Two exciting changes will happen in the Online Library soon. From the 12th August, you will log into the Online Library using your full username rather than just the first part of it. And from the 13th August, you will start using our new search engine.
Logging in
From 12th August, the username and password you use to log into the Online Library will be the same as for the Student Portal and Enquiry Hub.
When you click on a search result or database login link, you will be taken to our usual ‘Choose how to sign in’ page. Select ‘University of London Online Library (Distance Learning)’ as normal. You will then be taken to the new login page for the Library, which will look the same as the login page for the Student Portal and Enquiry Hub.
To login, enter your full username, e.g. ab123@london.ac.uk, and your password. You will then be taken to the book, article or database. If you’re already logged into the Student Portal or Enquiry Hub, you’ll be taken straight through without needing to enter your credentials again.
If you have any problems logging in, please contact the Enquiry Hub. If you are a staff member with an Athens account, you can log in by selecting OpenAthens as normal.
Search engine
On the 13th August, Summon will be replaced with our new and improved search engine, now known as Library Search. Although it looks a bit different to Summon, it works the same way, so you will be able to enter keywords or book/article details into the search box on the Library home page and then link across to the full text of items from the search results. You will also continue to be able to export your search results into RefWorks and other referencing tools.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, click ‘Need help?’ at the top of the page. This will open a page with lots of tips on how to find what you need. You can also get in touch with the Online Library team if you need help.
Some small problems may crop up this week. Please bear with us, we will work to fix any issues as quickly as possible so that you can enjoy a smoother experience in the Online Library thanks to these improvements. You will still be able to search our previous search engine (Summon) but please note that it will not be updated with recently acquired items or bug fixes. Summon will stop working in November 2025.