It is now possible to pay Library fines using the upgraded Campus Card portal.

Following the upgrade some users may need to delete their internet cache before they can access the new mobile friendly site.  So remember clear your cache to pay your cash!

Fines can also be paid:

• at the Library building Self-Service Point fines payment machine (up to £12)
• at the URS building Information Desk
• by ringing us on 0118 378 8770 with a credit/debit card.

Rebecca Ashley, Library User Services
for Nathan Harvey, Campus Card Systems Manager

The Library has recently taken the difficult decision to cancel our subscription to IEEE Xplore. Since April 2017 we have been in discussions with IEEE and their UK agents over a new 3-year deal for IEEE Xplore Digital Library. In spite of the fact that the University no longer has a School of Systems Engineering, and usage of the resource has been reducing for several years, the proposed pricing from IEEE was unacceptable, and indeed represented an increase on what we had previously paid. There is no transparent pricing system for this resource, and no significant reductions in price were offered. We would have liked to continue the subscription, but unfortunately had reached a point where a resource represents such poor value for money that cancelling it becomes necessary.

We understand that this may cause some difficulties for staff and students, however we will be taking out a number of individual subscriptions to key IEEE journals, which will be hosted on the IEEE Xplore Digital Library platform. These will be available from 1^st January 2018, when the subscription year starts.

If you would like any more information, including help on locating specific articles via alternative routes (such as Open Access copies or inter-library loan), please contact your Liaison Librarian

Paul Johnson
Associate Director (Collections Research & Space)

Did you know that if you have a library-related problem when University of Reading Library staffed services aren’t available you can chat online via the blue ‘Virtual Enquiry Service’ box on the Library webpage?

The Virtual Enquiry Service is available from 19:00 Monday to Friday and from 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday through to 09:00 the following morning.

The service is staffed by professional librarians working remotely to answer your queries from our website and other information we’ve supplied.  You can keep an email transcript of the chat. If they can’t resolve a particular issue they’ll refer you back to us during our staffed hours.

During staffed Library service hours, please do continue to contact UoR Library staff to help with your enquiries!

Holly Thomas, Library User Services

The Library is now opening up to UoR staff the chance to suggest books, DVDs or CDs to help Library collections support a more diverse curriculum. Students were given first choice in March to celebrate RUSU’s ‘Liberate my curriculum’ conference. But hurry, the deadline is 30 April 2017.

Would you like more on your specialism representing more ethnic or LBGT groups or geographical areas? Complete our new Diversify my curriculum suggestion form to help us spend a special £1,000 fund, over and above resources supporting existing reading lists.

It’s great if you can suggest specific titles, but we still want to hear from you where you feel we just need more in a certain area. For example:

• [name] is underrepresented in your collection, can you buy more of her novels/poetry?
• I would like more books on the construction industry in Africa – are there any that can be bought?
• there aren’t any books on the history/political situation in [country]
• can you purchase some more books on LBGT issues in higher education?

Your subject Liaison Librarian will be dealing with your suggestions. She or he can also help you with other Library matters, including queries about items on reading lists.

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

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator
for Helen Hathaway, Associate Director (Academic Liaison and Support)

In celebration of RUSU’s ‘Liberate my curriculum’ conference on Wednesday 1 March, we’re asking students to suggest books, DVDs or CDs to help Library collections support a more diverse curriculum. Would you like more on your specialism representing more ethnic or LBGT groups or geographical areas? Complete our new Diversify my curriculum suggestion form to help us spend a special £1,000 fund, over and above resources supporting existing reading lists.

It’s great if you can suggest specific titles, but we still want to hear from you where you feel we just need more in a certain area. For example:

• [name] is underrepresented in your collection, can you buy more of her novels/poetry?
• I would like more books on the construction industry in Africa – are there any that can be bought?
• there aren’t any books on the history/political situation in [country]
• can you purchase some more books on LBGT issues in higher education?

Your subject Liaison Librarian will be dealing with your suggestions. She or he can also help you with other Library matters, including queries about items on reading lists.

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

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator
for Helen Hathaway, Head of Academic Liaison and Support

Need to top-up your Campus Card but don’t have cash for the kiosk? We have good news for you!

You can now top-up online using your debit / credit card with any amount, no matter how small – there’s now no minimum amount. So if you’re paying a Library fine online, or need to top-up for some printing, there’s no need to overspend – just top-up with the exact amount you need.

Top-up online anytime with the Campus Card portal.

Social media competition winner Imane received a goodie bag prize from University Librarian Julia Munro for images of her favourite Library study area

Entries to our  recent Week 6 ‘love #UoRLib’ competition reflected how much you love Library study space, our great views and most especially the opportunity to study peacefully in our beautiful 5th Floor Silent Study reading rooms, as depicted in the three winning entries below.

Winners each received a Library goodie bag including ‘I’m keeping a lid on it in the Library‘ lidded travel mugs, USB sticks and stationery.

Keep in touch!

For more news about the Library, follow our social media accounts:

• Twitter @UniRdg_Library
• Instagram /unirdg_library
• Facebook /universityofreadinglibrary

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordiator

We are pleased to say that the Library enquiries phone line (0118 378 8770) is now working again.

Apologies for any inconvenience this problem might have caused.

Jackie Skinner, Library Web Manager

We’re pleased to let you know that the problem with logging in to Library accounts has been fixed. You should be able to access your account, renew your loans, pay fines and place holds as normal. However, there are ongoing IT issues on campus which means that this service might still be at risk of disruption.

Apologies for any inconvenience this has caused. If you experience any problems accessing your Library account please email library@reading.ac.uk.

Jackie Skinner, Library Web Manager

The authentication system, including Talis, are back up and running as usual.  Library users should have no problem accessing e-resources from off-campus.

Thank you for your patience with this, and apologies for any inconvenience caused last night and this morning.

We are currently experiencing problems with access to MyiLibrary ebooks. The providers are aware and hope to have the problems resolved shortly. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and will update you as soon as possible.

Amy Rippon, Trainee Liaison Librarian

From September 2016 MediaHub has changed to MediaPlus and moved to the Alexander Street Press platform. The ITN and Teacher’s TV collections are available immediately – other content will be loaded over the coming months.

For more information see the press release or contact the Multimedia Manager

Natalie Guest, Multimedia Manager