Library and Knowledge Engagement
Libraries and Knowledge Engagement at the University of Essex is situated within the larger Infrastructure and Digital Services directorate. We have two libraries, located in Colchester (where main services are based) and Loughton. We're also comprised of ESCALA, the University Art Collections, and the Essex Student Journal, all of which are based at Colchester.
Our users, both staff and students, are at the heart of everything we do and we work in partnership to develop and deliver world-class library services for the University of Essex community.
Our library teams provide access to high-quality educational and research resources, a wide range of learning environments, and specialist information and subject-specific support. With award-winning customer service, an array of ways to contact us including in person, over the phone and by email, one-to-one specialist guidance, and access to a vast collection of physical and online resources, the library is here to provide the support and resources you need to succeed.
Customer Experience and Student Engagement
Our Customer Experience and Student Engagement team provide first line support at Colchester and Loughton campus libraries, online and in person, for all Library, IT and University Reception enquiries. We are the friendly team you encounter when you contact us at our Helpdesks, by email, chat or phone and are leaders in customer service delivery. We set ourselves challenging standards and your experience and satisfaction with our services is of paramount importance to us. You will often see us seeking your feedback and acting upon it, to consistently improve and evolve our service offering.
Our team also manage our library spaces, so can advise on the best place for you to work or study, can assist with borrowing a laptop, or offer help in finding resources on the shelf or online and so much more.
We welcome you into our libraries and invite you to engage with our activities, events, services and spaces, to make the most of your experience with us.
Library Collections and Knowledge Discovery
The Library Collections and Knowledge Discovery team enables access to the information resources, collections and services that underpin teaching, learning and research across the University.
We manage the acquisition, delivery and discovery of library resources, oversee the systems and technologies that support access, and ensure that required learning materials are available through the reading list platform.
We provide accessible format support to meet a wide range of user needs and facilitate access to materials beyond our local collections through our interlibrary loan service.
Cultural Collections
Our Cultural Collections team cares for the Essex Collection of Art from Latin America, the University Art Collection, and the Library’s Special Collections. We help students, researchers, staff, and members of the public explore and use these collections. It supports teaching and research, exhibitions, events, and other opportunities to engage with the collections.
- The Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA) brings together modern and contemporary art from across Latin America, with a particular focus on work created since the 1960s.
- The University Art Collection includes modern and contemporary British art, as well as works acquired throughout the University’s history.
- Special Collections includes rare books, archives, manuscripts, and other distinctive material relating to the University and the history and culture of Essex.
Open Research and Publishing
Our Open Research and Publishing team provides expert guidance and support to enable researchers to publish their work and maximise both visibility and reach.
A wide range of information and advice on the following topics is available via our Support for Researchers guide:
- Open research
- Publishing support
- Open access publishing
- Copyright
- Research visibility, citations, and responsible metrics
- Online research profiles
