A-Z of UWTSD Libraries...

Image courtesy of: Josh Filhol / Library A-Z

We’ve been working our way through the alphabet to highlight some of the great services your UWTSD libraries offer! Today we continue with the letter F…

F is for:

·      Facebook: Like us on Facebook and we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news and developments within your UWTSD library service. If the library has to close at short notice or there are problems with the IT network, you’ll hear it here first…if we’ve got a fab new journal database or some new books have just arrived, we’ll publicise it via Facebook…or if you just want to have a laugh at photos of the library staff in fancy dress for World Book Day (tomorrow!!) this is where you’ll find them!         

·         Fiction: If you want a break from the serious textbooks you have to read for your course, why not borrow a novel from your UWTSD library too? You’ll find plenty of fiction available - take look at our library catalogue to locate something of interest. Swansea students will also find a selection of novels chosen by the librarian on display at each campus library to whet your appetite, plus items can be requested from other sites if required.

·     Films: You’ll find a vast selection of films available for loan from your UWTSD libraries. From mainstream to art-house or foreign language cinema, we have something for everyone! We’ve got all your entertainment needs covered!

·        Free: The best part about our library service is that it’s completely FREE! Free to loan books and other items (including laptops!), free computers, free WI-FI, free scanning, free newspapers, free online library, and free professional advice from your subject librarian! The only thing you’ll ever need to pay for is printing and photocopying…and perhaps the odd fine if you’re late returning your books!

Cwtch up with a book!

There’s definitely a chill in the air out there! It’s the perfect weather for cosying up by the fire and settling down with a good book (and perhaps a cup of tea and a biscuit!). With that in mind, the staff at Townhill Library have picked out some ‘cosy fireside reads’ to tempt you this Autumn. See anything you fancy?

Hydref

As Seen on Screen - Part 2!

The Griffith Library at Dynevor has a fantastic new selection of fiction for you this term, on loan from our colleagues at the Townhill Library! The theme is ‘As Seen on Screen’ and we have a dozen titles now available to borrow including ‘War Horse’, ‘Atonement’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’.


So if you fancy giving yourself a little break and reading for pleasure instead of for studies, pop into the Griffith Library - you’ll find them on our fiction trolley in the newspaper reading area!

Successful author visit!

SMU students and staff were delighted to welcome Swansea-born author, Joe Dunthorne, to our Townhill Library last Tuesday afternoon.

Joe spent a wonderful hour with us, talking about his work as well as reading extracts from his novels 'Submarine' and 'Wild Abandon,' and some of his poetry. Afterwards, he answered questions and signed copies of his novels.

The event had been organised as part of the South West and Mid Wales Regional Library Partnership 'Reading Roadshow' campaign, to promote books and inspire reading.

Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2011

The winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2011 has been announced as Tea Obreht, first time novelist and the youngest author to win the award in its sixteen year history!

Her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife, saw off competition from five other shortlisted writers including Emma Donoghue, with her outstanding novel Room. Obreht's book is set amid the horrors and aftermath of Balkan civil war; Obreht herself was Belgrade-born but is now living in the USA.

We will be purchasing a copy of The Tiger's Wife for the fiction section of our Townhill Library, but in the meantime, if you'd like to get your hands on the novel, Swansea public library service has several copies available - check their online catalogue for details!

Classic literature selection now available at Dynevor Library!

If you fancy reading a classic novel, we now have a selection available for this term at Dynevor Library! Titles including 'Heidi', 'Frankenstein', 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' and 'Pride and Prejudice' can be located on our fiction trolley, next to the daily newspapers.

These titles normally reside at Townhill Library, which has a wide range of fiction both modern and classic, to suit all tastes.

So if you are looking to temporarily escape from your studies and immerse yourself in classic literature, hopefully we have something to tempt you!

I'm a Celebrity Librarian...Get Me Out of Here!

When we think of librarians most of us have a stereotypical image in our minds of what they look like...so for your collective amusement I’ve compiled a little selection of some of the most famous real life and fictional examples!

FACT:
· Giacomo Casanova – More famous as a lothario than a librarian, Casanova spent the last 13 years of his life working as a librarian for the Count of Waldstein at his chateau.
· Benjamin Franklin – One of America’s founding fathers. He also founded the first American library where he served as a librarian for a brief period of time.
· Jacob Grimm – Famously of the Brothers Grimm, he worked as a librarian in Kasel after graduating with a law degree.
· Lewis Carroll – This famous author worked briefly as a sub-librarian at Christ Church, Oxford.
· Laura Bush – Former First Lady of the USA...also happens to have a Masters degree in Library Science.

FICTION:
· Batgirl – Her alter-ego Barbara Gordon was the Head Librarian of Gotham City Library.
· Rupert Giles – School librarian of Sunnydale High in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
· Evelyn ‘Evy’ Carnahan – Rachel Weisz famously played this ditzy librarian in The Mummy.
· Flynn Carsen – Noah Wyle played the part of the adventurer librarian in a series of TV movies.
· Mary Bailey – In the film It’s a Wonderful Life, George’s wife Mary was almost condemned to a life as a spinster librarian, poor girl!

If you were surprised by this list, why not pop into one of the SMU libraries today and meet our friendly subject librarians in person...we may not have super powers like Batgirl, but we’re ready and willing to help!