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Category Archives: Collections
Discover Recycle UoR Reading
Explore the collection, or consider donating something yourself.
Are you ever in the Library and wish you could read something that wasn’t part of a reading list? Have you seen something about ‘Recycle UoR Reading’ and wondered what it was about?
Look no further!
‘Recycle UoR Reading’ is a relatively new scheme that was launched in September 2023 to help repurpose surplus Library stock and book donations, making them available to you. The display can be found in the Quiet Study and Holds area on the Ground Floor of the Library and all items are available to our users to take away free of charge. This is a great way to find potential leisure reading, or maybe to help supplement your study material at no cost to you.
Got some items that you would like to donate?
A book donation box can be found near the display where you can deposit any unwanted items. These will be assessed and hopefully added to the display for someone else to enjoy.
Come to the Ground Floor Quiet Study and Holds area and find out more.
Since the launch of the scheme, 440 books have already found new homes, and 90 items have been donated. The selection is refreshed regularly so there will always be some new material on display, so why not drop into the Library and see what’s on offer?
For more information or for any questions about the scheme, please contact Kate Devaney (Collections Services Manager) at k.r.devaney@reading.ac.uk
Wellbeing Collection
If you are feeling blue on Blue Monday, why not get together with friends and colleagues over a cuppa for ‘Brew Monday’? You can take advantage of a free regular tea or coffee and a space to talk in the Trilobite (in the Health and Life Sciences building) and Breakfast Box (in Edith Morley) cafes 14:00-15:00 on Monday 15 January.
You can also discover the Library’s collection of books and e-books relating to wellbeing. Starting from a generous donation from the Alumni and Supporter Engagement Team, the collection has been growing ever since. The books can be found in our Wellbeing Collection, on the Ground Floor of the Library in the Quiet Study and Holds area.
We also have a list of the items available, including the e-books that can be borrowed.
The books cover lots of different topics including mindfulness, change, relationships, diet, gardening, emotions, anxiety and student life. 
Students and staff are able to come and borrow any books they’d like to read using their campus cards, or just access the e-books using their University username and password.
If you are a Reading student and you need to talk to someone there’s lots of help and guidance available from the Counselling and Wellbeing Team, whilst staff can access support through the Health and Wellbeing Resources.
Ruth Ng & Karen Drury, Academic Liaison Librarians
Our visitor policy is changing
Our visitor policy is changing from the 1 October 2023.
Members of the public who wish to consult printed Library materials which are not available elsewhere, can arrange up to 5 visits to the Library per academic year. All visits must be arranged at least 2 working days in advance (longer notice periods may be required for items held at our Off-site Store or in Closed Access).
If you wish to visit the Library please email library@reading.ac.uk with details of the item(s) that you require, and the dates you would like to consult them.
Further information on our visitor policy, and how to join as an External member, can be found on our website.
If you are looking for access to a study space, then you can join Reading Borough Libraries for free.
University of Reading June Open Days
Make sure to drop by the Library during your Open Day visit!
The Library will be welcoming Open Day visitors on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 June. Have you registered yet? If not, make sure to head over to our Open Days webpage to find out more.
Throughout our Open Days, prospective students and their families are encouraged to visit the Library building. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff and Student Ambassadors will be on hand to answer questions and queries and provide in-person tours. Self-guided tours are also available for those who want to explore at their own pace.
While you’re here, make sure you check out:
- Study spaces: Whether you’re collaborating on a group project or prefer to study alone, we have a range of spaces to suit your needs. From bookable group study rooms to silent study spaces, you can be sure of finding your new favourite spot.
- Wide range of print resources: Explore our vast selection of print books and journals spanning across three floors.
- Study Advice desk: Learn about our Study Advisers and how they can help you get better results and discover how our Academic Liaison Librarians can help with your subject-specific queries.
If you need to refuel, don’t forget to stop at the Library Café before exploring the rest of our beautiful campus.
Out of time but still want to see the Library? Watch one of our self-paced tours to learn more at your leisure.
No matter what you choose to study, the Library is ready to welcome you. Come and visit and find out how to make the most of your studies at the University of Reading.
We look forward to seeing you.
Your Library Team
World Poetry Day in the Library
UNESCO declared in 1999 that the 21st March would be made World Poetry Day, to promote the writing, reading, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world. In the UK we were already celebrating National Poetry Day in the first week of October, but we were very happy to take another one!
So, to celebrate the occasion, we would like to share some poems we particularly like.
Of course they’re all about books. What else would you expect?
There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul –
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was regarded as an eccentric during her lifetime for only wearing white and preferring not to leave her bedroom. Of course, nobody really needs to leave their bedroom, if that’s where all their books are, and it certainly didn’t stop her from becoming one of the USA’s most important poets. You can find her work on the 4th Floor of the library at 811.39-DIC, or in a number of e-book editions through the Enterprise catalogue.
I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on
in the world between the covers of books,
such sandstorms and ice blasts of words,
such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,
such and so many blinding bright lights,
splashing all over the pages
in a million bits and pieces
all of which were words, words, words,
and each of which were alive forever
in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, who described himself as a ‘roistering, drunken and doomed poet’, also liked to crack open a book. He is perhaps best known for his play Under Milk Wood and his poem ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’. If you’d like to read them, you can find his work at 821.912-THO, on the 4th Floor.
Coincidentally, while Dickinson did her best work during her years of seclusion, Thomas was once locked in a room by a friend until he finished the stage adaptation of Under Milk Wood. Is this an essay-writing tip that Study Advice would recommend? Absolutely not. But at least we can all appreciate the value of peace and quiet and study space and teetering towers of books without necessarily locking ourselves in there.
In the Eden I’d like to build
There’s a wealth of library nooks;
There are thousands of shelves and all of them filled
With an orderly display of books.
And lest the dear number appall
Even one most bookishly willed,
There’s wideness of leisure to read them all
In the Eden I’d like to build.
Anonymous
Aaah, that’s the dream.
Do you have a favourite poem you’d like to share?
Celebrate LGBT+ History month
This month is LGBT+ History month, an opportunity to learn about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and non-binary history, and we wanted to share some resources with you all…
LGBT+ Guide
LGBT+ is an area of research that covers a wide range of academic disciplines so we would like to highlight the online guide to support research into LGBT+-related topics.
Taking the same format as our subject guides this guide focuses on the range of materials available from the Library and Special Collections relating to LGBT+ topics.
It is one of a series of cross-disciplinary research guides we have developed to support research in areas such as disability and inclusion, gender, and race and ethnicity.
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 the guide, so let us know what you think!
Have you explored our collection of LGBT+ film resources?
Suggest resources to help diversify our collections
You can also help us to continue to diversify the Library’s collections by putting forward your suggestions.
If you would like to suggest other items for the Library, please complete our regular book suggestion form.
You can see all the Diversity fund titles purchased in current and previous academic years on our dedicated Library Diversity fund reading lists.
Tim Chapman,
Library Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Introducing the University’s Wellbeing book collection
Our wellbeing collection may be able to help
Thanks to a generous donation from the Alumni and Supporter Engagement Team, the University Library has been developing a collection of books and e-books that fall under the general wellbeing category. We hope this will be of benefit to as many students and staff as possible – and be used in conjunction with all the other support services available at the University.
We have a wide range of books about wellbeing to choose from
Students and staff have been providing recommendations for this collection throughout 2022, helping us to make it as broad as possible. We have bought 100s of items on topics from mindfulness and mental health to student life and resilience. From stress and anxiety to autism and ADHD.
Take a look at the list of everything we’ve purchased so far – Wellbeing books 2022.
It is a living and growing collection so if you spot an area that you think is missing, or can recommend a book that has helped you, it’s not too late to add to the collection. Simply fill in the book details on this suggestion form.
You may find a useful gem that could inspire you or help you get back on track. There are so many fantastic books that can provide all sorts of help, but don’t forget our brilliant Counselling and Wellbeing service based in the Carrington building on Whiteknights campus. They work throughout the year to help with a wide range of issues. The service offers support including one-to-one (either face to face, on the phone or over Teams), groups, workshops, online guidance and onward referrals to other support services, and is open to all registered students (undergraduate or postgraduate) at the University, free of charge.
Counselling and Wellbeing service – A guide to accessing the service.
Tim Chapman
Diversity and Inclusion Lead
University of Reading Library, September 2022.
Borrow more books for longer!
As well as upgrading all our 7-day loan books to standard loan we’re making even more improvements so you can borrow more books for longer.
Items can be loaned at the Self-Service Points on the Ground Floor
What’s changing?
From Tuesday 16 August
- loan allowances will be increased
All undergraduates, taught postgraduates, and associate members will be able to borrow up to 25 books.
- increased standard loan period
We decided that all members of the University Library would benefit from the same 6 week loan period so all standard loans will be issued for 6 weeks, subject to recall.
- no more overdue fines (EXCEPT for overdue recalls).
Overdue fines on items that are not in demand will no longer apply.
Fines will only be applicable if you receive an email to say an item is recalled, and you do not return the item before the recall date. Overdue fines on term loans will no longer apply nor will fines be charged on overdue periodicals. In other words, apart from late return on recalled items, fines will no longer be charged.
What about Short Loan?
All Short Loan items (items which were previously overnight loan only) are now available for standard loan.
Remember, due to changes to loan periods, these items can be borrowed for 6 weeks. A small number of very popular items have been made non-loan and they are shelved in the main collection. Photocopies are also non-loan and are shelved on the Ground Floor in the quiet study area.
What if the item I need is on loan?
If you’re already worrying that you won’t be able to get hold of the book(s) you need, please don’t – we’ve got that covered!
If all copies of an item you need are on loan, please place a hold. This will ensure that the item is recalled and alerts us to the increased demand for the item. We have procedures in place which mean, if an increased demand is evidenced, we endeavour to buy further copies.
By using the Library services and systems that are already in place you’ll find the new loan periods a real enhancement when borrowing print books.
Remember – keep an eye on your account to ensure that you know
- what items you have on loan and
- how many you have.
These improvements, along with keeping an eye on your account, should mean you need never get a Library fine again!
As always, if you have any questions or wish to provide feedback on these changes, please let us know.
Your Library Team
7-day loans are changing…
What’s happening?
To improve your access to, and experience of using Library print books, we’re making some changes! The first of these is to loan types. On Tuesday 12 July 2022 we’ll be making all 7-day loan books standard loans so you can borrow them for longer – nearly 40,000 item records will be updated to become ‘standard loans’.
Standard loans are either 6 weeks for staff and research students, or 3 weeks for all other Library members with borrowing rights.
We hope this will improve your experience of borrowing books and help you manage your Library account more easily.
Changes to book loans are underway
What will happen to my loans?
All 7-day loan books that are currently on loan will automatically be made standard loan and renewed. Please check your account for your new due date(s).
There are many other changes to come, all designed to make borrowing easier. Keep up with further information about updates to Library loans and allowances via our social media, our blog or get in touch.
Your Library Team
Library website migration
The Library webpages have moved over to the University’s new content management system (CMS) – you may already be familiar with the new interface as many areas of the University website have already been migrated.
The migration means that the look and feel of our webpages have changed, but access to all our guidance, resources and other information should remain available. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email us at library@reading.ac.uk so that we can help you stay on track with all your information needs.
Your Library team
Black History Month 2021- Race & Ethnicity Libguide
This October, we are launching a new guide.
Black History Month 2021– there’re lots of activities on offer at the University of Reading
The Race and Ethnicity Libguide covers a wide range of academic disciplines such as sociology, culture, languages, heritage, and many other subjects too.
This guide will introduce you to some of key resources the Library can provide and will point you towards other relevant online resources and libraries.
We have lots of new books for you to explore. Many of these titles are relevant to UK Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) experiences but there is also a wide selection relating to International experiences. Look at the Books tab to see newly published and seminal resources that are available from the Library to help you build on your knowledge and understanding of BAME dialogues.
What would you like to see on our shelves?
Have you heard about our fund to help to Diversify the collections?
The section on ‘Diversifying our collections’ will help build your understanding of this movement- why it matters and what you can do to help.
If you want help finding out more about BAME academics here at the University of Reading, have a look at the Further Resources tab to see a list of some of the recent research outputs by BAME staff. You can also search for publications about race and ethnicity in the research repository, centAUR.
If you have an idea for a resource you’d like to see listed, please get in touch. We hope that you will find this guide useful.
Your Library Team