Green Impact Scheme

Well we did it! We received a Bronze Standard certificate at the Green Impact Award Ceremony on Wednesday 27^th May. Earlier in the year, we wrote about our aim to change the way we worked in order to become more environmentally friendly, and described  the steps we were taking to accomplish our target. 

Now for the facts and figures part! In our university, 20 departments took part, of which 15  achieved  Bronze Standard, 1 achieved  Silver and 2 achieved Gold, altogether a fantastic result! Alana Smith, the Sustainability Engagement Officer, has kindly provided the information and calculations below, completed through using the Carbon Trust calculator which estimates the impact the teams have had upon carbon reductions and financial savings.

“Energy: This year an estimated 147 people have been reached by teams campaigning for staff to switch lights and equipment off when not in use, potentially saving 16,659 kg CO2 and £2,603 this year across the institution.

Waste: An estimated 92 people have been reached by teams raising awareness to print and photocopy double‐sided, potentially saving 4,968 kg CO2 and £1,840 on resource costs this year across the institution.

Travel: An estimated 28 people have been reached by teams encouraging staff to use teleconferencing facilities rather than travelling to all meetings, potentially saving 1589 kg CO2 and £1,386 this year across the institution.”

We’re very proud of our award! Next year, we’re hoping to  improve our department’s sustainability even more and go for silver!We'll let you know how we get on.

A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

Hot on the heels of UWTSD Swansea Libraries recent accolade at the Student Led Teaching Awards (“Best Non-Academic Department”), it’s time to highlight some more great things we have to offer! Our library A-Z has reached the letter R this week...

R is for:

·         Research – Make the library your first port of call when beginning your research for assignments, presentations, group work and dissertations. We can provide you with access to a vast selection of up-to-date, relevant, peer reviewed information, both in print and online. We also have Subject Librarians at hand to help if you get stuck! Think of us as one big friendly search engine! Who needs Google when you’ve got us at your disposal?!

·         Reading Lists – Don’t panic! There’s no need to buy everything on your course reading lists, come and borrow the required textbooks from us...free of charge! You can save your bank balance and the environment at the same time! We should have most, if not all, of the items you require.

·         Reference Material – Some of the items in our libraries are marked ‘Reference Only’, this means you can’t borrow them. Why is this a good thing?? It means that we will always have copies of the most essential and in demand texts available for you to use in the library...even when all other copies are out on loan.  

·         Relaxation – Libraries are a great place to relax and enjoy some quiet time in between lectures. Whether you just want to check your emails, read a novel, or catch 40 winks in a comfy chair (yes, we’ve spotted you snoozing in the corner!) libraries are the perfect place to unwind.

A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

Time to revisit our A-Z of all things library related! This week we’re moving on to the letter Q...

Q is for:

·         Quality – Information is everywhere these days and is available at the touch of a button, 24/7. But with so much information out there and with so many sources to choose from, how can you be sure of its quality and provenance? By resisting the lure of Google and Wikipedia and visiting your nearest UWTSD library that’s how! Our libraries will only ever provide you with reputable, up-to-date and peer reviewed information, taking much of  the stress out of your research. So, the next time you’re preparing for an assignment, project or dissertation, remember it’s quality not quantity that counts! 

  

·         Questions – Our highly experienced library staff have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are used to dealing with your questions and queries...we’ve probably answered just about every type of question over the years! So if you’re struggling with your research and need help, don’t be afraid to come and ask us. There’s no question too big or too small!

·         Quiet – We try not to live up to the typical ‘shushing librarian’ stereotype these days (!!) and it’s true that there are many areas of the library where it is perfectly ok for you to talk and work in groups...but we do still maintain quiet study areas for those that need them. So, if you are looking for a little oasis of calm to get that last minute assignment or revision done, visit one of our libraries and look for the quiet zones. 

Dylan Thomas Day

On 14^th May 1953, Under Milk Wood, written by Dylan Thomas, had its first staged reading at the 92nd Street Y Poetry Center in New York. To commemorate this event, 14^th May has been designated as ‘Dylan Day’, a day chosen to celebrate the life and work of Dylan Thomas.  

Literature Wales  has invited everyone to join in the fun and a host of events has been planned, in the UK and around the world, from creative writing workshops, literary tours, educational resources and readings in unusual places!

If you would like to hear ‘Under Milk Wood’, a rare recording of a 1957 broadcast, narrated by Donald Houston, is available through the BBC. Or if you would like to read poetry, stories or plays by Dylan Thomas, or delve into biographies or critical essays about the author, have the look at our catalogue. We've plenty for you to choose from! 

                        Inside Dylan Thomas' Writing Shed in Laugharne.

                           (Photograph courtesy of: Alison Beckett)

A-Z of UWTSD libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

We hope you’re enjoying our library A-Z! We’re continuing our walk through the alphabet today with the letter P...

P is for:

·         Printing & Photocopying – All our libraries provide colour and black and white printing and photocopying facilities (most of our copiers also double up as scanners). There is a printing and photocopying account already set up for you as a UWTSD student, so all you need to do is bring your university ID card with you and pay for credits either at the main desk or the self-service machine. You’ll find plenty of printers and copiers available at all libraries. If you need any help using them just ask a member of library or IT staff.  

·         Pinterest – From library quotes to book art and vintage library posters, there’s something for everyone with a visual interest in libraries, books and reading on our Pinterest board. Take a look!

·         PsycARTICLES – If you’re looking for full text journal articles relevant to psychology and the behavioural and social sciences, look no further! This journal database provides access to over 180,000 full-text articles from more than 100 APA peer-reviewed journals. You’ll find it in our Online Library, Databases A-Z.

A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

There’s so much on offer from your UWTSD libraries! Let’s continue our A-Z guided tour with the letter O...

O is for:

·         Opening Hours – We do our best to be open at the times you need us most. In addition to standard opening hours, we offer evening and weekend opening during term time, we also keep some libraries open on Sundays and Bank Holidays where possible. All opening hours are on our website, just check before you leave home!

·         OnlineLibrary – The library buildings may not be open all day, every day, but we can still offer a 24/7 library service with the help of our Online Library! All you need is your university login and password and you’ll have access to a vast collection of Ebooks, Ejournals, Enewspapers, statistics, industry and company reports, case studies and much more...all at the touch of a button and in the comfort of your own home! Just visit the library website and follow the link...

·         Oxford Reference Online – Looking for a concise dictionary definition, alternative words from a thesaurus, or a famous quotation? Try Oxford Reference Online (one of our many databases in the OnlineLibrary). Think of it as a virtual reference shelf containing all the specialist dictionaries and encyclopaedias you could ever need! 

A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

Time to return to our A-Z journey through the highlights of UWTSD libraries…we’ve reached the letter N!

N is for:

·         Newspapers – Bring your assignments bang up to date by including some relevant news articles! You’ll find print copies of a selection of national and regional newspapers in most of our libraries and we also keep a limited amount of back issues, should you require them. You can also access newspaper articles via some of the databases in our online library.

·         Noise – Our libraries are divided into zones, quiet ones and noisy ones! We make provision for group study, individual study and silent study. Please work in the appropriate area and respect the needs of those who are sharing the library space with you.

·         Novels – If you need a break from all the hard core academic textbooks…why not borrow a novel from us? We stock a vast collection of classic and modern fiction within our library service! Take a look at our library catalogue or speak to a librarian if you need help locating anything.

·         National Libraries Day – It’s true, we’re so fantastic we have our own special day! At the start of February every year we have a national day dedicated to celebrating libraries and reading. So, remember to pop along to your local library next time, to see what events are going on and to show your support!

Library and Learning Resources / Information Technology and Systems Survey 2015

It’s that time of year again when we are running our Library and Learning Resources Satisfaction Survey. We value your opinions and would be very grateful if you could complete the survey. It will only take about 5 minutes to complete and we’ll use the results to inform our future service delivery and development. This year we've also included a section on Information Technology and Systems.

The survey runs from today, Tuesday 5^th May until Friday 12^th June. You’ll find the survey on our website, on Moodle or on MyDay. If you complete the survey, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win one of two  Amazon vouchers, worth £25 and £50. So, go ahead and have your say and you might win a prize!

 (Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)