Author Archives: Katie Winter

Black History Month 2019 – Diversifying our collections

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In celebration of October’s Black History Month, the Library is once again inviting University of Reading staff to suggest books, DVDs or CDs to help Library collections support a more diverse curriculum.

Suggest more diverse resources

What resources can you suggest in your specialism to represent ethnic groups, cultural diversity or geographical areas in our collections? Complete our Diversify our collections suggestion form to help us spend a special fund, over and above resources supporting existing reading lists.

Ideally we would like you to name specific titles, but we still want to hear from you if you feel we just need more materials in a certain area. For example:

  • [name] is underrepresented in your collection, can you buy more of their novels/poetry?
  • there aren’t any books on the history/political situation in [country]
  • can you purchase some more books on ethnic representation in higher education?

Library staff will then review submitted suggestions and organise the purchase of materials.

If you would like to suggest other items for the Library, please complete our regular book suggestion form.

Last session’s suggestions

Examples of material purchased from this fund last session include:

You can see all the Diversity fund titles purchased last session on our dedicated 2018/19 Library Diversity fund reading list.

Kerry Webb, Associate Director (Academic Liaison and Support)

Support from your Library beyond Welcome Week

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Hands hold our map infront of library entrance gates

Take a tiny self-guided tour to find out where everything is on the Library’s newly refurbished Ground and 1st Floors.

Welcome Week may now be over but there is still plenty of support available, online and in person, to help you make the most of the Library.

Library tours

Library tours continue to run throughout week 1 at 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00 each day. You can book onto a tour on RISIS, or just turn up five minutes before the start time.

If you don’t have time for an escorted tour, you can also pick up a self-guided tour in the Library. This will allow you to look around the Library at your own pace, guiding you through all the information you’ll need to make full use of the services and facilities.

You can also take a look at our YouTube channel for quick videos on how to use the Library such as finding a book, using the self-service points and how to print, scan and copy.

Who can you ask for help?

Academic Liaison librarians

There is a dedicated academic liaison librarian for every subject at the University. Your liaison librarian can support your studies by:

• showing you how to use information resources effectively – your librarian can offer training sessions for your School/Department and online library guides for your subject
• showing you how to save time by making the most of all our Library services
• giving you individual help with research – your librarian can offer in depth one-to-one help in finding information, including identifying the most relevant e-resources for you to use

Contact your academic liaison librarian to arrange a meeting.

Pick up a free year planner, as well as information, study and maths advice, from the Study Advice Desk!

Study Advice and Maths Support Desk

The Study Advice and Maths Support Desk is staffed 10:00-16:00 every weekday. You can drop in here with quick queries for Study Advice, Maths Support and Academic Liaison Librarians or to book longer appointments with staff from any of these teams. You can also pick up a free Study Advice year planner, perfect for helping you organise your studies for the coming year.

Chairs in front of a long enquiry counter where on the other sides a librarian sits talking on phone. Two people are talking across the far end of the counter.

Ask general enquiries at the Welcome Desk.

Welcome Desk

You can ask at the Welcome Desk for help with most general enquiries including:

  • finding your way around
  • your Library account and membership
  • loans, renewals and holds
  • inter-library loans

Our friendly staff will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Further information

To keep up to date with the latest Library news, visit this Library blog and our social media channels.

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

Events welcoming you to your University Library

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We’re really excited to welcome all new students starting next week here at the Library. Find out about the events we have planned to welcome you and everything else we’ll be doing in Welcome Week and beyond!

Library welcome events

Every day during Welcome Week we’re putting on events to introduce you to the Library, and to give you some time to relax in your busy week.

Escape box challenge – Monday 23 and Thursday 26 September, 13:00-15:00 

Think escape room but on a slightly smaller scale. Turn up any time during the two hours to have a go at figuring out our puzzles and finding the Library secret! Compete with other student groups – the quickest will win a prize.

Special Collections – Tuesday 24 September, 14:00-16:00 

Our Special Collections team, based at The MERL next to our London Road campus, will be coming to the Library to give you a taste of their amazing collections. You can also make your own badges and books!

Summon speed searching – Wednesday 25 September, 13:00-15:00 

Have a go at our speed searching challenge to get to know our main search engine for articles, Summon. If you’re quick enough to reach the top of our leader board then you’ll leave with a prize!

Library leisure time – Friday 27 September, 13:00-15:00 

You might already know that you can find your course text books at the Library, but did you know that we have fiction too? Come along to make your own origami bookmark, read book reviews from our staff and borrow one of our mystery books!

Library stand at Module Information Fair

The Library team will have a stand at the Module Information Fair in the marquee by the Students’ Union on Tuesday 24 September, 12:00-16:00. Come and chat with our friendly staff if you have an questions about the Library, and to find out about everything else we’re doing during Welcome Week.

You can also pick up some freebies including a Study Advice year planner and take a picture with our selfie frame while you’re there.

Library tours

If you’d like to have a look around our newly refurbished Library then come along to one of our tours which are running throughout Welcome Week and week one. During Welcome Week tours will run at 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30 every day. There are fewer tours during week one, running at 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00 each day.

You can book on RISIS via the ‘Library course bookings’ link in the ‘Actions’ tab, or just turn up at the Library and meet by our display in the foyer. We’ll guide you round the building and tell you everything you need to know about using the Library. If you’re a Postgraduate student, come along to our Tuesday tour!

More information

We’ll be posting about what we’re up to throughout the week so check Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for further updates. You can have a look at our YouTube channel to find out more about using the Library too.

You can also ask for help at the Welcome Desk on the Ground Floor of the Library, or speak to one of our roving members of staff.

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

Book moves continue: 27 August

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On Tuesday 30 July, books began moving to the newly reopened 2nd Floor.

This week

This week, Call Numbers in the normal size 100s and 200s will be moving from the 3rd to the 2nd Floor. Oversize books in the 000s, 100s, 200s and 300s will also be moving from the 3rd Floor to the 2nd Floor and basement. So if you’re looking for books about computer science, philosophy, psychology, religion, social science or law, they may have moved.

Journals in the 400s, 500s, 600s and 700s will be moving from the 4th Floor to the 3rd Floor. So if you’re looking for journals about languages, linguistics, science, technology, business, typography or arts, they may have moved.

Look out for signs on the shelves to point you in the right direction and please ask our friendly Library staff for help at the Welcome Desk on the Ground Floor if you get stuck. The Library catalogue will be updated to reflect the new locations, usually within a day.

More information

You can read more about the book moves here. We’ll also provide weekly updates on what is moving via this blog, Twitter (@UniRdg_Library) and Facebook (@universityofreadinglibrary).

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

No access to 1st Floor 10-19 August

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The 1st Floor of the Library will be closed during the week of 10 to 19 August so that the space can be used for Clearing.

With Clearing itself taking place on 15 and 16 August 2019 in the 1st Floor of the Library, it will be closed from 10 to 19 August to allow for setup and strike down of the equipment necessary for Clearing.

Study space will still be available on the ground, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors throughout this time, including a few PC spaces on the 4th Floor. There are also a variety of alternative study spaces across campus, including 24-hour PC labs in Agriculture GL20, Meteorology GL68 and Palmer G.09.

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

Book moves to 2nd Floor start

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From Tuesday 30 July, books will start moving to their final locations on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors.

This week

This week, Call Numbers in the 300s will be moving from the 4th to the 2nd Floor. So if you’re looking for books about social science or law, they may have moved. Look out for signs on the shelves to point you in the right direction and please ask our friendly Library staff for help at the Welcome Desk on the Ground Floor if you get stuck. The Library catalogue will be updated to reflect the new locations, usually within a day.

More information

You can read more about the book moves here. We’ll also provide weekly updates on what is moving via this blog, Twitter (@UniRdg_Library) and Facebook (@universityofreadinglibrary).

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

Book moves to the 2nd Floor

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What’s changing?

With the Library refurbishment drawing towards its later stages, the 2nd Floor is nearly ready to be reopened. The next phase involves moving stock to their final locations on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors.

When will it start?

We anticipate that the book moves will start in the week beginning 29 July, though this is subject to approval from Building Maintenance. We’ll keep you updated on this blog and on Twitter (@UniRdg_Library) and Facebook (@universityofreadinglibrary).

Can I still access my books?

Yes! In keeping with our strategy to maximise access to stock throughout the Refurbishment Project, all books will remain accessible as far as possible throughout the move. Each shelf will be unavailable for around thirty minutes whilst the stock is being moved. The Library catalogue will also be updated to reflect the new locations, usually within a day.

Where will I find my books after the move?

Normal size books, large books and journals of the same Call Number will all be found on the same floor.

2nd Floor

000s – computer science

100s – philosophy, psychology

200s – religion

300s – social sciences, law

3rd Floor

400s – languages, linguistics

500s – science

600s – technology, business, typography

700s – arts

Teaching Practice

4th Floor

800s – literature

900s – history, geography, archaeology

Where can I get help?

Library staff will still be available at the Welcome Desk on the Ground Floor – please contact them if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

More information

Keep up to date with the latest study space and Library refurbishment news on our Library refurbishment webpage.

Katie Winter, Academic Liaison Support Librarian

New disability and inclusion research guide

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New Library research guide

Disability and inclusion is an area of research which can cover a wide range of academic disciplines. In celebration of this weekend’s Disability Awareness Day, the Library has introduced a new online guide to support research into disability and inclusion-related topics. The guide takes the same format as our subject guides but focuses on the range of materials available from the Library and Special Collections relating to disability and inclusion.

It has been created to help you find some of the key resources the Library can provide in this area, as well as point you towards other useful online resources, libraries and archives.

We’d love to hear your feedback on our new guide, so let us know what you think!

Suggest more diverse library resources

You can also help us to diversify the Library’s collections by putting forward your suggestions for Library materials to help support a more diverse curriculum. All you need to do is suggest a book, DVD, topic or author for purchase in an area you feel is currently underrepresented in our Library collections and we’ll do the rest!

To put forward your requests for consideration just complete our Diversify our collections suggestion form.

If you would like to suggest other items for the Library, please complete our regular book suggestion form.

New titles purchased in 2018-19

Examples of material purchased from this fund include:

You can see all the Diversity fund titles purchased in current and previous academic years on our dedicated Library Diversity fund reading lists.

Kerry Webb, Associate Director (Academic Liaison and Support)

Library refurbishment: Change to entrance

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You can enter the library from the left-hand side (nearest the cafe).

Next Tuesday 28 May, the area around the current right-hand Library entrance doors will be closed off. The doors to the left of the entrance will be opened in their place. This is to allow for work to be finished on landscaping around the entrance.

These changes will affect the out-of-hours Book Drop next to the entrance, which will be inaccessible while this area is closed off. You will still be able to return books inside the Library building from 09:00-22:00 every day and in the Library@URS building which remains open at all times except Saturday night.

These works are expected to take about one week. Once the works are complete, both sides of the entrance will be available.

Also from next Tuesday, the Library can only be accessed from the direction of Palmer quad and Edith Morley. If you are coming from the direction of Library@URS, you will need to cross the quad towards Edith Morley and approach from that direction. These works are expected to take several weeks.

Further information

To keep up to date with the latest Library refurbishment news, please visit the Library refurbishment webpage and look out for posts on this Library blog.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

 

Restricted Library/URS entry for exam-time

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Despite opening extensive hours from Saturday 6 April until Friday 14 June, please note access restrictions to Library buildings. From Monday to Friday, Library space is reserved for University Campus and Library Card holders only. Visitors are only permitted at weekends with prior arrangement. This is to prevent disruption to our revising students from non-University members, right until their last exam is over.

We operate a ‘no card, no access policy’ and reserve the right to refuse access to anyone, including University members, who cannot identify themselves adequately.

How card-holders get in

You already need your campus card to enter the Library building at all times. You will also need your card to enter Library@URS after 17:00 and before 08:30 on weekdays, and all weekend. When other doors are locked, please enter by the right-hand doors of Library@URS. Card-holders gain automatic entry by placing their Campus Card on the ‘proximity reader’ beside the right-hand door.

Restrictions for visitors

6 April—14 June Members of the public without cards are only admitted on weekends, by prior appointment.

Regrettably, they may not use study spaces here as these are required by our own students revising for exams. Visitors are encouraged to look to their own school, college or public library for study space.

As always, our policy is that children in the Library must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Library Café will remain accessible throughout, but we apologise to visitors unable to use Café Libro during restricted periods.

UoR campus card faulty?

Should your University Campus Card fail to open our doors with the card reader, please ask Campus Card Services to fix the fault via their Campus Card non-residential door access report form or email cardfinance@reading.ac.uk.

Alternative study space during Library refurb

Whilst refurbishment works continue in the Library building this summer there will be some construction noise. Besides the quieter Library@URS building, UoR students can also use additional study space listed on the Library Refurbishment Project page.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian for
Sue Egleton, Associate Director (Systems & User Services)

Library refurbishment: new walkway

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New walkway to Library building entrance (marked in blue).

Starting this week, there will be a new temporary walkway created to access the Library building. This will allow landscaping work to be undertaken next to the Library entrance.

This new walkway (marked on the image in blue) will be slightly further away from the building. This will be used when approaching the Library from the direction of Palmer quad or Whiteknights House. Access from the direction of the URS building remains the same.

The area marked in red is where the landscaping work will be taking place. This work is due to be completed at the start of May.

Further information

To keep up to date with the latest Library refurbishment news, please visit the Library refurbishment webpage and look out for posts on this Library blog.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Cuban Culture – trial access to archive

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Try out the archive of Cuban Culture and Cultural Relations now! We have trial access until 22 March.

This primary source collection from 1959 onward is split into two parts, covering the culture and cultural relations of Revolutionary Cuba and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Part 1, “Casa y cultura”, provides unique access to 45,000 documents, covering almost 60 years of cultural relations between Revolutionary Cuba and abroad.

This is available on-campus and off-campus.

Part 2, Writers, provides access to more than 63,800 digital files and records on 1,046 writers and artists .

This is also available on-campus and off-campus.

Help us to decide

Please send any comments on this resource to Katie Winter, Liaison Librarian for Modern Languages and European Studies – k.l.winter@reading.ac.uk.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian