A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z



Our new series A-Z of Libraries highlights the many varied features and services we provide for our users, today we continue with the letter B…

 

B is for:

·       Blog – All our UWTSD libraries have a strong social media presence (you’re probably reading this via one of them!). Our blogs enable us to highlight important events and services, as well as writing features on topical issues relevant to libraries and Higher education. We encourage comments and interaction with our readers…and even invite the occasional guest blogger to add some variety! Take a look at our blogs here – (Swansea)  http://www.uwtsdswansealibraryblog.blogspot.co.uk/  - (Carmarthen/Lampeter/London) http://uwtsdlibraryblog.blogspot.co.uk/

·       Business Information – Our Swansea Business Campus library provides all the business information you could possibly need, from textbooks on strategic management or how to write a business plan, to newspapers such as the Financial Times and company or industry information via online databases such as Marketline. We even have expert Business librarians to help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

·       Books – Obviously! We stock essential and background texts from all your course reading lists, as well as useful reference books such as dictionaries and directories. We also have many e-books available via our online library.

·        Borrowing – You can borrow items from us ranging from as little as 24 hours up to 6 weeks, depending on the loan category. Undergraduates can borrow up to 15 items at any one time (more than enough to keep you busy!) while Postgrads can borrow up to 20 items. Think of all the money you could save borrowing instead of buying!! ;-)

·         Book club – We may have something in the pipeline, so watch this space…!!! J

12 days of Christmas at the library

Have you spotted our 12 days of Christmas on the library Facebook page yet? We’ve been using the run up to the festive period to let you know about some of the resources and services available from your UWTSD Swansea libraries. In case you missed it, here they are, with links to more details!

On the first day of Christmas, my library gave to me… a subject librarian to advise me,

 

On the second day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 2 external borrowing schemes to use other libraries,

On the third day of Christmas, my library gave to me… lots of books to borrow, some for 3 weeks,

On the fourth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 4 amazing campus libraries in Swansea,

On the fifth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 5 Open Access IT zones with internet and printing facilities,

On the sixth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 6 ways to get in touch with your library,

On the seventh day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 7 fabulous Ebsco databases with access to 1000s of journals for your subject,

On the eighth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 8 more amazing databases offering journal articles and more to help with my research and assignments,

On the ninth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 9 great study skills books,

On the tenth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 10 popular Ebooks to read online

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 11 subject areas to choose from

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my library gave to me… 12 months of open libraries!

So there you go, there’s lots on offer to help you with your studies all year round. Please get in touch if you have any questions. Nadolig Llawen!

Have you heard the one about...?

Today sees the announcement of the funniest joke of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so it seems an apt time to unveil Townhill Library’s Comedy display! Your Swansea Met library might not be the first place you’d think to go for some laughs, but we have quite a selection of funny DVDs and books available for loan. Some of the highlights have been gathered together for your perusal at Townhill Library, so do call in and have a look. From the classic Monty Python’s Meaning of Life to David Walliams’ Mr Stink, we’ve quite a range to offer you! Remember, due dates are extended over the summer vacation, so if you borrow something now you won’t have to bring it back until the 4^th October.

(In case you were wondering, the funniest joke is by Rob Auton, who's heard a rumour that Cadbury is bringing out an oriental chocolate bar. It could be a Chinese Wispa.)

Would you like to borrow books from other libraries?

If you are a student or member of staff at Swansea Met, did you know that you have access to other libraries - local, regional and even national, through two amazing schemes that we are part of?


If you are interested in using other libraries in the South West and Mid Wales region, the ‘Libraries Together’ scheme is perfect for you! It is a collaborative venture via SWAMP (South West and Mid Wales Libraries Partnership) and is open to anyone. As a Libraries Together member, you can borrow books from the public, university and college libraries within this area, for free!

If, on the other hand you would like to use other university libraries, SCONUL Access is your scheme! This scheme is also free, but is targeted mainly at part-time students, post-graduate students and members of staff. SCONUL Access covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland – take a look at their website if you would like to find out more...

http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access

SCONUL Access is particularly useful for students who study in Swansea during term-time, but live elsewhere within the UK and return home during vacations.

So if you would like more information about either scheme or would like to sign up to join, please do contact your subject librarian or myself at the Griffith Library!

Are you interested in using other university libraries?

If you are an academic member of staff, postgraduate student or part-time undergraduate student at SMU and would like to be able to borrow material from other UK university libraries, then the SCONUL Access scheme is for you!

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal access scheme, granting borrowing privileges to many types of library users working or studying at participating higher education libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The scheme also provides a reference only service for most full-time undergraduate students.

For more information see their comprehensive website at http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/ and if you would like to join please come and speak to one of the SMU Librarians!

Happy Graduation!

Congratulations to all those SMU students who are graduating this week! Wishing you all a happy and prosperous future...

For those of you who will continue to live/work/study in Swansea or the locality and want to be able to borrow from our SMU Libraries as an 'external borrower', please come and speak to one of our librarians for more information.

New books on display

At Dynevor Library, we have a 'new books' section on level 1 (next to the current journals) where you can browse and borrow recently acquired Art & Design library items.

Currently on there you can find a nice selection of art exhibition catalogues from the UK, and further afield!

So next time you visit the library come and take a look, you may discover something new and exciting...

Christmas vacation borrowing

From tomorrow, Saturday 20th November, all ordinary loan category items borrowed or renewed by students will be due back in January! So you can take advantage if you wish to get lots of reading done over the Christmas vacation.

Other loan categories will also follow suit but nearer the end of term - please ask library staff if you would like more information.

Borrow, borrow, borrow!

All three SMU Libraries have quick and easy to use self-service kiosks, where you can issue, renew and return our books/DVDs/videos yourself!

Make the most of our free resources - undergraduates can borrow up to 15 items at any one time, postgraduates 20, and staff 30.

So why not try self-service the next time you visit us, and if you need any help just ask a member of Library staff!

Getting to know your library

Have you looked at our Library Guide yet? It’s available online and can be accessed from the Library Website (www.smu.ac.uk/library). Just look for the link down the left hand side of the Library Web Pages (you might need to scroll down the page to see it). The Library Guide has information about loan periods, borrowing rights, fines, renewals, reservations and other Library services, so it’s well worth a look!

You can find out about your campus Library by clicking on the link to Dynevor Library, Owen Library or Townhill Library on the homepage. This is where you’ll find the contact details for your library, as well as opening hours and even a virtual tour.

Happy birthday Agatha Christie!

Yes, it seems to be everyone’s birthday this month. If she was still alive, Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie, would have been 120 years old today. The writer, who gave us both Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, was born in Torquay on the 15th September 1890. Find out more about Dame Agatha on her official website (http://www.agathachristie.com/) and check out the BBC Archive pages for interviews and features (http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/agatha_christie/). For more scholarly analysis, the databases JSTOR and Literature Online, which are accessible from the Library Web pages, have a number of journal articles on the subject of detective fiction and Christie in particular.

You’ll find a selection of books by Agatha Christie, including her autobiography, in Townhill Library at shelf mark 823.912. To find out more about Torquay, try the Great Britain travel section at shelf mark 914.1 in Owen Library on the Mount Pleasant campus. Please check the Library Website for our opening hours.

International Literacy Day

Today is International Literacy Day. Why not celebrate by borrowing a book from your nearest SMU Library? Or go mad and borrow a few! Undergraduates can borrow up to 15 at a time and postgraduates can have up to 20. You’ll find books covering all sorts of topics on offer in the three libraries, so why not take this opportunity to browse around outside you subject area?

You can find out more about International Literacy Day 2010, which focuses on Literacy and Gender, on UNESCO’s website: http://tinyurl.com/2apydj8.

Nothing on the telly?

Are you a film buff? Fed up of paying astronomical prices at the cinema? Did you know that SMU libraries have lots of DVDs available to borrow for free? You’ll find a selection at shelf mark 791.4372 in each of our three libraries. Choose from vintage classics, foreign-language favourites or more mainstream films. Don’t forget, any items borrowed now won’t have to be returned until the 30th September, so you’ll have a whole month to enjoy your movies. You’ll have to supply the popcorn yourself, though!

Top five most borrowed books from SMU Libraries!

From September 2009 through to the end of June 2010, the five most borrowed books from our libraries were:

1. 'Exploring Corporate Strategy' by Gerry Johnson, Kevan Scholes & Richard Whittington
2. 'Management and Organisational Behaviour' by Laurie J. Mullins
3. 'Research Methods in Education' by Louis Cohen, Lawrence Manion & Keith Morrison
4. 'Ways of Learning : learning theories and learning styles in the classroom' by Alan Pritchard
5. 'The Theory and Practice of Change Management' by John Hayes

The above titles (except for no.4) are also available as e-books through our library catalogue!

Summer vacation borrowing...

As it is the summer vacation period, we are currently issuing all loanable items - books, videos, DVDs etc. until 30th September. It's a good opportunity therefore to borrow these for more relaxed summer reading/viewing!