3, in person and online.
  • We developed a wide range of online training sessions for students and staff via Teams and Zoom, e-learning courses in Moodle, and online guidance on our webpages.
  • We now offer over 72 device agnostic online Library guides.

Archives and Research Services 2022/3

 

  • The Library's Open Access team answered over 4,723 enquiries in 2022/23.
  • 980 E-theses were validated by the OA team this year with 6,627 now available to view.
  • In 2022/23 guidance produced by our Research Data Service on finding, working with and publishing research data was viewed over 54,344 times.
  • The Library's SafePod, which provides secure access to sensitive datasets, was booked 75 times in 2022/23. This is over double the number of bookings made in the previous year.
  • In 2022/23 our Research Analytics Service provided interactive, live online training workshops to 28 researchers and fielded over 200 enquiries..
  • Archives and Research Collections: read our Annual Review here!