College facilities

Learning Resources Centre (LRC)

Crammed full of specialist information on design, visual arts, crafts and the media, Plymouth College of Art’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is an enviable resource offering students over 20,000 specialist books and subscriptions to over 130 different magazines, journals and newspapers to support and inform their studies. On top of that the LRC has a comprehensive online web catalogue system which can be accessed from home or the College, as well as many online databases such as The Guardian and Grove Dictionary of Art. The LRC has also introduced a metafind search technique, which allows users to search all online databases simultaneously, making research simpler.

Other essential resources for students include an extensive collection of videos, CDs and DVDs. There are also facilities for viewing within the Learning Resources Centre. There are photocopying facilities (and staff on hand to advise on copyright matters) as well as computers with internet access and a range of software from word processing to desktop publishing, 3D modelling to film editing. Access to the Joint Academic Network (JANET) provides further research and communication opportunities.

The LRC’s careers section focuses on art and design, providing information about specific career paths, job opportunities and further study at the College or other institutions. With a dedicated careers workstation, various software packages and links to useful web pages, you’ll have everything you need to help you decide on your next steps.

The College belongs to a number of professional bodies, such as the British Film Institute, the Craftsmen’s Potters Association and the Art Libraries Association, enabling students and staff to benefit from professional literature and other information services from these bodies. The LRC can also access the stock of other libraries through a local and national interloan scheme. The Plymouth Central Library is also only a minute’s walk from the College.

Create Cafe

The Create café is open throughout the year and provides an informal meeting point for students and staff to relax, refresh, discuss and engage. It sells a range of hot and cold snacks, including vegetarian options and is also an exhibition area.

Creations Supplies

Specialist art and design materials and reprographic services along with state of the art scanning, inkjet and photography printing facilities are available from Creations Supply Centre, located within the Learning Resource Centre.