Learning Resource Centre Induction
Welcome to the Learning Resource Centre. The facility available to you is designed with the latest developments in mind for both learning spaces and technology. As a newly matriculated student, you will have access to over 600 thin-client terminals and state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities as well as highly trained, professional staff to help you make the most of them.
This web page provides important information about how you access a range of resources designed to help you get the most from the Learning Resource Centre. They provide 'getting started' information and we hope that you will find the sections useful as a general reference tool.
As part of the matriculation process you will be given a user name and password. Once you have completed matriculation, this account - your QMU network user name and password - will be set up to give you access to the student desktop and to resources such as email and WebCT etc.
The creation of your network account can take up to 24 hours to complete after you have matriculated. Click here for help with the online matriculation process.
You will be prompted to change your password every 60 days - the on-screen instructions are simple to follow. You can also change your password at any time by pressing the 'Ctrl', 'Alt' and 'Del' keys together or by clicking on the Windows 'Start' button, then 'Windows Security' and select the 'Change Password' option. To keep your account secure:
Your password cannot be the same as your user name
Your password cannot contain your full name or part of your name
Your password can only be changed once in 24 hours
- Your password must be at least 7 characters long
- Your password must contain 3 of these types of characters:
- Uppercase letters (i.e. A, B, C etc.)
- Lowercase letters (i.e. a, b, c etc.)
- Numbers (i.e. 1, 2, 3 etc.)
- Non-alphabetic characters (i.e. $, !, £, % etc.)
An example of a suitable password might be: Sp@in2010 - but please don't use this as your password! You are responsible for all the actions and activities carried out with your user name.
If you need help with setting your password please contact the LRC Service Desk at lrchelp@qmu.ac.uk or telephone 0131 474 0000 and ask for the Learning Resource Centre when prompted.
Your email address is based on your matriculation number so if your matriculation number is 10001234 then your email address will be 10001234@qmu.ac.uk.
yourmatriculationnumber@qmu.ac.uk
QMU uses Microsoft Outlook for email. You can access this by clicking on the Windows 'Start' button and then selecting Email Microsoft Office Outlook from the menu when you are on campus or logged on to Remote Access (more about that later).
Academic staff and services like the LRC, will communicate with you via your QMU email address throughout your studies. Even if you have your own email account elsewhere you must check your QMU email and maintain the account by deleting read or unnecessary emails. Storage capacity is 50 MB for Undergraduates and 100 MB for Postgraduates.
Your network user name and password - sometimes called your student account - enables you to access essential resources like email and word processing etc. Once you are logged on to the student desktop, after clicking on the Windows 'Start' button you will see the 'All Programs' menu. This will show you all the programs you have access to on-campus.
Your network account also provides access to network space for secure storage of important files - usually referred to as 'your z: drive'. You can store up to 130 MB of files in your own space.
Many courses at QMU use a virtual learning environment called WebCT to support or deliver your modules. You will be given more information about WebCT by your lecturers. Drop in sessions are available during weeks 1 and 2 of Semester 1 to help you get started with WebCT.
You can use your own laptop anywhere in the LRC. Power sockets are available in some areas of the LRC for you to plug in your laptop. To access the internet from your own laptop you must use QMU's wireless network - you will need to have a wireless network adapter or card in your laptop. The guide 'Students - using your own computer on campus' is available from the QMU Technology Training area
You can use QMU's online resources when you are away from the University. Remote Access enables you to work and use all the University resources as if you were on-campus including MS Office, email, WebCT and the files on your z: drive etc. It is aimed at users who have a permanent broadband connection and is easy to set up on your home PC, Mac or laptop. For more information, options and instructions click here.
 It is possible to access QMU's web-based resources from the QMU web site. On the top right hand corner of every page on the QMU web site, you will find a Quick Links menu. Click on the 'Quick links to...' drop down menu, select the resource you need and click on the 'Go' button. The following resources are accessbile off-campus via the QMU web page: QM:u - the student portal, WebCT - QMU's virtual learning environment, ePortfolio, Timetables and Webmail - access to your QMU email using a web interface as well as a link to more information on Remote Access.
If you use Remote Access you can access all of the Library Services online resources as if you were on-campus. If you don't use Remote Access you can still access our web-based resources from our website but you may be prompted to logon to each resource using your QMU network user name and password.
Your lecturers will direct you to relevant books and book chapters, journals and journal articles which may be made available to you directly via WebCT but you will need to use the LRC and the Library Services web pages to find everything that you need.
The Library Services web site are your gateway to the resources as well as providing information about the services available.
The library catalogue is a searchable database of everything that is held in the LRC. It includes information about the books, eBooks, DVDs, print journals etc that are available from the LRC as well as online documents. The library catalogue is available from the top toolbar of the Library Services web site.
The LRC has 'self-issue' machines installed for you to issue books to your card yourself. Undergraduate students can borrow up to 20 items that can be a mixture of 7-day loans and/or 21-day loans. Postgraduate students can borrow up to 25 items that can be a mixture of 7-day loans and/or 21-day loans.
Online books (electronic books or eBooks) can be access via the library catalogue, the eBooks web page or by clicking on the eBooks link on the top toolbar on the Library Services web site.
All of the online journals (eJournals) available to you as a QMU student can be accessed via the eJournals database or click on the eJournals link on the top toolbar on the Library Services web site. For off-campus access to eJournals you should use Remote Access - see the Studying at home or away from the University section for more information.
The LRC provides access to databases - resources you can use to find quality-assured information including journal articles. The databases can be searched by keyword or subject and are sophisticated research tools. Typically these resources are just finding tools for relevant references to articles etc but increasingly they are providing you with direct access to the full-text of the online resources referred to. Our databases can be accessed in a number of ways - by clicking on databases on the top toolbar of the Library Services web site for an alphabetic listing of all the databases or by clicking on subject resources to see the resources that are relevant to your subject area.
The LRC also runs workshops throughout the year to help you search for, and find, the information and resources you need for your studies. You can access the timetable via the direct link above or by clicking on workshops on the top toolbar on the Library Services web site.
As part of your network account, you have your own personal home directory or file space. This appears as the 'z: drive' in 'My Computer'. Any files stored on your z: drive will be backed up daily by Information Services.
You should store less important files and documents - as well as your own back-up of files - on a USB memory stick or portable storage device. USB memory sticks are available for purchase at the LRC Service Desk.
QMU uses MFDs (multi-functional devices) for printing, photocopying and scanning. There are MFDs available for use on all levels of the academic building and in the LRC. When you send a document to print it is stored on the network - until you 'release' it at an MFD - for up to 48 hours. You must log on to the MFD by scanning your Smartcard or by typing in your network user name and password before you can print, photocopy or scan.
Scanning is free but you will need to pay for printing and photocopying. New students are given some free print credit which can be used for printing and photocopying. When this runs out, you will need to top up your own credit for printing and photocopying.
Your matriculation card is your Smartcard. Use it to access the LRC and to borrow books as well as paying for printing, photocopying, USB memory sticks and your lunch.
There are two separate parts to your Smartcard - the bit you use to top-up your credit for printing and another bit that you can top up to pay for things in the LRC, University shop, Food for Thought and the Student Union. Please note: the LRC does not accept any cash and all transactions must be made using your Smartcard.
 You can add credit to your Print account or Smartcard account on campus in two ways - using cash and using credit or debit cards. To top up using cash, you can use of of the Add-Value Machines (AVMs) available in the LRC, at University reception and in Food for Thought. You can also top up your online using the QMU Cashless application.
Take care to top up the correct account. For instance, if you add money to your Print account, you won't be able to pay off your library fines! Please ask if you are not sure to avoid any mishaps.
You can use the student portal - QM:u - to view and ammend your personal and contact details. Please keep your mobile phone number up-to-date on QM:u so that we can text you with important information.
QM:u also includes several links to various core facilities of interest to students. You can also use it to access exam results.
Online help and information are available at the following pages:
We hope you find this website and your induction useful. Please let us know how we are doing by filling in our feedback form.
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