Monday, 13 June 2011

Summer Travels!

It's that time of year again when we're all starting to think about our summer holidays and, given the unpredictability of the great British summer, it's no wonder that we have thoughts of more exotic foreign climes!! If you've already booked your trip, or if you're simply looking for some inspiration, why not pop into the Owen library and take a look at our extensive range of travel guides? Whether you're going for a relaxing beach holiday, a road trip across America, or backpacking your way around Europe we've got all the information you'll need to make your trip a success! Try searching our library catalogue now.



Maybe you'd like to tell us where you're off to on your hols this year...or if you have a fantasy holiday destination you've always dreamed of visiting? Share your favourite/funniest holiday memories with us, we'd love to hear them!



Oh, and in case you were wondering...my favourite holiday destination is Italy (hence the photo of me in Venice!), my dream holiday would be a trip to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights...but this year I'm off to Croatia for a week in September!

Thursday, 9 June 2011

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!

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Summer Vacation - SMU Libraries Are Open!

All three SMU Libraries will be open right through the summer vacation if you wish to use our services and facilities! Please see the individual Library information on our website for further information on opening hours: www.smu.ac.uk/library

Also, any 'ordinary loan' items now issued or renewed are not due back until 6th October! Weekly loan items issued/renewed from Saturday 18th June will also be due back then, with two-day loan items 'rolling over' from 23rd June, and overnight loans from 24th June! If you have any queries regarding this, please just ask a member of library staff for clarification.

So if you are living in or staying in Swansea over the summer months and want to use our libraries, we are open, and look forward to seeing you!

Monday, 6 June 2011

Trial of IEEE/IET Electronic Library (IEL) and IEEE Xplore® Digital Library

Are you looking for information on technology that is relevant to your studies?

Whatever course you are studying, try searching the IEEE/IET Electronic Library (IEL) and IEEE Xplore Digital Library and let us know what you think! For a trial period from 6th June - 5th July, the resource can be accessed from the A-Z listing of Online Resources at http://www.smu.ac.uk/library (select Databases and then IEEE/IET Electronic Library).

Access has been made available for use both on and off campus during the trial, so take a look - this package may be more than you think it is!

Blog-tastic!

Our blog has received more than 10,000 pageviews since its creation last July!

The top five most popular individual posts to date are:

1. World Book Day 2011 (386)
2. I'm a Celebrity Librarian...Get Me Out of Here! (331)
3. Titanic Anniversary (293)
4. What do you love about your SMU Library? (255)
5. New e-books available (132)

Thank you to all our followers and viewers!

Friday, 3 June 2011

Wales’ new children’s poet laureate announced

Eurig Salisbury is the new Welsh-language Children's Poet Laureate (Bardd Plant Cymru), charged with the task of promoting poetry to the children of Wales. He takes over from Dewi Pws Morris and will hold the title for two years. The announcement was made right here in Swansea at the Urdd Gobaith Cymru National Eisteddfod. Check out the Welsh Books Council website to find out more about our new laureate and his role. Da iawn, Eurig!

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Reminder to final year students!

Please remember to return all library items, and clear any library debts before you leave the University.

And wishing you all the very best for your future as SMU graduates, from Library & Learning Resources service!