Collections Project

You are currently browsing the archive for the Collections Project category.

Request 5th Floor Reference online this summer

4 June, 2013 in Borrowing and viewing material, Collections Project, Refurbishment and rewiring, Study Space

Girl working at laptop next to reference booksAs part of major refurbishment for the Library this summer, the 5th Floor is being redeveloped and will be closed from Saturday 8 June for the duration of the works.

The 5th Floor Reference Collection is being moved to a ‘Closed Access’ area in our Basement. To use this material, please now look it up on our online catalogue and select ‘Request Closed Access or Store items’ and we will bring it to the Ground Floor Information Desk for you.

During the summer we will be identifying well-used 5th Floor Reference material to be moved to the open shelves on the Ground, 2nd,3rd or 4th Floors. Lesser-used material will remain on Closed Access. If you are likely to need material from the 5th Floor Reference Collection on a recurring basis this summer, please do contact your liaison librarian in the first instance.

rr

Bulmershe Collection moves to 4th Floor

11 April, 2013 in Collections Project, General news, What have we done for you lately?

Men moving books on library shelves

If you use Bulmershe Collection 700 arts and or 800 literature books, don’t be scared to see empty shelves on the 2nd and 3rd Floors respectively where they used to be! You will now find most of the remaining Bulmershe Collection material on the 4th Floor. We have brought most of it together here to make it easier to use, and in preparation for future developments regarding Library study space.

The Bulmershe Collection comprises well-used material brought from our Bulmershe Court site library which closed in 2011. We have been working since then to integrate it into the main collection.

The few Bulmershe Collection books which remain on the 2nd Floor (001-009; 130-159; 420-429; 610-679) will be integrated by summer 2013. We aim to merge the remainder of the Collection, now on the 4th Floor, by summer 2014.

rr

‘Essential Reading’ on latest Library improvements

23 November, 2012 in Borrowing and viewing material, Collections Project, E-resource news, General news, IT news, Refurbishment and rewiring, Study Space, What have we done for you lately?

Read about the latest Library improvements we’ve made in the Autumn term issue of Essential Reading (PDF), our newsletter for students. It is now online and in print covering news of

  • the new Library catalogue
  • more study spaces
  • improving ITS Wifi network
  • tips on placing holds
  • accessing resources from your mobile
  • searching catalogues of other London and the South-East libraries

ed/rr

Library Collections Project progress, Autumn 2012

13 November, 2012 in Collections Project, General news

Students at Library entrance, framed by red autumn leavesReviewing all Library stock

In 2009, the Library undertook an ambitious five-year Collections Project to review every resource we own and ensure relevance to University teaching and research. We are keeping well-used material on open shelves for immediate access; storing less frequently-used research material where it can be retrieved within the week; and responsibly disposing of other material.

As of this Autumn, we’ve now reviewed 97.6% of all journals and 86.7% of all book stock, and hope to complete by New Year. This summer alone we relegated 3,793 items and withdrew 10,888 items. We also participate in the UK Research Reserve project to ensure print copies of research journals are retained nationally for inter-library loan lending. This summer we agreed to safeguard 13.71 metres of journals, send 1.85m to the British Library to fill in gaps in their holdings and dispose of about 210 metres.

More study space in the Library

Another Project aim was to increase Library study spaces. Moving stock, shelving and furniture this summer enabled us to create an additional 17 study spaces on the 5th Floor, and 48 across the 2nd , 3rd and 4th Floors.

650 moves in with 600s

Our ultimate aim is to to make everything much easier to find so this summer we moved Call Number 650  into the 2nd Floor 600 sequence. It had been an anomaly amongst other numbers on the 4th Floor.

Integrating the Bulmershe Collection continues

Following the closure of Bulmershe Library in 2011, we brought well-used material over to the University Library. Some material was immediately integrated with existing sequences. More was  placed in separate ‘Bulmershe Collection’ areas awaiting catalogue record upgrades and insertion into main collections. This autumn, we estimate we’ve integrated about half these books so far. Most ex-Bulmershe journal Call Numbers are also integrated - numbers 360-370 are due for completion in a few weeks. The Teaching Practice Collection - children’s resources for student teachers to assess and use - will remain a separate collection.

rr/cec

 

650 moves to 2nd Floor

24 July, 2012 in Borrowing and viewing material, Collections Project, General news

Men moving books on library shelvesDo you use University Library business, marketing, accounting or typography material with 650 Call Numbers? Please be aware that these books and journals  moved from the 4th to the 2nd Floor over summer 2012!

Completely integrated with the rest of the 600 sequence on the 2nd Floor, 650 items should be easier to find. However, please ask at Information Desks if you need help.

The move brings us closer to our ultimate aim of running the Call Number sequence straight through the Library from 000 on the 2nd Floor up to 999 on 4th Floor. This is just  part of our ambitious Collections Project 2009-2013 to reprofile Library collections and space to better meet Library users’ future needs.

rr

What have we done for you lately?

27 January, 2012 in Collections Project, General news, Refurbishment and rewiring, Study Space, What have we done for you lately?

What has the University Library done for students lately? Here’s an update showing what we did over the last year.

Library study space and technology

  • Created more study spaces on the Ground, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Floors, including the new Group Study Pods.
  • Added four plasma screens to Group Study areas – just plug in your laptop.
  • Installed Smartboards to training rooms - try them out yourselves when the rooms are not booked.
  • Reserved the whole 5th Floor for Silent Study

Rewiring the Library

After installing up-to-date power distribution last summer, we’ll rewire each floor over the next few years. The 5th Floor is currently getting new lighting, data and power plug sockets. Work continues after the revision season.

New Off-site Store allows stock moves

Our Collections Project will continue to provide further improvments over the next few years.

Library home for Study Advice & Maths Support

Student talking to Study Adviser Michelle ReidWe built Study Advice a new, permanent home by the University’s largest PC area and IT Help counter. Increased use shows how much easier it is to find and use the service in the Library.

Library help – our ‘constant’!

Librarian helping student at a PCThroughout every change, Library staff remain passionate about teaching you to find information you need to achieve high standards. Contact us for help.

What did we do for you before?

Find out what the Library did for you over the last few years on a previous blog.

rr

What has the Library done for you lately?

17 October, 2011 in Collections Project, General news, Study Space, What have we done for you lately?

What has the University Library done for students lately? Here’s how we enhanced your central hub for study and interaction this summer.

Study space and technology enhancements

  • Refurbished Silent study desks on Library's 5th FloorWe’ve created more study spaces on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Floors, where we’ve refurbished yet another room. We’ve also reserved all 5th Floor areas for Silent Study, expanding the number of places in this category since last year.
  • We’ve added plasma screens to two Group Study Rooms and two new Group Study Pods on the Ground Floor  – just plug in your laptop. Remember you can still book Presentation Practice Room 106 on the 1st Floor with its plasma screen.
  • Hand writing on a Smartboard screenWe’ve installed Smartboards to training rooms 107 and 108. You’ll benefit during Library and ITS training taught here or try them out for yourselves when the rooms are not booked.
  • We moved the ‘Quiet with PCs’ room to the quieter, far south side of  the 1st Floor – Room 109.

Stock moves, and a new Store

We created additional study space when we moved 14,000 shelves of books and journals. In addition, we’ve:

Our Collections Project will continue to provide further improvments over the next few years.

Library home for Study Advice & Maths Support

Student talking to Study Adviser Michelle ReidWe’ve built a new, permanent home for Study Advice, conveniently right next to the University’s largest PC area and IT Help counter, concentrating advisers right where they’re needed.

Rewiring project

The University installed up-to-date power distribution this summer and will rewire over the next few years, improving safety. We will press for an additional increase in plug sockets for laptop users.

Helping you – our ‘constant’

Librarian helping student at a PCThroughout every change, we remain passionate about helping you find the information you need to achieve the highest standards. Use our experience and training to get ahead. Contact us for help.

What did we do for you before?

Find out what the Library did for you over the last few years on a previous blog.

rr

 

Bulmershe is an ex-Library!

9 August, 2011 in Borrowing and viewing material, Collections Project, General news

Bulmershe Library staff wave goodbye

Bulmershe Library Team say goodbye before disbanding

Bulmershe Library is dead! Long live ‘Bulmershe Collections’ at the University Library at Whiteknights (until we integrate them with other stock there). Long may Library services for all schools and departments continue from this single, central Library site.

Bulmershe Library staff said goodbye to their last customer on Friday 29 July 2011. This completes the University’s 2006 plan as academic activity ceases at Bulmershe Court campus. Film, Theatre & Television has already moved to Whiteknights. Health and Social Care has now closed. The Institute of Education will soon move to London Road campus.

Bulmershe Collections at Whiteknights

Bulmershe Collections have moved to Whiteknights. You will find most items on open shelves in separate sections towards the front of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floors. Others you can request from closed Store or Stack areas through the Unicorn catalogue.

Bulmershe Court Book Drop

You may still return University Library loans on the Bulmershe Court campus via the Book Drop in the wall of the inner courtyard near Reception. We will continue to operate this service whilst the Institute of Education remains here.

Library staff  help

Subject liaison staff  for IoE and FTT continue to serve their departments from Whiteknights. Other staff move to other library jobs or retire. Thanks for telling us you appreciated our support over the years. Some of us will see you soon. We commend you to our Whiteknights colleagues!

rr

Where are our Quiet and Silent study rooms?!

30 June, 2011 in Collections Project, General news, Study Space

This summer, the University Library’s Quiet and Silent Study Rooms changed places!
  • Silent Study is now on the refurbished 5th Floor. 
  • Quiet Study with PCs has moved to Room 109, at the quieter, far side of the 1st Floor. The former ‘Quiet Study with PCs’ room (103, near ITS Help) transformed into offices for University Study and Maths Support Advisers. 

rr

Off-site Store now in use!

26 May, 2011 in Borrowing and viewing material, Collections Project, General news

First Off-site Store retrieval service user receiving prize from Librarian

First Off-site Store retrieval service user, Dr Tony Corley received a book token from Nick Hollis, Circulation Services Manager

To mark the opening of a new Library retrieval service, we presented a prize to the first person collecting material held in our new Off-site Store. Dr Tony Corley was surprised and delighted to receive a small book token as well when he came to read the journals he had requested online.

Over the summer we will transfer further lesser-used and research-level journals and books to the Store. This will help release more space at Main Library Whiteknights to accommodate material Bulmershe Collection material, when Bulmershe Library closes this July.

Requesting ’Off-site Store’ material

You’ ll recognise Store items on the Unicorn catalogue by the location ‘Off-site Store – available on request’. To use them, just click on the ‘Request item from Off-site Store’ link on the left-hand side of the screen. Items will be made available for you to collect from the Main Library Ground Floor service desks. (For operational and safety reasons, it will not be possible for users to browse the collections held in the Store.)

During this summer’s move we won’t be able to guarantee a delivery time, but we will contact you as soon as items are available. So during this period, we recommend you order items as soon as possible.  

After stock moves are complete, we will collect Store items twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.  Items will be ready for you at Main Library on these days after 15:00 and remain there for up to seven days for you to consult or borrow.

The Store within our Collections Project

Moving lesser-used and research material to Store is an integral part of our five year Collections Project to re-profile Library collections to better meet users’ needs and improve study space. 

We will also be rearranging Main Library collections this summer, so it will be ‘all change by autumn’. For day-to-day news of moves, see the Library’s University Library news blog (also on the Library website) or follow the Library on Twitter.

More on the Off-site Store retrieval service

For further information on the new Off-site Store service, please contact your Liaison Librarian or Nick Hollis, Circulation Services Manager.

rr

What have we done for you lately?

9 March, 2011 in Collections Project, General news, What have we done for you lately?

So, what has the University Library done for you lately? Here are some recent developments, several implemented following students’ requests. 

Improvements to Library environment

  • New study spaces created and refurbished on the 5th Floor [2009-2011]

    Studying on the Library's 5th Floor

    Work peacefully in a recently refurbished 5th Floor study room

  • 50 additional power sockets for laptops installed on the 2nd, 3rd and
    4th Floors facing Palmer/Carrington Buildings [Autumn 2009]
  • Eyelets in study desks to secure laptops [Autumn 2010]
  • Refurbished and additional toilet facilites [Spring 2011]
  • Improved access to Wi-Fi [2010]
  • New voiced closing message and fire alarm; upgraded fire-stairs and refuges with inter-coms [2009-10]
  • More Study Rooms and a Silent Study Room [2008]
  • New Course Collection / Cafe / Knowledge Exchange and Study Rooms  [2007]

Improvements to Library services

  • Opening to midnight Monday-Thursday term-time and Easter Vacation [from April 2009]

    Alarm clock

    Study until midnight, Monday to Thursday!

  • Library homepage redesigned incorporating students’  information priorities [Sept 2010]; Entire website redesigned based on student views [2007]
  • ‘Roving’ Library staff introduced to help you where you need it [Autumn 2010 and 2009]
  • Upgraded Unicorn Library catalogue provides new e-resource-only searching, your recent loan record and username/password access [Autumn 2010]
  • University Library news blog delivers alerts and news faster [2010]
  • Improved, popular online help including the crucial referencing, database and literature searching guides [Autumn 2010]
  • Online ‘Closed access’ requests [Autumn 2010]

Improvements to Library collections

  • Access to e-resources has greatly increased. You now have access to:
    • nearly 22,000 e-journals
    • over 9,000 e-books, including 100s of reliable references sources you can search together through Credo or Oxford Reference Online
      Students using the Library Course Collection

      Enhanced funding buys more Course Collection texts

  • Enhanced Course Support funding buys extra copies of textbooks [2008 onwards]
  • A scanning project provides online course texts directly via Blackboard. (You may not even realise this comes via the Library!)
  • Showing a floor number on Unicorn and redesiged shelf labels helps students find stock more easily [2008 on]

Future developments

We plan to introduce further study space on the 2nd and 4th Floor reading rooms by 2013 as part of our ambitious Collections Project. Running since 2009, it’s a long-term strategy to create space for study, and Bulmershe books and journals, by reviewing all Library stock and relegating lesser-used research material to an off-campus Store. 

Helping you – our ‘constant’

Throughout every change, we remain passionate about helping you find the information you need to achieve the highest standards. Use our experience and training to get ahead through: 

Librarian helping student at a PC

Contact us for personal help

rr

Request ‘Closed access’ items online!

24 September, 2010 in Collections Project, General news

From Monday 4 October, you will only be able to Request items from closed access collections at Main Library online via Unicorn and no longer using small green printed slips. Just click on ‘Request item from Closed Access’  on the left-hand side of the catalogue record from wherever you are and have it ready for collection when you visit!

This streamlining will help us prepare to bring you material smoothly from our new off-campus Store by 2011 as well. (More information on our Collections Project  page.) 

Exceptions are:

  • Online card catalogue items: please request this at the Main Library Ground Floor Information Desk
  • Bulmershe Library ‘closed access’ items: please request these at Bulmershe Library Information Desk.

If you have any further questions, please contact Nick Hollis, Circulation Services Manager.

« Older entries