Information Services have replaced the touchscreen information points in the library. These allow you to do anything from searching the library catalogue to looking up the timetable for the University bus. Have a play and see what they offer.
If you are returning after your first year, it is a sure and certain thing that you will be looking for journal articles at some point. The easiest way to find journal articles is by searching the Discovery Service. Happily, finding articles is surprisingly easy, especially if you watch this quick video covering our top tips for finding precisely what you need. And if you can’t find what you want, there is always a friendly librarian waiting to help!
There are lots of ways you can get in touch with a librarian, whether you missed your library course induction, can’t find the right web form to request a book be picked off the shelf and reserved or posted to you, or you need in-depth help constructing a search for information in an advanced database. Here’s a quick summary for the perplexed.
Even in the hottest weather, we are still here to help. If you are very sensibly staying at home, you can still chat to library staff online using our online chat service. Holidays notwithstanding, Faculty Librarians are also here to help online with detailed subject enquiries.
Don’t forget that if you feel the need for a demonstration of an eresource, a step-by-step explanation of referencing, feedback on where your referencing or search has gone wrong and how to make it all better, or just a simple chat about what the library offers, you can just drop in on the duty librarian.
From Monday 20 June, we will be operating an ‘on request’ Duty Librarian service. The Duty Librarian office itself will be closed but you can ask to ask to speak to the duty librarian 9 am – 5 pm, Mondays – Fridays, just like during term-time.
Essentially, the duty librarian will be on hand, they just don’t want to sit in total isolation all day, hoping to speak to someone before they go mad with loneliness.
If you need more than a quick answer and want a one-to-one chat support session with your Faculty Librarian – online over video chat or in-person – the easiest way to arrange this is to use the Book a librarian booking form on the library website. Click the blue/white question mark button to bring up the Ask us page and choose the “Book a librarian” option.
It’s great to be able to get instant answers from anywhere over the internet using the online chat service but sometimes nothing beats actually being able to show the librarian the paper or book you are having difficulty with and discussing your problems with them. We have two screens, so you can watch in real time as the librarian demonstrates how to search a database and builds a search, explaining each step as they go – something that is much easier than through online text chat. Not to mention that it is just nice to see a friendly face when you are feeling a little lost.
It sometimes feels like the Duty Librarian office is our best kept secret. Covid secure procedures meant we had to keep the most obvious door to the space closed… until today! From today, we are flinging open all the doors …
Did you know you can chat to a librarian in person again in the library? We had to suspend this service before Christmas in line with Government guidelines but now we are back in force. Sometimes there is nothing better …
