Black History Month 2021- Race & Ethnicity Libguide

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This October, we are launching a new guide. 

University of Reading Black History Month graphic, square box made up of black background with flashes of red, yellow and green, with white text. White clenched fist outline on yellow and black background.

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.  

Books on shelves, purple pillar, grey carpet

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

 

Black History Month 2021- Race & Ethnicity Libguide

Posted on by

This October, we are launching a new guide. 

University of Reading Black History Month graphic, square box made up of black background with flashes of red, yellow and green, with white text. White clenched fist outline on yellow and black background.

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.  

Books on shelves, purple pillar, grey carpet

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

 

Hello again and welcome back! 

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Following on from Welcome last week, we wanted to ensure that we said ‘welcome back’ to the Library to all of our continuing students too. 

Large rectangular red pin on badge with white text that reads 'ask me... I work here!'.

We’re here to help you with all of your Library questions

We know last year was difficult for everyone and especially for those of you who grappled with online and remote learning. Many of you have been away from campus for a while so, please ask us for assistance if things feel unfamiliar.  

We are pleased to say that many of the measures that were in operation in the Library over the past year have been disbanded! 

 

Study space bookings 

Since 3 September, study space bookings are no longer required for individual study spaces and group study is available again. The 1st Floor Group Study Rooms can, once more, be booked in advance. See our recent blog for more information.  

 

Click & Collect 

Click & Collect has ended and you can now browse the shelves and borrow items without having to place holds in advance of your visit. More information about how and when to place a hold on an item can be found on the Placing & cancelling a hold webpage. 

We’ve retained the one-way system, sanitisation stations and enhanced cleaning as these have all proven to be useful over the last year. Additionally, University health and safety policy is still single occupancy usage of lifts and, if you are able to wear a face covering, we encourage you to use one when moving around the building.  

Find out more about keeping safe on the Student Essentials pages.  

 

Library tours  

Have you seen our Instagram tour yet? Library tours continue to be available online and there are several other options too. 

 

Opening hours back to 24/6+  

We’re back to our normal term time 24/6+ opening hours. This means the Library closes Saturday evening at 21:00 and reopens Sunday at 8:30, apart from that we’re open all hours. Please note that the Library Café closes at 22:00 on weekdays and IT Service desk hours can be found on the DTS website. 

 

Don’t forget to make the most of expert help!  

The Study Advice and Academic Liaison Librarian teams have been expanding the range of online materials available to help you make the most of the Library. Visit the Library website to see our new Training and events guide and links to our newest YouTube videos and other resources. 

 

Blog banner image for University Library News

Bookmark the Library blog to stay up-to-date with any changes

 

Further information 

We’ll continue to provide updates on the Library services on our website, blog, and social media to keep you informed but if you have any questions, please get in touch via library@reading.ac.uk or see our contact information for other options.  

Your Library Team

Autumn term – time to continue your studies

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avenue of trees in Autumn

So, the summer holidays are almost over, and thoughts are starting to turn to coming back to uni. Where do you start and how do you make sure you’re ready for the challenges ahead? Follow our Study Advice tips below to ensure you’re ‘study ready’ for the autumn term.

Tip #1: Sort out the stationery

Start with preparing yourself mentally by ensuring you have all the equipment that you need. You’re likely to be attending seminars on campus as well as engaging in online content, so you’ll need to decide if you’re going to stick to pen and paper, make notes digitally or have a combination of both. You may need pens, paper, files and dividers, or ensure you have the digital versions ready; so, set up your online folders for each module.

Tip #2: Check out Blackboard

If you have access to your Blackboard account, check out the information that’s available for each module. Download and save any key documents where you can easily access them. Make a note of the assignment details and deadlines and familiarise yourself with the structure of each module.

Tip #3: Access your reading list

Once you have access to your reading list through Blackboard, you can start by making a note of your essential readings. You might want to purchase some of the books, or check out their availability in the Library.  Your online reading list will show you where to find books on the Library shelves, or how to access online versions available through the Library. You can plan your reading in advance, and you may be able to access and read online versions before you start.

Tip #4: Make a study plan

Once you have access to your own timetable, you can create your own weekly and termly study plans. Check out our videos on managing your time which offer some tips to get you started. Our video on organising yourself offers some advice on managing your studies in a blended learning environment.

Tip #5: Brush up on those academic skills

You might feel that some of your study skills have become rusty over the summer. So, if you want to refresh your skills on writing essays, referencing and organising your study time, check out our Study Advice videos. We also run Weekly webinars to support you to develop your academic skills. Book your space on these today and get yourself study ready!

And if you’re a first-year student, make sure you join 1000s of your fellow students on our Study Smart course. This has been designed by us specifically to help prepare you for studying at university. You’ll find loads of resources to help you and some of our current students are online to answer any of your study questions.

Study Advice 

UoR Library Welcome tours

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Full library tour to show the building and key location for Autumn term 2021 lasting 6.58mins on Instagram

Visit the Library via our Instagram tour

There’s been a lot happening this week across the University so if you want to slow things down, try out our self-paced tour. Go through, online at your own pace and in your own time.

Or, if you prefer something a bit more whizzy, take a look at our Instagram tour.

Expandable maps arranged as a welcoming smile.

Mini folding maps – your friendly Library guide

Alternatively, visit the Library in person, pick up an expandable map and take a look around the building yourself.

We like to think we have something for everyone so if you’re new to the University of Reading, or if you’re a returning student and haven’t been onsite for a while, come and see us for help with all your Library needs.

A table with Library, study advice and other University information displayed along with a table top stand displaying relevant information.

Learn what your Library offers, and how we can help you from the display in our foyer

Your Library Team

UoR Library Welcome Week Events 2021

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We’d like to wish you a great big welcome from all the staff at the University of Reading Library!  Wondering about how to use the Library and what’s available?  We have a variety of events planned for you for Welcome Week and beyond.  Here’s a rundown of what’s going on:

Image show the outside of the Library and the text reads Welcome! We're looking forward to meeting you! Want to know more about the Library, and what's happening this week? Take a look at our New Student Libguide.

 

New student Libguide

An online guide telling you about how everything is working in the library including useful videos, answers to questions, where to get help and all our welcome week events.

Introducing your library

We are running online webinars to guide you through some basics about using the Library, and how we can help you in your studies at UoR.

Self-paced tours

We know there’s a lot going on right now!  So if you want to just take things slowly, at a time that suits you, we’ve created a self-paced tour for you to go through online.  Or you can pick up one of our handy expandable maps in the Library, to take a look around the building yourself.

Virtual Escape Game

We have an online time travel escape game that you can play solo or with friends to introduce you to some slightly usual events in the Library!  Time yourself as you play and let us know how speedy you are on social media!Image shows a locked door surrounded by steampunk clocks and patterns. Text reads how about playing our virtual time travel escape game? You can play online with friends, or by yourself. See the new student libguide for how to play.

UoR Library reading challenge

This year we’ve created a month by month reading challenge including both e-books and hard copy books.  Why not take some downtime from your studies and try something you might not have otherwise read?  Share your favourites with us on our social media channels.

UoR Library virtual crafts

Take a quick 3 minute break to learn how to make an easy origami bookmark!

If you join in with anything don’t forget to let us know on social media!  You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Your Library Team

Self-service borrowing is back!

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We’re pleased to announce that we’re taking another step back to normal as the Click & Collect service is no longer required. This means you’ll be able to browse the shelves and borrow via the self-service machines whenever you want.

The Click & Collect service will cease from midnight Thursday 16 September so please make any requests before then. We’ll be open for a final collection between 11:00 and 14:00 on Friday 17 September and any uncollected materials will be transferred to the Holds shelves.

 

Student picking up a book from the shelf

Now Click & Collect is finishing, browse the shelves in person

 

If you’re a member of our Library and wish to borrow books simply visit us and select them from the shelves. We have floor plans available online and in the building to help you find materials and self-service machines so you can check items out securely.

If an item you want to borrow is already on loan, place a ‘hold’ to ensure that when a copy becomes available, it is held for you. You’ll get an email once the item is ready for you to collect from the Holds shelves. These are located on the Ground Floor, in the quiet study area which some of you will know we’ve been using for Click & Collect.

Inter-Library Loans will be collectable from the Welcome Desk. Just come through the gates and show your Campus Card to collect these from our team.

We understand that this is a significant change for those of you who were used to using Click & Collect, so please ask us if you need help or further information.

 

Your Library Team

Library spaces – no booking required

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We’re excited to announce that you no longer have to book a study space in the Library. From Monday 6 September onwards you can turn up when you like and sit wherever you choose. Just remember to bring your Campus Card to swipe through the gates. This is the first change to Library services that we’re making since government restrictions eased in the UK and we prepare for the start of the new academic year. We’ll post more information as other changes happen.

Students studying at library desks

Library study areas – sit wherever you choose!

We’re also pleased to be able to offer some group study spaces again. The 1st Floor group study rooms will remain bookable, just as they were before the pandemic. The booth seating around the building and the Study Pods on Floors 2 and 4 will return to group space too.

There may be a few less chairs in some spaces. You’ll also notice some windows open to help provide a good air flow.

Please continue to use the one-way system around the building and we encourage you to wear your face covering when moving around indoors.

Watch this space and our website for more changes over the next few weeks. If you have any queries or concerns, please do speak to us.

Your Library Team

Education students, welcome to UoR Library!

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Femail teacher at door of school classroom furniture

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Early September, children return to school and we welcome postgraduate students learning to teach them with our Institute of Education. Greetings!

Why not come to meet your Education Academic Liaison Librarians and Study Advisers at the ‘marketplace’ in RUSU’s Cafe Mondial, 10:00-12:30 on Friday 3 (secondary students) or 12:00-13:00 Wednesday 8 September (primary students). We’ll also be around all year to support your studies of course!

Check out our Education subject and referencing guide online to discover online and physical resources – much is online, linked to your reading lists, with printed theory and Teaching Practice Collection resources in the Library building.

You can see what the Library is like right now on YouTube. Do visit the Library on Whiteknights campus once you receive your Campus card. Please note that our opening hours extend in a few weeks time when full term begins. Watch our Library website for changes to accessing collections and our modern study spaces, or follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)!

Your Academic Liaison Librarians for Education

 

Highlighting our LGBT+ resources for Pride month!

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Image shows a crochet cactus in a Pride rainbow striped pot.

Moss the Pride cactus (they/them) crocheted by Academic Liaison Librarian, Ruth (she/her).

As we come to the end of Pride month, we just wanted to remind you that our LGBT+ Libguide will be here all year (Library resources for researching LGBT+ related topics).  It’s a really great starting point to learn more about LGBT+ issues.

If you can help us to futher diversify our Library collections, please submit a suggestion for purchase from the Library Diversity Fund. This was created to help us to continue to build and diversify our collections. You can see all the Diversity titles purchased in current and previous academic years on our dedicated Library Diversity fund reading lists.

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

Meanwhile, we’re introducing you to Moss the cactus, wearing their crocheted rainbow pot … with great Pride.

Ruth Ng, Academic Liaison Librarian for Henley Business School

World mapping with Global Digimap

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You’re probably aware that Digimap will provide you with all types of maps and map data of Great Britain. But are you aware that you can also access maps from beyond our shores?

If you need spatial data or maps beyond Great Britain, you can use Global Digimap, part of Edina’s suite of Digimap services. It includes three datasets:

World Panorama data

Kenya/Tanzania boundary area. Created using World Panorama data. ©Collins/Bartholomew Ltd. (2019)

  • Natural Earth data – small scale open data, created by volunteers, free to use for any purpose
  • World Panorama – small scale data created by Collins Bartholomew (publishers of the Times World Atlas)
  • OpenStreetMap (OSM) data – crowdsourced open data at various scales. This has world coverage, but the detail varies considerably depending on geographic location.  For most urban areas coverage is good, but the more remote a place, the less detail there is likely to be.
OSM data

Beijing. Map data ©OpenStreetMap contributors

Two extra data sources are additionally available. When using Roam, they can be accessed through the Overlays button. They are:

  • World Place Names – OSM is created by volunteers in the local language, so by adding this overlay to your map you will be given the English version of selected cities and administrative districts.
  • WWF World Biomes – This was produced by the WWF to show broad vegetation/ecology groups.

You can also add your own data to Global Digimap by using the WMS Feed option. Search to find suitable feeds, or upload one of your own.

All the usual tools are available as well, so you can measure distance and area, and add your own information by using the drawing tools in the Roam interface.

For more information and support, go to the Digimap Resource Centre and the Digimap YouTube channel.

Judith Fox, Map Librarian

Store collections to resume

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We’re pleased to announce that collections from the Library’s off-site Store will resume from Thursday 24 June.

Store collections will happen once a week on Thursdays, so please submit your request by 08:30 Thursday for the item to be collected that week. Requests submitted after 08:30 will be collected the following Thursday.

For more information on requesting items from off-site Store, see the ‘Requesting items from Store and Closed Access‘ information page on our website.

Library User Services