Category Archives: Using the Library

Law Library Move

lawThe Lasok Law Library is moving to the new Forum Library during 29th May – 6th June 2012.  This move has been timed to coincide with the end of the Law examination period which means that law collections will remain available to law students in Amory for the duration of their exams.

The Law Library will remain open throughout the moves and can continue to be used as study space.  However, owing to the disruption of the collection moves, it is recommended that students or staff who require quiet or silent study or research space, use an alternative study space location, during this period.

Law materials will be unavailable for a short transit period only as it moves between libraries. Law staff and students will be able to borrow additional loan items and reference copies during the transfer period, if they need to secure continued access to a particular item during the move period.  Staff and students should speak with Law library staff in Amory in order to make these arrangements.

This represents a major change for users of the Law Library so if you have any questions about the move, please get in touch with , the Law Librarian, for more information or to arrange a tour of the new Lasok Law library.

A new website is being created to support law staff and students which will bring together information about the new physical Law Library arrangements, as well as the breadth of legal material that is available to users online.  A range of tours and training opportunities will also be scheduled for existing and new staff and studentsfor the new academic session.

 The vacated Law Library space in the Amory Building is being refurbished over the summer as part of a £1 million investment in the Amory Building which will include a new study centre on the ground floor, refurbished seminar rooms, an upgrade to the Parker Moot Room and new premises for the Law School.

Finalists of 2012

This is to remind you that if you have any library books on loan to you these must be returned by 1st  June 2012 and any outstanding library fines must be settled. If any books on your record have been misplaced you will need to pay the current book replacement charge to the library.

Payment can be made in a number of ways:row of books

  • Online https://library.exeter.ac.uk/finespayment/
  • in cash at any of the library desks
  • by  cheque made payable to ‘University of Exeter’ with your UniCard ID number written clearly on the back
  • with a credit/debit card either in person at the Forum Library or by calling 01392 723867.

If you have a query, please contact us at or on 01392 723867

Exam Anxiety Management Techniques

Different techniques work for different people, so experiment to find the approach that is right for you.  Learning to manage panicky feelings takes practice. Give yourself enough time to master these techniques before you actually sit your exams.

  • Thought-stopping techniques

When we become anxious we rapidly generate negative thoughts (“I can’t answer anything”, “I’m going to totally fail”, etc). If this happens, halt the spiralling thoughts by mentally shouting, “STOP!” Picture a road STOP sign, or traffic lights on red. Once you have literally stopped your thoughts, you can proceed more rationally or practice a brief relaxation technique.

  • Use a calming phrase

Derived from meditation, a mantra is a word or phrase which you can repeat to yourself. Saying something like “calm down”, “take it nice and slow” under your breath or in your head, several times, can help defuse anxiety.

  • Find a brief external focus

Look out the window, notice the number of people in the room wearing blue clothing, count up the number of desks in the two front rows…. this will help to briefly distract your attention from anxious thoughts and ground you again. Engage in one of these focusing exercises for a few moments, then return to the task at hand.

  • Bridging objects

It can help to carry or wear something with a positive connection to another person or place.  Touching this ‘bridging object’ can be comforting in its own right. Allow yourself a few minutes to think about the person or situation which makes you feel more secure.  This can have a calming effect, and help you return to the challenge at hand.

  • Positive self talk

During exam anxiety or panic, we often bombard ourselves with negative messages, e.g. “I can’t do this” or “I’m useless”. Try to consciously replace these with more positive and encouraging thoughts: “I’m getting there”; “This isn’t actually so bad,” “It’s going okay so far.”

Adapted from Oxford Brookes University, Managing Exam Anxiety and Panic- A Guide for Students, A. Hinton and M. Casey

Removal of security gates in Main Library

Work on the security gates in the Main Library basement will take place from 9am on Monday 23rd April and will be completed by Monday lunchtime.

This means that Library customers will need to use the exit to both enter and exit the building.

Anyone who needs to use the accessibility ramp should continue to do so. Please alert Library staff at the time and they will assist customers with access to the lift and the Library.

Bag checks will also begin at this time and continue until the new entrance from the Forum opens at 3pm on Wednesday 2nd May.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Law Library work

In preparation for the building work in the Law Library, it will be necessary for the contractors to run tests on the Library ceiling.

These will take place from Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th April between 7 – 9am.

Disruption will be kept to a minimum and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Main Library is open 24/7 and offers an alternative study space during this work.

Keep your receipt!

In preparation for the opening of the new entrance to the Main Library from the Forum, the existing security gates are moving on Monday 23rd April from approx 9am.

This means that we are temporarily checking all bags as customers leave the library

To avoid delays when leaving:

  • Please have your books ready to show library staff
  • You will also need to have you receipt ready to show library staff

4. So, please remember to:

  • Keep you receipt
  • Show  your receipt to library staff when you leave the library

The new entrance will open at 3pm on Wednesday 2nd May with the security gates in place.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this period.

Exams

Need a place to study?

Pick up an alternative study map for full details of all study spaces at the Library or look online

Need to look at some old exam papers?

There is an archive of older exam papers which you can access online.  Just go to the Past Exam Paper Archive and then search for what you need. Any questions please do ask us.

Need some practical information?

Find out about any administration issues for exams such as specific provisions, regulations or deferments under the Examination pages of Academic Services.

Need some revision advice?

There is a great resource on ELE which has been developed by Education Enhancement called ‘Managing Revision and Coping with Exams’ which is well worth a visit.   It can help you develop a strategy for approaching your exams.

Need to rest?

If you are going to be studying in the Library overnight why not ask at the desk for a blanket which we can provide for you.

Remember some tips are :

  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Eat properly
  • Take some exercise
  • Take regular breaks
  • Check your timetable
  • Check the syllabus
  • Make a revision timetable

Need someone to talk to?

The Students Guild is there to provide information and support for any issue that you may have so go along and see them, they are there to help.  The Advice Unit has its website here where you can find contact information and opening hours.

Don’t forget there is also the Counselling Service which is there to give confidential help and advice.  Find out more about their services here.

History, English and Geography Reading Lists top the charts!

The Library’s Reading List team work closely with Colleges, with the aim of providing simple access to the resources student need via their ELE modules.
The digitised lists are produced using smart reading list software called Talis Aspire and provide quick web links to:

  • E-books
  • Digitised chapters and articles (where legal)
  • Catalogue references to printed resources

We are just emerging from our pilot phase, and have the aim of digitising all reading lists within ELE so that every students has the opportunity to access their key resources in this way.

Our reading list supplier, Talis Aspire,  has recently implemented statistical monitoring on our Reading List software and we are delighted that these highlight University of Exeter lists as achieving the  highest hit rate worldwide relative to the size of our reading list collection – no mean feat!

Humanities and Life Sciences lists form the top five lists for Exeter, all have been used over a 1000 times since January this year and HIH1410 – Understanding the Medieval & Early Modern Worlds  takes top place with a hugely impressive 3,123 visits since January.

From 1/01/12 – 20/03/12, the top 5 chart is:

HIH1410 – Understanding the Medieval & Early Modern Worlds – History – 3,123 visits
HIH3502 – Popular Rebellion in England 1381-1549 – History – 2,009 visits
EAS2083 – The Shock of the New – English – 1,525 visits
GEO3126 – The Geography of Monsters: Science, Society and Environmental Risk – Geography – 1,524 visits
HIH3595 – Sexuality in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Britain – History – 1,484 visits

If you are a module leader and would like the library to digitise your lists, please get in touch with your subject librarian for more information.

As you will appreciate, there are peaks in demand for this service around the start of each term, so get your list in early to guarantee your list will be ready for the new term.

Welcome to the Library News Blog

Welcome one and all to our Library News Blog.  We have decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging to keep our users informed of current and upcoming events, changes and information about the Library here at the University of Exeter.

Why Now?

Because we feel the library space and its services are changing fast at the moment with the upcoming launch of the Forum.  Whilst we can communicate via Twitter, digital screens and when you come and talk to us we feel sometimes you may need more information than 140 characters and here we can leave this information for you to search when you need to.

We actually do want to hear from you

Honestly we welcome comments and feedback either via this blog, our Twitter account, our Comments Cards or face to face.  Good and bad its great to know – and you could help to contribute to our continual growth and improvement.