Author Archives: cagale

More study spaces added today!

Good news – we’ve added an extra 30 study spaces to the Forum Library. The desks are temporary and will be upgraded (new furniture is being ordered). Most are on Level -1, but there are a few on the other floors as well.

As well as these, there are some other higher height tables on the floors that could be used as standing desks for those of you who prefer it.

Images of Research Competition 2015

Once again, the Library is working with the Researcher Development Team to run the Images of Research Competition.

Open to all Early Career Research Staff only (grades E & F), ‘Images of Research’ aims to engage the public in our academic research, showing the breadth and creativity of what is taking place at Exeter. It also provides you with an excellent opportunity to communicate your research to no specialists and fully grasp the public engagement agenda.

You will also have the chance to win a ‘master class’ with the University Design Team. Runners up will receive prizes worth over £200 in value. All winning entries will be displayed for the public on the Streatham campus during ‘Universities Week’ 5-10th June and at the Penryn Campus 15-19th June. Finally, winning entries will be placed on permanent display in the Research Commons on the StreathImages Research logoam campus.

There are four categories for entry:

  • Collaboration
  • Sustainable Futures
  • Society and Culture
  • Technology

The deadline for submission is Friday 1st May, 2015.

If you have an innovative image and would like to enter please contact Dr Chris Wood (Research Staff Development Manager) at for more details.

How do I enter?

  1. All entrants must follow the entry criteria which are detailed in the Images of Research Check List 2015
  2. Entrants are then to be sent to:

#Libraryislistening

Each year we scrutinise the feedback from the NSS survey and use that information to direct our annual Library Resourcing Campaign. We want to make sure that we are providing even more of the resources that you need. During 2013/14 we are directing £298k to boost access to core materials: this is in addition to the millions spent on library resources across the Colleges.

Packages provided include SAGE Research Methods Online, Literature Online and Ethnography Video Online. This funding has also provided access to over 9000 e-books this year.

We are committed to student-led spending, so do talk to your Library Champions to request books, as well as using the general IWOOT request scheme. For up to date information on new resources and current highlights, see:

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/news/enhancingcorelibrarycollections/

Who’s your Library Champion?

Look out for your Library Champion’s poster

 

We’re now in our 3rd year of the Library Champions scheme and we have recruited a total of 46 Champions across all our campuses. Each Champion represents the taught students within their subject area and will feedback your views on the Library services to us. They also have a budget to buy books, so if there is anything you need for your courses, you can contact them to order it. Look out for the posters in your departments – these should have contact details on for your own Champion. If you have any questions about the scheme or want to know more, please see:

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/news/librarychampions/

Last year our Champions bought a total of 1023 items for library stock, selected by you: these included multiple extra copies of in-demand books, e-books of heavily used materials, DVDs to support film courses and brand new titles to support your courses. Do get in touch with them and help them spend up this year!

Travel Bursaries Scheme 2013/14

The British Library: just one of the many locations our students visited last year through the travel bursary scheme

Following a successful pilot year, the Library is very pleased to announce that we will be running the Travel Bursaries Scheme again for all students on taught programmes. Successful students will receive up to £200 to enable them to travel to other libraries and archives around the UK and abroad: all visits need to be in support of final year projects/dissertations. Here are some quotes from some of last year’s successful applicants:

“I definitely would not have been able to start my dissertation without this trip”

“The visit has been of great value to me as the research gathered from these visits will make up an invaluable part of my dissertation.”

“I now feel confident in continuing with my research and am very grateful for the library travel scheme for allowing me this opportunity.”

Applications are now invited from all eligible students for the first round of funding this year: the first deadline is Friday 29th November.

For further details, including what the bursary covers and how to apply, please see our Travel Bursaries webpage.

More Library Travel Bursaries Awarded

The second deadline for Travel Bursary applications fell at the start of March: this time 18 students were successful in their applications, receiving funding to visit other libraries and archives around the UK and abroad. All visits are in support of final year projects/dissertations and some of the successful students from the last round of funding have told us what it means to them:

“I definitely would not have been able to start my dissertation without this trip”

“The visit has been of great value to me as the research gathered from these visits will make up an invaluable part of my dissertation.”

“I now feel confident in continuing with my research and am very grateful for the library travel scheme for allowing me this opportunity.”

Applications are now invited from all eligible students for the final round of funding this year: the last deadline is Friday 7th June.

For further details, including what the bursary covers and how to apply, please see our Travel Bursaries webpage.

Deskside Training Service

Did you know that if you are a member of staff, or a research postgraduate, the library offers one-to-one training at your desk?

Our team of Subject Librarians can offer advice on finding resources in your subject area and managing your references, as well as offering assistance for the resources aspect of research bids or proposals. In addition, we also advise on Open Access issues: how you can use our institutional repository ORE to raise the profile of your research and to comply with research funders’ Open Access publication requirements.

To book an appointment, please send a message to libraryhelp@exeter.ac.uk, stating which College/discipline you belong to, brief details of what you’d like to ask about, and a convenient date/time. We’ll get back to you and arrange to pop over to your desk/office.

For undergraduates or taught postgraduates, we offer group training sessions as well as individual appointments in the libraries: please see the Subject Guides pages for further help and contact details of your Subject Librarian.

Library catalogue/online resources access feedback needed!

We need your help and opinions!

Falmouth University and the University of Exeter are looking at a joint replacement of their respective library systems within the next couple of years. Library systems manage the catalogue & lending as well as access to online resources. We are seeking student advice and comment ahead of, and during the procurement process. As a starter, it would be helpful to know (by end of March 2013):

1. What do you use the library catalogue for?

2. Where else do you obtain information for your academic studies such as e-journal articles?

3. What problems do you encounter finding and accessing academic information – are there additional features and tools which would encourage you to make better use of the library catalogue and search systems?

Please let us know what you think and do encourage your friends to respond too. You can reply to this post, or email your responses direct to Martin Myhill (m.r.myhill@ex.ac.uk)

There will be a focus group running on Tuesday 7th March in the Research Commons Seminar Room A/B (10-12pm) for anyone wishing to discuss or explore this in person. Refreshments will be available – email Martin if you want to come so we can make sure there’s enough!

Library funds students to travel

The Library is delighted to announce that after a successful first round of Travel Bursary applications, we have offered funding to 19 students to enable them to visit other libraries and archives. All visits are in support of final year projects/dissertations: students were asked to apply, giving details of why the visit would benefit their studies and showing the support of a member of academic staff. The successful students are from all our campuses (Exeter and Cornwall) and are studying a range of subject areas, including History, English, Law, Politics, Geography and Sport & Health Sciences.

Applications are now invited from all eligible students for the current round of funding: the next deadline is Friday 1st March.

For further details, including what the bursary covers and how to apply, please see our Travel Bursaries webpage.

New Year, New Champions!

Over the last few weeks, the Library staff have been busily attending training for academic reps and recruiting this year’s cohort of Library Champions. There are 23 Champion positions in Exeter and 7 in Cornwall, representing the taught programmes in all subject areas. In reality, even more people are involved as many positions are held on a job share basis.

Champions are asked to collate feedback on Library services, act as a focus group on specific issues and report back via the staff/student liaison committee in their department. As part of the Library’s ongoing resourcing campaign, Library Champions have each been allocated a budget to spend on library books for taught courses. This allows them to quickly respond to students’ requests for extra copies, or for any other texts that the students need.

Library Champions are now meeting with their Subject Librarians and will soon be promoting what they can offer amongst other students in Colleges. Look out for the Champions posters with your own Champion’s contact details and send them your feedback and book requests.

Look out for these posters in departments