We’ve just added some new EU leaflets and booklets to the designated stand on Level 2 (next to the Information Desk – look out for the EU emblem).  Titles  include:

• The EU: what’s in it for me?
• A guide to your rights as an EU citizen: freedom to move and live in Europe
• Speaking for Europe: languages in the European Union
• Investing in our common future: the budget of the European Union
• The EU in the world: the foreign policy of the European Union

You’ll also find our popular, up-to-date leaflet on travelling in Europe and one for job-seekers. 

 Feel free to take whatever you need (and ask for more if it’s empty!).

The Library also houses a European Documentation Centre (EDC) -  an extensive collection of publications and documents of the EU. Click here for more information.

Charles Dickens c.1865, copyright the Penn State Special Collection Library, reproduced under CC Licence from Flickr

February 7th 1812 marked the birth of the Victorian era’s most popular author – Charles Dickens. And to celebrate the occasion, a new website has been set up exploring his life, his works and its influences.

Her Majesty Queen Elzabeth II, image copyright the National Archives, reproduced under CC Licence from Flickr

Sixty years ago today marked a momentous occasion in contemporary British history – Princess Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI, to become Queen Elizabeth II.

Loughborough University achieved excellent results in last year’s survey, with 88% of students (out of a national average of 83%) expressing satisfaction with their course.

The NSS is a national initiative, conducted annually since 2005. The survey runs across all publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the majority of HEIs in Scotland. Additionally, Further Education Colleges (FECs) in England and Further Education Institutions (FEIs) in Wales with directly funded higher education students are eligible to participate.

The survey asks final year undergraduates to provide feedback on their courses in a nationally recognised format, students on flexible courses will be asked to participate as they near the end of their course but not necessarily in their final year. There are 23 core questions, relating to various key aspects of the student learning experience.

To register your vote, visit the NSS website:

http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

A BIG thank you to everybody who helped make our National Libraries Day event such a big success on Friday. People were kind enough to complete over 200 questionnaires about the Library & Cafe 641 – and ate a lot of cake into the bargain!

Image copyright Roxana Morosanu

Ever wondered what Academic Librarians do? What their hopes (and fears) are of, and for,  the role of University Libraries in the ever-changing landscape of 21st century higher education?

Just to remind you that the Library is hosting a National Libraries Day celebration in the foyer this lunchtime between 11AM-2PM.

Visitors to our stand in the foyer can help themselves to cake and tokens for free coffee. All we ask in return is that you complete a very brief questionnaire about what you most like about the Library and Cafe 641.

Hope to see you there!

Please take a moment to consider signing Eduserv’s e-petition urging our Government to reduce the VAT burden on e-publications.

Universities and colleges are obliged to pay VAT at the full standard rate, which is currently 20%, on their subscriptions to electronic academic journals, books, newspapers and magazines.

We believe that they should be treated in the same way for VAT as printed publications. Printed versions of the same resources are zero-rated in the UK; in the rest of Europe VAT is applied at the reduced rate, currently 5%.

This extra VAT burden means that libraries have less to spend on electronic publications making it very difficult for them to move towards e-provision.

Electronic publications are greener, save valuable storage space and offer increased availability for the majority of users. 

Sign our e-petition to urge our Government to do one of two things:

1. Introduce zero-rated VAT on electronic academic publications.
2. Or, if it is not feasible to add electronic publications to the list of zero-rated goods then to follow other European countries and apply VAT at the reduced rate now and consider reducing this to 0% as soon as possible.

We need 100,000 signatures for the topic to be debated in the House of Commons. Anyone can sign:

• You will need to provide your name, address and email
• You can choose to receive email updates from the government about the e-petition

Sign here http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28226

Thank you.

This session provides an overview of a wide range of electronic current awareness services that enable you to keep up-to-date with newly published information.

For more information please contact Staff Development

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/sd/index.html

We’re pleased to report that the E-Learning Showcase yesterday was a raging success, and that the Library stands have never been busier - we even had people lining up to discuss copyright with us at one point!

The stands covered copyright and e-learning, development of students’ academic skills and in particular the Academic Practice module, encouraging students to read for academic purposes, and plagiarism avoidance. 

If you missed the event (shame on you!) but have any concerns about any of the topics covered, don’t worry – you can catch up by contacting your friendly neighbourhood Academic Librarian. The photograph above shows but a small selection from our extensive knowledgeable & cheerful range!