Author Archives: Katie Winter

Book moves to 4th Floor complete

Posted on by

As of 18 February the latest round of book moves are complete. All of the books and other materials from the 2nd Floor have been moved to the 4th Floor so that work can start on refurbishing the 2nd Floor.

Where are items now located?

3rd Floor

  • 100s – philosophy, psychology
  • 200s – religion
  • 400s – languages, linguistics
  • 500s – science
  • 600s – technology, business, typography
  • 700s – arts
  • Oversize MF 000-700
  • European Documentation Centre (EDC)
  • Music CDs
  • Teaching Practice Collection

4th Floor

  • 000s – computer science
  • 300s – social sciences, law
  • 800s – literature
  • 900s – history, geography, archaeology
  • Oversize MF 800-900
  • Journals in all subjects
  • Maps

Need help finding something?

If you need help locating an item or subject in the new arrangement please ask at the Information Desks.

More information

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

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Book moves continue: 11 February

Posted on by

On Monday 21 January, books began moving from the 2nd Floor to the newly reopened 4th Floor.

This week

This week, the remaining large books (000s, 300s and 800s), oversize books and journals will be moving from the 2nd to the 4th Floor. So if you’re looking for books about computer science, social science, law or literature, or journals on any subject, they may have moved. Look out for signs on the shelves to point you in the right direction.

Please ask our friendly Library staff for help at the Information Desks or Ground Floor Help Point if you get stuck. The Library catalogue will be updated to reflect the new locations, usually within a day.

Last week

Last week moves were completed on the normal size 300s. These joined the normal size 000s, 800s and 900s on the 4th Floor.

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, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Book moves continue: 4 February

Posted on by

On Monday 21 January, books began moving from the 2nd Floor to the newly reopened 4th Floor.

This week

This week, Call Numbers in the 300s will be moving from the 2nd to the 4th 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.

Our 2nd Floor Information Desk will also be moving this week to the 4th Floor, with the 3rd Floor Information Desk remaining in place. Please ask our friendly Library staff for help at the Information Desks or Ground Floor Help Point if you get stuck. The Library catalogue will be updated to reflect the new locations, usually within a day.

Last week

Last week moves were completed on the normal size 000s and 800s. They have now joined the 900s on the 4th Floor.  If you’re looking for books on computer science, literature, history, geography or archaeology, these will now be on the 4th Floor.

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, Trainee Liaison Librarian

LGBT History Month – Discover and diversify our Library collections

Posted on by

New Library research guide

LGBT+ is an area of research which can cover a wide range of academic disciplines. In celebration of February’s LGBT History Month, the Library has introduced a new online guide to support research into LGBT+-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 LGBT+ topics.

It has been created, in consultation with staff and student representatives, 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 resources to help diversify our collections

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.

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

Examples of material recently 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)

Welcome Back Week in the Library

Posted on by

Welcome Back Week starts on Monday 21 January and we’re getting involved at the Library!

University Services Fair

The Library team will have a stand at the University Services Fair in RUSU Upper 3Sixty on Monday and Tuesday next week. Come and chat with our friendly staff if you have an questions about the Library.

You can also have a go at our Summon Speed Search! It only takes a couple of minutes and you’ll be in with the chance of winning a prize. Can you make it to the top of our leaderboard? Visit our stand to see if you can win.

Library tours

If you’ve not yet had a chance to look around the Library, come along to one of our tours which are running every day next week. Tours start at 13:10 and will last 20-30 minutes. No need to book – 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 Wednesday 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.

As always, you can also ask for help at an Information Desk. Go to the URS Ground Floor Information Desk for general enquiries. Go to the Library Building, 2nd or 3rd Floor Desks for help finding books.

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

2nd Floor books moving to the 4th Floor

Posted on by

What’s changing?

With the Library refurbishment drawing towards its later stages, the 4th Floor is nearly ready to be reopened. The next phase involves moving stock from the 2nd Floor to the 4th Floor, in preparation for the 2nd Floor closing for refurbishment.

When will it start?

The anticipated start date for this is Monday 21 January, with a timeframe of 5-6 weeks. 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?

The stock will be split by Call Number as follows:

3rd Floor

100s – philosophy, psychology

200s – religion

400s – languages, linguistics

500s – science

600s – technology, business, typography

700s – arts

EDC

Teaching Practice

4th Floor

000s – computer science

300s – social sciences, law

800s – literature

900s – history, geography, archaeology

Journals

Where can I get help?

Library staff will still be available at the Information Desks and Ground Floor Help Point – please contact them if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

More information

Books with Call Numbers in the 800s and 900s will be moving to their final locations and will not be moved again, while books in the 000s and 300s will move back to the 2nd Floor once it has been refurbished.

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

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Keep your valuables safe

Posted on by

Open laptop with notepadGot a new laptop for Christmas? Using your tablet in the Library buildings? Left your phone on your desk?

Watch out for your own property and for suspicious activity in the Library buildings. It only takes a few seconds for a passing thief to steal your possessions, so keep them safe.

What you can do

  • Keep your property with you or leave it with someone you know you can trust, even if you’re only stepping out for a minute.
  • Save these numbers and report suspicious activity:
    • to Library staff or University Security on 0118 378 6300;
    • 999, the Police emergency number, if you see a crime in progress.

If you find you have been the victim of crime, go to a Library Information Desk where we will help you report the incident to Security Services.

What we do

  • Library staff encourage you to take care of valuables during regular patrols enforcing good conduct, but we cannot look after your valuables for you. We might leave you an ‘almost stolen’ card on unattended property – but remember a thief would steal it.
  • University Security patrol the Library and Library@URS. They may conduct spot checks on Library users. Have your Campus or Library card to hand or sign a visitor’s form on entry

Katie Winter, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Library refurbishment: lift stairs demolition update

Posted on by

Our Library building refurbishment has now progressed, with demolition of the stairs behind the existing lifts beginning this month. You may experience construction noise, despite the acoustic partitions that have been put in place to help reduce the volume. Here is our advice on how you can still get to upper Library floors and find alternative, quieter study space.

How do I get to upper floors?

Say goodbye to the staircase behind existing lifts!

Although we will no longer be able to use the stairs behind our existing lifts, access will be maintained to two lifts until our new lifts are ready. The big central staircase leading up from the main hall remains our main stairs, with other stairs around the edges of the building available for emergency evacuation.

Where can I find quieter study space?

This phase of construction will sometimes involve noisy or disruptive works. Please make use of the quiet and silent study space in the Library@URS building next door, as well as the variety of alternative study space options across campus. For more see ‘The latest on student study space’ (Student Services news, 31 October 2018) or Transform 2026: Study space update (UoR staff portal news, 31 October 2018).

More on Library refurb

Demolishing this staircase will create space for print hubs on every floor and a silent study PC area on the 5th Floor. Find out more about the project on our Library refurbishment webpage.

Katie Winter, Marketing Assistant
and University Communications

Finding your way beyond Welcome Week

Posted on by

Our finding your way sessions have now ended but there is still plenty of support available, online and in person, to help you make the most of the Library.

#FYWTips

We’ll be posting ‘Finding Your Way’ tips each week throughout the autumn term on all our social media channels. These tips will highlight ways to make the most of the Library and all the services we offer. We’ve already posted about finding a book and placing a hold – head to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for more information. Watch out for our new tip next week!

Who can you ask for help?

Liaison librarians

There is a dedicated 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 subject liaison librarian to arrange a meeting.

Other help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help at an Information Desk! Go to the URS Ground Floor Information Desk for general enquiries. Go to the Library Building, 2nd or 3rd Floor Desks for help finding books.

Further information

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

Katie Moore, Trainee Liaison Librarian

The hold shelf has changed

Posted on by

The Hold Shelf has changed to make it easier for you to find your items. Holds are now organised by Call Number. To find your hold, go to the Hold Shelf in the Course Collection area in Library@URS and look for the Call Number. You can disregard any prefix to the Call Number as all sizes of books will be shelved together.

For information on how to place a hold, watch our short video.

Tips for finding your hold!

  • Not sure of the Call Number? It will be included at the bottom of the email you will receive when an item is ready for collection.
  • If there are multiple copies of the same book on the shelf, you will need to locate the copy with your User ID (on the bottom right of your campus card).
  • All items must be borrowed using the self-service machine before leaving the Course Collection area.
  • Remember you have 5 days to collect your available holds

Requested an item from Store or Closed Access?

Loanable items requested from Store or Closed Access will also be easier to locate, these items will be shelved in Call Number order in the new ‘Requests’ section of the Hold Shelf.

Call Numbers of all Store and Closed Access requests are included in the notification email which is sent when an item is available.

If you have any questions or need help finding your hold please come and ask us for assistance at the Information Desk in Library@URS.

Katie Moore, Trainee Liaison Librarian

Teaching and study space in Library@URS

Posted on by

From 1 October, the University has temporarily converted two more Library@URS rooms for teaching. Although less study space is available here on term-time weekdays, remember you can use alternative study space available across campus, as well as the new group and quiet study areas recently opened in the Library building.

Changing rooms!

With the temporary closure of some teaching rooms in the Palmer building for remedial work, two of the rooms on the second floor of the Library@URS (2s21 and 2n09) have been converted to teaching rooms. When these aren’t in use for teaching they can be used for study. However, owing to fire regulations regarding the safe capacity of the URS building, more group study rooms on the second floor will be closed while teaching rooms and the Large Lecture Theatre may be in use.

All group study rooms will be open for use from 18:00 on Fridays until 08:00 on Mondays during term time, as well as all throughout the vacations and summer term. All other quiet and silent study rooms on the north side of the building will remain open throughout. You can still use the group study rooms on the Library@URS ground floor.

Study space in the Library

The Library’s newly re-opened Ground Floor offers quiet study seating options, while the 1st Floor provides a range of group study seating options. Please bear in mind that Library refurbishment continues on these and other floors until autumn 2019 and it will sometimes be noisy or disruptive. Read more about the newly opened spaces in the Library here.

Alternative study spaces across campus

In addition to Library spaces, there are still around 1,500 study spaces available across the Whiteknights and London Road campuses. These are listed on the Student Services pages about alternative study space available across campus or the ‘Find study space beyond the Library’ section of the Library Refurbishment Project page. Do bookmark this on your laptop or mobile to find it easily later!

Further information

To keep up to date with the latest study space and Library refurbishment news, please visit the Library refurbishment webpage and this Library blog.

Katie Moore, Trainee Liaison Librarian 

Black History Month – Diversifying our collection

Posted on by

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 £1,000 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 2017/18 Library Diversity fund reading list

Kerry Webb, Associate Director (Academic Liaison and Support)