Notice: Undefined index: reset in /var/www/html/wp-content/mu-plugins/cets_blog_defaults.php on line 733
Deprecated: define() was called with an argument that is deprecated since version 3.0.0! The constant VHOSTis deprecated. Use the boolean constant SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL in wp-config.php to enable a subdomain configuration. Use is_subdomain_install() to check whether a subdomain configuration is enabled. in /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5497 reg206 - Library News - Page 3
TheSociety of College, National and UniversityLibraries or SCONUL exists to promote awareness of academic libraries and our role in supporting research and teaching. As part of this mandate they help foster collaboration and encourage reciprocal borrowing rights between member libraries.
Have you ever wished you could access – even perhaps borrow books from – other higher education libraries across the UK and Ireland? The SCONUL scheme may be the answer you need….
Calling all University Staff and Postgraduates!
Members of staff or postgraduate students at the University of Exeter are entitled to apply for free SCONUL access to the libraries of any other institutions who, like us, are also part of the scheme. This can get you through the door of institutions that are not open to public and in many cases SCONUL visitors are also allowed to enrol and borrow a limited number of books.
How do I join?
You need to apply online via the SCONUL access webpage
Select your user category (e.g. Part Time Postgraduate) from the drop down list, then select ‘University of Exeter’ as your home institution.
The site will then display which Universities you are eligible to access. Click on ‘see results as a list’ to scroll through the drop down list, or click on the map tab and enter a postcode to search for accessible institutions in a particular area.
When you have found the details of an institution you want to visit click on ‘Apply for Access’ then fill in and submit the online form.
You will then receive two emails: the first is a “Library Access Application Notification” email confirming that your application is being processed. The second email should approve your request and welcome you to the SCONUL scheme.
Print out the second email and take this, along with your Exeter UniCard to each institution you have been approved to visit and staff there will enroll you.
The small print: you must abide by the regulations of any library you join under SCONUL Access. Please be aware they may not allow you to borrow from all of their collections (e.g. loan of periodicals or short loan items may not be possible). Additionally during the busiest periods – such as summer exam time – some institutions may restrict access to SCONUL users so it is worth checking with in advance them before travelling.
What about Undergraduates?
If you are a part-time undergraduate or an officially registered distance learning student: then you will be entitled to borrowing access from many participating institutions, please follow the instructions above to submit your application and remember to select the appropriate category (e.g. part-time undergraduate) from the list.
If you are a full-time undergraduate: unfortunately you will not be able to borrow under the scheme but you are still entitled to apply for a Reference Only SCONUL card. This can give you visiting access to many Libraries which would not otherwise be open to you and so is still worth doing. Please apply for a reference card online, by using the same procedure outlined above but selecting “full time undergraduate” from the category list.
We hope many of you will want to take advantage of the SCONUL Access scheme and enjoy the wider research opportunities it presents.
And don’t forget, if you are a taught student planning to travel to visit another library you may be able to apply for a Library-funded travel bursary – more info here!
We hope you’ve had an enjoyable Christmas! Now New Year is looming and unfortunately so too are the January exams. Here in the Library we recognise that the run up to exams is time when Library study spaces are in particularly high demand. This is why during revision periods we increase the number of study seats available in the Forum Library by making the seminar rooms on Level 0 and level +1 part of the Library.
A View of Forum Level +1. The Forum Seminar Rooms will be dedicated for silent study from 2nd January. Enter them through the Library.
What this means for you:
More quiet study spaces in the Forum Library with capacity increasing to over 1000!
From noon on Thursday 2nd January access routes to the Forum Seminar rooms will change. You’ll need to enter and exit these rooms through the Forum Library using the doors by the computer clusters which will then be open. There will be no access to these rooms from the Forum end by the Alumni Auditorium.
The seminar rooms will remain a part of the Library until 12 noon on Sunday 12th January.
Don’t forget there are plenty of other revision spaces available for you during this busy period. Why not take a look at the full list here?
Study smart by respecting fellow revisers
During times of high pressure study it’s more important than ever that you respect fellow Library users and help reduce stress for those working around you by following Library behaviour guidelines. If you are in a silent space please respect the rules and if you need to talk move to a designated group work room or to one of our breakout spaces.
Also, if you are taking break of up to 60 minutes don’t forget to fill in one of our “Taking a Break” cards, available from holders around the Forum Library. If you will be gone longer than 1 hour please clear the desk to allow others to use the space. Library staff will be roving throughout our spaces and are here to help, so if you are being disturbed by noise, need help finding a seat, or if there’s anything else we can do to help just ask!
Located by Costa and by the Guild rooms, The Forum lockers offer a range of storage and loan options: borrow a locker key from the Library’s Express Collections area to use a locker either to store your bag while you are on campus, to safely store and charge your laptop or to borrow a netbook for use on campus – all for up to 24 hours at a time.
Issue your key in Express Collections first then access the locker
We’re pleased that our locker key service has proved so popular over the past 12 months, but whether you’re a locker key regular or a brand new user it’s worth taking a few minutes to remind yourself of how to use this facility and make sure you’re doing so correctly.
You can borrow Forum Locker Keys from our Express Collections area, please remember:
You may only borrow 1 key at a time
The Locker key must be correctly issued to your library record before using locker
The key is issued for 24 hours only and we expect the locker to be used on a daily basis only, and then the key returned
To use the Forum Netbook Locker Keys
Choose a green key, for a locker with a netbook inside
Issue the key to your library record using our self-service machine and get a receipt. The item will be due for return in 24 hours time, e.g if issued at 11.00 on a Tuesday it will need to be returned before 11.00 on Wednesday.
Find the correct locker number in the Forum and unlock, the netbook and charger will be inside
Use the netbook for working (on campus only: remember the device will not work if taken off site)
Return the netbook to the locker, plug charger into power supply and lock it inside
Return the key to Express Collections, using the self-service machine and get a receipt
To use the storage locker (all have power supply), decide if what size locker you need
Choose a red key, for a medium/large storage locker big enough to store a backpack (or rucksack)
Choose a purple key, for a small storage locker big enough to store a laptop and notebook
and then you need to:
Issue the key to your library record using our self-service machine and get a receipt The item will be due for return in 24 hours time, e.g if issued at 11.00 on a Tuesday it will need to be returned before 11.00 on Wednesday.
Find the correct locker number in the Forum
Use the locker, these all have power if you want to charge phone or other device
Empty the locker when finished and lock it
Return the key to Express Collections, using the self-service machine and get a receipt
Don’t forget netbooks are also available from St Luke’s Library, please ask at the desk there if you wish to borrow one.
If you have any questions or require further support in relation to borrowing locker keys please speak to Library staff. If you would like to make a suggestion or offer further feedback on the locker key facilities please do .
Many of you may be leaving Exeter for the Christmas vacation; if you are then we hope you have fantastic festive season and a relaxing break! But here in the Library we also understand that some deadlines loom large in January and so we’re here to support those of you who are planning to stay and study during the festive period.
Facilities in the Forum Library are available 24/7 via swipe access throughout the whole vacation
The good news is that the Forum Library is open 24/7 for swipe card access throughout the break providing a warm, safe and bright environment for any Exeter university students or staff requiring study space or access to our resources. However during this time there will be some changes to the availability of other study areas that you may be used to using so please take note of the following information and plan your study schedules accordingly:
Study space
Availability
Forum Library
24/7 Swipe access for registered university members available throughout the vacation. For access for external users and Library staff working hours see our website
St Luke’s Campus Library PC cluster and 24/7 room
24/7 swipe access for registered university members available throughout the vacation.
Our “Taking a Break” Scheme has been running in the Forum Library for several weeks now. Hopefully you’re all getting used to seeing cards like this around the Forum Library:
You can find these cards in yellow-backed holders all around the Library. They’re also available at the desk by the Library reception, so why not grab one as you enter so you’ll have it ready when you need a break?
What to do:
When taking a break of up to one hour: please always leave a card, fill in the time you left and be sure to return within 60 minutes. Don’t forget to take any valuable items with you or put them in a Forum Locker.
If you will be gone longer than an hour: please clear your desk so that others can use the space.
Background:
How did we develop the scheme?
Before we introduced the scheme , we did a lot of research about what other HE organisation were doing about the problems of people saving seats while they are away. In libraries of a similar size to ours, it can be almost impossible to successfully enforce any “no saving seats at all” rules. We needed to think around the problem in another way.
We met with the Student Guild and they were clear that we needed a student led scheme that increased awareness and allowed some flexibility. They also feel very strongly that the library should increase the number of study seats available over time. We were pleased to announce additional seats at the start of this academic year – and don’t forget that during the revision period the number of available seats in the Forum Library will increase again as the Seminar wings on Level 0 and Level +1 switch to become library spaces.
We also met with individual students who had complained about the problem of saving seats and together (with all this input) we came up with the “Take a Break” idea, as promoted.
Feedback so far:
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with Library staff and share your thoughts on this scheme. Your feedback is appreciated and we’ve been pleased by your support. Here’s a selection of youe comments so far, as well as responses to some of your questions and concerns.
“Great Idea”
“I think this ‘Take a Break’ Scheme is a fantastic idea!”
“Hopefully these new guidelines will be a good step”
Having worked with the university on the “Taking a Break” initiative, I am pleased to see it introduced! – (comment from Alex Louch (Guild VP Academic Affairs) – quoted in Exepose
Your concerns:
“Good idea, but only if everyone uses it“
Our response: Our front line team are working very hard to implement this new system and we think it may take at least a full academic year (or more) for the scheme to prove its worth. The Student Guild are also behind the scheme. It is a big change and needs sufficient time to become part of the culture.
“an hour is too long “
Our response: Both the Library and the Guild are keen to achieve the right sense of balance and to encourage healthy study habits. It is good practice to take breaks when working to get fresh air and to eat. Students need (at most) an hour to get lunch, especially if they have to buy food, queue or use the toilet. Also, students can leave for shorter periods; one hour is the maximum permitted time away. Library staff will do more work to promote this message.
“it isn’t fair for people to leave a desk at all; if students need a break then they should give other people the chance to use the desk.”
Our response: we appreciate this concern, especially at times of highest demand but there are a number of reasons why we feel it would be unhelpful not to allow breaks:
Our consultations revealed many reasons why students need to spend extended periods of time in the Library:
Some courses require students to spend a large proportion of their time in individual study (as opposed to in contact hours with academic staff). Many of you have told us that you prefer to spend this in the library as here you feel most motivated to get on with the work.
Some students live off campus (or travel in on public transport) and it would not be practical for them to come in for short periods. They may need to work for long periods, fewer days per week.
Many students explained that they need “library days” where they can work consistently on certain projects over extended periods.
All of these are reasons why we feel it’s important to support extended study periods in our spaces. But we’re keen to do so in a healthy way, which includes allowing our users to take short breaks.
We hope Library users will continue working with us to make this scheme a success.
If would like to share your thoughts on the “Taking a Break scheme” then please fill in one of the comments cards you’ll find around the Library or .
Enjoy the festive season but don’t forget to Think Recall over the break!
Christmas is coming! The decorations are up in the Forum, and we’ve even got lights in the Forum Library’s very own Seal Courtyard – looking lovely! But as the end of term approaches, as well as planning any festivities, it’s also time to start thinking about how you might want to manage your library borrowing over the coming vacation period.
What you need to know: The Forum Library is open 24/7 throughout the holiday (see our opening hours page for information on Library staff availability) and our loan rules continue as usual during this period.
What does this mean for you?
This means for the many students and staff who arrive or choose to stay in Exeter during holiday periods we are here and open to provide help, support, study space and the resources you need. If you are going away from Exeter you are welcome to take books with you (though we advise against taking Library resources abroad) but do keep in mind that you will be responsible for renewing any items you borrow regularly throughout the vacation. You can do this online by logging in to your Library record. Please remember also that books can still be recalled by other library users.
How do recalls work?
If a book on loan to you is requested by another Library user, you will get an email informing you of this and providing a new date by which to return it. So it is important you check your email regularly if you are borrowing stock during the holidays. Recalled books cannot be renewed and may be due earlier than the original due date. With normal loan books, you should get a week within which to return the item. This should be sufficient time to return the items by UK post if necessary and you are welcome to do this. Library books should not be taken overseas.
Our recall policy exists to ensure fair access to our stock for all library users, so don’t forget if the books you need are on loan you can recall them at any time of year. Learn more about how to place reservations here.
As always if you need help, or have any questions about managing your library record do please get in touch:
5 Top tips for smart borrowing during the festive period:
Return any books you don’t need before you leave Exeter. Please don’t leave Library resources locked up in your room or office over the break, it isn’t fair to take them out of circulation if you’re not using them either and they could get recalled by other borrowers.
If you do take our normal or short loan books away with you, be sure to renew them regularly. We advise against taking Express Collections items away from Exeter.
Think Recall! Any item you borrow can be recalled by another user so please check your email regularly and be prepared to return items by post if necessary.
Staff are here to help! If you have any problems or questions about recalls, renewals or anything else please get in touch as soon as possible. Library staff available to help every day throughout the vacation period with the exception of December 25th, December 26th and January 1st. On these days the Forum Library is available for study and self-service borrowing via swipe card access only.
Don’t forget, the Library is so much more than just printed books: we also provide access to over 100 research databases, more than 30,000 electronic journals and thousands of e-books. All our electronic resources are available off campus, so you may not need to take hard copies away with you!
Watch out for cards and holders like these all around the Library
We know that the Forum Library can get very busy during peak times of day, especially as deadlines approach. We’ve listened to your comments and have already added 160 new study spaces since the start of term. But you also told us that it causes problems when other Library users take up more than one space or “save seats” by leaving their belongings and then going away.
In response, we have worked closely with the Student Guild Representatives and individual students to come up with guidelines for using study seats in our Libraries and study centres.
Together, we ask that you follow these basic guidelines when working for extended periods.
1) Use one seat when working; leave enough room for someone else to sit and work
2) It is OK to take a break for about an hour (60 minutes) if you are working in the library for a long time; but always use one of our Taking a Break cards so others know you are coming back and return promptly within one hour.
3) Remember the Library is a public space! Always take valuables with you or lock them in a Forum Locker.
You’ll start seeing posters and Taking a Break Card holders all around the Forum Library from Sunday 24th November onwards. Please keep the scheme in mind and make our Library a better place to study for everyone by following the rules and using a card to indicate if you are taking a short break. It’s healthy to take a short break from study now and then and we do want support healthy study habits for all our users but if you plan to leave the Library for longer than 1 hour please be fair and clear the space for another student to use.
If you don’t leave a Taking a Break card, or do not return within one hour then your belongings may be moved to make space for other Library users.
Library staff are here to help, so always ask us if you’re looking for somewhere to study and we’ll help you find a seat.
The Taking a Break scheme has been developed in association with our users and with the Guild but we are keen for further feedback. If you have any questions or comments on taking a break while studying then let us know! You can , Tweet to us @Exeterunilib, comment on our Facebook page, or why not fill in one of the comments cards that can be found across all our Library sites and study centres.
We also offer more detailed information about what to expect in our library and study spaces on our web pages – so please do have a look and help make your Library a great place to be for everyone.
Many thanks to all who contributed to our “Donate your fines” appeal for Children in Need last week. We’re thrilled to have raised £428 for this worthy cause! Well done and thank you!
Friday 15th November is Children in Need Day. If you haven’t encountered this charity initiative before it’s a wonderful fundraising project, led by the BBC, that seeks to raise money for disadvantaged children right across the UK. For a glimpse of how money raised in the past has helped children and young people right here in the South West why not click here.
Here in the Library we’re keen to do our bit to support the appeal, so on Friday November 15th we’ll be giving you the chance to donate any Library fines you have outstanding on your record to the Children in Need appeal.
How it works:
Rather than paying your fines money to us we will be inviting you to donate the equivalent amount to the Children in Need Charity appeal. We will then clear the fine from your record. Donations must be cash only and made in person at any one of our Library desks (The Forum, Research Commons or St Luke’s). We regret that we cannot accept charity donations via credit card or using our online payment system. Library staff will also be collecting, so if you don’t have a fine to pay but would still like to donate you will be welcome to do so – please see Library staff.
We hope you’ll take this opportunity to give generously, support worthy causes, and clear any outstanding fines on your Library record!
Library Know-How: Renewing Items and Avoiding Fines
None of us like getting Library fines; but at the same time nobody likes missing out on the resources they need to for their next assignment. Our fines exist to ensure that everyone has fair access to the books they need, and that items are renewed regularly or returned promptly either if no longer required or if they’ve been requested by another user. Managing your borrowing responsibly is one of the ingredients of a successful degree. With self-service machines, email reminders and online renewals we try to make it as easy as possible for you to keep track of your borrowing and the good news is that with a little care you can get the most out of Library resources while avoiding fines altogether. The best way to do this is to understand our loan periods and renewals system, so here’s a handy guide to help you do just that.
Key tips for responsible borrowing:
1. Know the loan rules
Library resources will issue for different time periods:
Normal Loans: 28 days
Short Loans: 1 week
Express Collections (Books and Locker Keys): 24 hours and over the weekend
Express Collections (DVDs): Undergraduates – 24 hours and over the weekend; Postgraduates – 72 hours (3 days); Staff – 120 hours (5 days)
When you issue an item you should always get a receipt which will tell you the date and (if it’s an Express Collection s item) also the time it is due back.
Check your receipts for the due date and time of Express Collections items
You can also check your record online to see when items are due. To do this either click the ‘patron record’ button on the Library Catalogue or log-in to MyExeter and just click the ‘Library’ tab. Select ‘Your Library Record’ > ‘Items currently checked out’. This will show a list of what you have and when they are due. You can choose to sort by due date, to see which items need to be returned or renewed soonest.
You can renew items as many times as you need so long as they haven’t been requested by another user. If a book gets recalled the loan period will shorten automatically giving you one week to return it (unless there is already less than a week left until it is due, in which case you simply won’t be able to renew at the end of that period).
2. Check your university email regularly
We will send you an email if your book gets recalled informing you of its new due date so it’s important you check your University email regularly.
We also send out email reminders when your Normal and Short Loan books are due for renewal and again if they go overdue. Please note that due to the short nature of the loan period we can’t currently send advance reminders for Express Collections items. Lots of borrowers find it handy to set an alarm on their phone or computer to remind them to renew these items.
3. Renew Online
Your receipt, your online Library record and the email reminders we send should help ensure that you know when you’re reaching the end of your loan period. If you still need the items you can always renew them so long as nobody else has requested them. The best way to renew is online, via your Library Record. Log in to your Library Record, either through the Library Catalogue or via the Library tab on MyExeter.
You’ll see a list of the items you have on loan, together with the date they’re due for return.
To renew all of your items, click Renew All.
If you only want to renew some of them, tick the boxes by the items you want to renew and click Renew Selected.
You’ll be asked to confirm you wish to renew these items. Click Yes to complete the process.
If the renewal was successful, the Status column will clearly state ‘renewed’ and show the new due date. If any items cannot be renewed, a message will appear to warn you of this and the status column will show the reason why.
Need more guidance? Why not watch our video demonstration of online renewal?
Troubleshooting:
In most cases you should be able to renew your items yourself by logging in online. If you are unable to renew online it is likely to be for one of the following reasons:
You have normal or short loan items that are more than 7 days overdue, or Express Collections items that are more than 7 hours overdue. Remember our 7 day/7 hour rule. These items are now very overdue and we need to hear from you to make sure you still have the books and to address any problems before further renewal will be possible. If you have items that have hit this level of being overdue please contact us as soon as possible! Further renewal may will still be possible but we need to hear from you at this point so don’t delay.
You have outstanding fines of over £10. It is best practice to pay off any fines – however small – as soon as they accrue but if you have fines of over £10 your library record will be blocked until the debt is reduced. If need to renew but have fines of over £10 please pay off the fine first (see below for how to do this). Once the fine is paid you will then be able to log in and renew online as described above.
Your item has been recalled by another user. All Library resources are subject to recall and can be reserved by other users. If your item has been requested renewal will not be possible and you will need to return it by the date shown on your library record (which may be different from the original issue date shown on your receipt) . In these situations the item will clearly show as ‘not renewed’ when you go through the renewal process. Please contact Library staff if you have any questions or would like additional advice about any recalled items.
Don’t forget you can also renew by phone: 01392 723867, by email or in person at any of the Library desks. If you have any trouble with the online system please contact us as soon as possible.
4. If you do get fines…
The above tips should help you keep on top of Library borrowing and avoid items going overdue, but if you do get a fine, these are the things you need to know.
Because fines exist to ensure fair circulation, they are calculated according to demand:
Normal loan: 20p per day
Journals: 20p per day
Short loan: £1 per day
Express Collections: £1 for the first hour and 50p per hour thereafter
DVD £1 for the first hour and 50p per hour thereafter
All Overdue Recalled Items: £1 per day
If you do have an overdue item, the first thing to do is stop fines going up any further by returning it, renewing online (for items less than 7 days overdue, or 7 hours overdue in the case of Express Collections items) or contacting us to request a renewal (if your items have already exceeded the 7 day/ 7 hour rule). At the point it is returned or renewed the fine will add to your account. You can check your fines via your Library record, or on any of the self-issue machines on the Library.
Our issue machines will tell you if you have any fines
Fines and borrowing:
Library fines should always be paid off as soon as possible and remember that fines of over £10 will prevent you from borrowing or renewing further items. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to pay your fines online with a credit or debit card: simply visit the fines payment site and follow the onscreen instructions. Always click on the “Finish” button at the top or bottom of the payment summary once you are done (don’t just close the browser!) Please note minimum online payment of £1.
As well as paying online 24 hours a day you can also pay fines in the following ways:
By cash, cheque, credit or debit card at the Forum Library or St Luke’s Library during their desk opening hours.
By cash or cheque only at Research Commons during their desk opening hours.
As always, Library staff are here to help so if have any questions or concerns about loan periods, fines or anything else for that matter do get in touch!
