Welcome to Portobello College Library

The following is a brief introduction to Library Services, Rules and Charges.  Library staff are always happy to help with your queries.

The Library is open from 

9.00am – 9.00pm   Monday – Thursday
9.00am – 5.00pm   Friday
9.00am – 5.00pm   Saturday

Students may borrow 5 books at any one time for a loan period of 3, 7 or 14 days.  The relevant loan period is clearly marked on each text and it is the responsibility of each student to ensure that borrowed material is returned on time.  Reference material may not be removed from the Library.

Students must produce their College I.D. to borrow Library material.

Fines are levied at 60 cents per item per day, rising to a maximum of €30 fine on each item.  Please note that students who have outstanding library materials or unpaid fines will have their borrowing rights suspended and will not be permitted to graduate.
Talking, eating, drinking and smoking are strictly forbidden in the Library.

The following items can be purchased in the Library:

• CD-R’s  - €1, CD-RW’s -  €1.50
• Laser Printer Cards (30 units) - €3.10
• Photocopy Cards (40 units) - €2.50
• Refill Pads - €1.30

2. Arrangement
Books are arranged and labeled in a single sequence (from Computers at 003 – marketing Communications at 659) according to the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme.  A map of the Library layout is available at the Main Counter.

3. Library Catalogue – How to Locate a Book
Students are encouraged to use the On-line Library Catalogue (available on each of the 4 PCs in the Library) to search for library materials.  Instructions are displayed on the screen during each stage of the search.  A student’s own search will generally yield more specific material than one carried out on his/her behalf by Library staff.  Instructions are displayed on the screen during each stage of the search. Lateral thinking is to be recommended when choosing search terms.

4. Journals
There are over 100 Business Journal and 50 Law Journal titles in the Library Collection.  Current issues are on display, while unbound back issues are in storage and may be obtained upon request.  Journals may never be removed from the Library.  A list of all journal holdings is available from Library staff.

5. Newspapers

The following newspapers are held in the Library:

• The Irish Times
• The Times
• The Financial Times
• The Sunday Business Post
• The People’s Daily (Chinese)

6. Current Awareness Files

Library staff compile and maintain Current Awareness Files in all areas of study in the College.  Key articles are taken from the Irish Times, the Times, the Financial Times and the Sunday Business Post and kept as reference material for student research.  Files are located in the Business Reading Room.

7. Vision.net Database
The Library subscribes to the Irish Vision.net database, the official database of Irish Companies, produced by CFI Online Ltd.  This provides all of the information the companies have registered with the Companies Office.

8.  Lexis-Nexis Professional Service
This extensive online service covers all areas of study in the College.  It provides full-text legislative and case materials, company information, industry overviews, journal articles,   comprehensive news service, and much more.

9. Westlaw UK
This is a wide ranging resource which is comparable only to Lexis-Nexis.  It provides full-text of UK Legislation and Cases, Legal Journals Index, EU Legislation and Cases, Current Awareness Service, as well as links important legal authorities including Palmer’s Company Law and the White Book.

10. Westlaw IE
Still in its infancy, Westlaw IE already provides full-text IRLM, Employment Law Reports, Irish Current Law Monthly Digest, Irish Current Law Statutes Annotated, ILT along with some Unreported Judgments.

11. First Law
This is an excellent Irish current awareness law service. Web-based and updated twice weekly, First Law provides full text access to unreported judgments, cases, commentary, SIs, etc.

12. Inter-Library Loans
The Library subscribes to both the Trinity College Information Service and to the British Library Lending Division’s Service which enables students to borrow any material that is held in these libraries.  Books and articles obtained from these institutions are charges at €3.15 and €5.70 respectively per satisfied request.  There is no charge for searches of the Trinity Library online catalogue. (www.tcd.ie)

13. Visits to Other Libraries
The Library maintains good working relationships with several key Colleges and Institutions and visits may be arranged upon request.  Please note that UCD, DCU and TCD have a non-admittance policy for students of all Private Colleges.

The Library Website provides general information along with guides to carrying out legal and business research and to using the Library’s databases.

Email: thelibrary@portobello.ie