Introducing your Swansea Met library - The Owen Library

The third part of our series highlighting the libraries here at Swansea Met features the Owen Library, at our Mount Pleasant campus!

The Owen Library is named after former Principal John Trevor Owen, who was Head Master of the Grammar School and Principal of the Technical College here from 1901 – 1910.

 

 

 

The library holds the majority of print stock - a wide selection of books and journals - for the various Faculty of Design and Engineering courses taught at Mount Pleasant. It occupies both the ground and lower ground floors of the stand-alone building (opposite Registry/Finance/Café Metro) and offers a variety of services and facilities. We also have quite a nice view of the bay!

 

 



One facility to highlight early on is the lower ground floor computer room, where from time to time we hold online resources user education sessions, to help students (and staff!) learn how to find useful library e-resources i.e. journal articles, conference proceedings etc. To arrange a group session, just ask your lecturer to contact Erica Fothergill, FADE Subject Librarian.

Other notable facilities include our self-service kiosk where you can borrow, renew and return your items independently. We have thirty-seven networked PCs available for student use, and you can also print or photocopy onto A4 or A3, in either black and white, or colour.

In addition to being the location where FADE students now hand in assignments, the Owen Library has a multi-purpose room on the lower ground floor for collaborative work, which you can use for group discussion. The room is kitted out with a whiteboard to aid you with your discussions/presentation work, and colourful, informal seating! Other more formal study space is available on the ground floor, plus there is WIFI throughout the building if you are bringing your own mobile device.

 



Our team of staff are on hand to help with you any library-related queries, so do please come and ask!
Our term-time opening hours are:

Monday – Thursday: 8.45am – 8.00pm
Friday: 8.45am – 7.00pm
Saturday: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday: 12.00pm – 5.00pm
(For vacation hours and further information, see the library web site)

Please note that the days and times for the handing in of assignments are:

Mondays to Fridays 10.00am – 3.00pm only

Additionally, on display in the library is a folio of architectural designs and plans for the Free Grammar School of Swansea, produced by architect Thomas Taylor between September 1852 - January 1855. Also in the building we have two lovely stained glass windows – one next to the main staircase, and the other on the first floor (which is occupied by the Faculty of Art and Design).

For more information regarding the services or resources at the Owen Library, either call in, or telephone us on 01792 481 141. You can also keep up to date by following us and the other Swansea Met Libraries via our Blog, Facebook & Twitter pages.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Introducing your Swansea Met library - The Griffith Library at Dynevor

The second part of our series highlighting the libraries here at Swansea Met features our lovely Griffith Library, at the Dynevor campus!

The Griffith Library opened as a brand new library back in October 2005, when the Faculty of Art and Design moved to its new Dynevor campus. Originally named Dynevor Library, in 2011 it was re-named in memory of Art and Design staff member Sue Griffith, an inspiring lecturer and advocate of libraries and learning.

 

You can find the Griffith Library next to the main reception at Dynevor. In terms of size, although on two floors we are the smallest of all the Swansea Met libraries. We do however have a wide range of facilities and resources primarily catering for the needs of students and staff within Art and Design, and also the Swansea School of Glass. As we are so conveniently located close to the city centre, we are also popular with members of the public, who can join us through a local libraries scheme (Libraries Together) and borrow a small selection of books!

In terms of facilities, we offer students and staff access to a fantastic selection of books and print journals, space to study, networked PCs, printers and photocopiers (providing A4 and A3 printing/photocopying - in black and white or colour). We also have WIFI for anyone wishing to access the IT network via their mobile device, and a tv linked to a dvd/video player to watch films etc.

If you are looking for somewhere to relax for a while, we have a range of daily newspapers that you can find in our reading area. We also have a small selection of fiction titles in that area which you can borrow, if you fancy reading for pleasure as a change to academic studying! Currently the fiction theme is ‘As Seen on Screen’ – titles that have all been made into films (and were featured recently in another blog post of ours on 9th January).

Alternatively, if you are looking for ideas/inspiration, besides books, journals and e-resources we have quite a few artworks dotted around (paintings, ceramics, and even a bronze!)

Our small, friendly team of library staff are on hand to offer help and advice as required. We can advise on a range of queries, from helping to locate a book to using our library e-resources on and off campus.

Term–time opening hours for the Griffith Library are as follows:
Monday – Thursday: 9.00am – 8.00pm
Friday: 9.00am – 4.30pm
Saturday: 10.00am – 4.00pm
(For vacation opening hours, please see the library web site)

During opening hours you can check out a book or DVD at the library counter, or why not give our easy to use self-service kiosk a go? On the subject of DVDs, we have a great range of films in this library, perfect if you fancy chilling out on an evening/weekend.

The Griffith Library has welcomed a couple of famous visitors during its time! The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury officially opened the campus in 2006. Cerys Matthews also visited us in 2008, whilst promoting Welsh Libraries.

 

Lastly, if you have any further queries about the Griffith Library, do get in touch! Visit us in person, or telephone on 01792 481 030. You can also keep up to date by following us and the other Swansea Met Libraries via our Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Introducing your Swansea Met library - Townhill Library

You may remember our series of blog posts last academic year in which we introduced your Swansea Met subject librarians. This year, we thought we'd tell you a bit more about our four Swansea Met libraries. Here we go!

Townhill Library

Welcome to Townhill Library! You’ll find us on the beautiful Townhill Campus where you can enjoy stunning views of Mumbles and Swansea Bay. It’s not all about the location, though; you’ll find plenty of books, journals and other resources here to help you with your studies.

You’ll find all sorts on our shelves, but we mainly support the subject areas of Education, Performing Arts and Psychology & Counselling. If you’re looking for something less academic, we have an excellent collection of novels and poetry books for you to browse and borrow. We like our classics, of course, but we have lots of books published during this century too! Take a look at our themed book display for inspiration. You’ll find it on the ground floor at the bottom of the stairs and the theme changes regularly.

We also have a Teaching Practice collection on the first floor. There you’ll find picture books, junior fiction (including teenage and young adult fiction) and non-fiction books in Welsh and English. This collection is primarily for our trainee teachers to use on school placement, but any Swansea Met student or member of staff is welcome to borrow Teaching Practice books.

If you’re looking for somewhere to read the latest copy of The Stage, or just kick back with a book, we have a comfy seating area on the ground floor. We have study spaces on each of the three floors in the library, but the best spot must be on the first floor by the window where you can take in that beautiful view of the bay!

You’ll find an open access computer suite on the top floor and some PCs on the ground floor. You can of course print and photocopy in the library (for a small charge!). You’ll find our photocopier on the ground floor with our journal back issues.

Our term time opening hours are:-

Monday – Thursday                        8.30am-9.00pm

Friday                                                8.30am-7pm

Saturday                                10am-4pm

Sunday                                   12pm-5pm

And as if all that wasn’t enough, we’ve also got some lovely members of staff to help you find your way around! Just ask at the counter if you’ve got any questions about the library or need help finding a book. You can borrow and return books and DVDs at counter too, or use our self-service machine if you’d prefer. If you’re struggling with our online resources or just don’t know where to start, Assistant Librarians Suzanne Taylor and Philippa Price will be happy to help. You can contact Townhill Library on 01792 482113, or just call in and see us during opening hours!