Category Archives: Academic Services Team

Library STEM Subject Guides

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Finding the right sources of information for any subject can be tricky, given the vast amount of resources there are available to you via our vast range on online resources. This is especially true of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (or STEM) disciplines. With that in mind, our Academic Librarians have created a set of online guides tailored to these subject areas.

You can find the complete A-Z list of all the guides by following this link:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/subjectguides/

Each link gives you a concise run-down of everything you need to know about finding information for your subject, including the contact details for the Academic Librarian responsible for the School/Department concerned.

Be sure to visit and bookmark the links for future reference – you’ll certainly find them useful!

Have Your Say! Library Focus Group

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At the Library we pride ourselves on our openness to feedback, comments, and, when necessary, criticism. And thanks to you, we’ve made a number of changes to the ways we can help you get the best out of your studies.

From improvements to wifi coverage and IT facilities to loan recalls during vacations, to extended opening hours, you’ve told us what you’d like – and we’ve listened.

We’d like your help to help us help you again! We’re running a Library Focus Group on Wednesday 13th March at 12.15pm in Library Seminar Room 1 to get your feedback about how we’re doing. We’re open to discussion on any subject related to the Library – our resources, study spaces, skills support, anything you like.

By way of an added incentive, we’re throwing in a free lunch as well!

If you are interested in attending, please email library@lboro.ac.uk to register.

We look forward to seeing you – and hearing your ideas.

Get the Know How for Semester 2

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All set for Semester 2? If your answer is the wrong side of “maybe”, let us help you give your academic skills a timely boost through one of our range of ever-popular Get the Know How sessions at the Library.

Ranging from handy tips on essay & report writing to developing your critical thinking and introductions to referencing & bibliographic software, there’s something for every academic occasion that will stand you in good stead for the duration of your course.

Each session runs for between 50 – 90 minutes, depending on the subject matter, and they’re hosted in Library Seminar Room 1. However, as these courses have always proved extremely popular in the past, we are asking that people register for them first via Learn Module LBA001. To do that – and to look at exactly what courses are on offer and when – visit this link:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/students/eventsandworkshops/

Spotlight On… New Semester Resolutions

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As your New Year resolutions fade, how are you planning to start the new semester? What was your feedback like for your exams or coursework? Have you got plans for improving your grades next time? Come along to our Spotlight stand this week to share your thoughts and get support for any library-related issues such as:

  • Better time management
  • Better academic practice and referencing
  • More criticality 
  • More academic information resources

We look forward to seeing you at our stand in the Library foyer on Tuesday 5th February between 12-2pm, and Thursday 7th February between 2-4pm

If you can’t make these times and have a query, don’t worry, you can always contact your academic librarian directly:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/students/contactus/academic-librarians/

Spotlight On… Mendeley & Referencing

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As more assignment, project and dissertation deadlines loom after Christmas, are you confident about your referencing of resources?  Do you know your in-text citations from your bibliographies or reference list?  Are you getting your commas in the right places?  If referencing stresses you out, come along to our Spotlight stand in the foyer next week to find out more about:

  • What you need to reference
  • Why you need to reference
  • How you should reference correctly
  • What can help you

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 8th January 12-2pm and Thursday 10th January 2-4pm.

If you can’t make these times, and want to know more about or help with referencing, don’t worry, you can always contact your academic librarian: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/students/contactus/academic-librarians/

Beating Stress the Library Way!

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As today is National Stress Awareness Day, it’s a good time to remind you of the many ways the Library can help you to keep calm and carry on.

We offer a useful range of online advice sheets, covering everything from essay writing to revision skills – and stress busting!  We stock also stock an extensive range of self-help reading among the Mood Boosting and Books on Prescription range among our Leisure Reading section up on Level 4. To say nothing of the vast array of the latest fiction, biographies and graphic novels to help take your mind off your textbooks.

And if you’re getting stressed about finding information for your coursework, don’t panic – ask your Academic Librarian! Not only are they specialists in the knowledge areas for your particular Schools, they’re also very friendly and just love being asked questions! They also run, throughout the year, a series of Get the Know How sessions about practically every aspect of academic advice – sort of like our advice sheets, only with a friendly human face 🙂

Outside the Library, the University also provides specialist help with the mental rigours of academic life courtesy of the University Counselling Service, which offers a broad range of services ranging from one-to-one meetings with their experienced staff of fully trained counsellors, to online self-help resources and workshops tackling a variety of issues and topics including homesickness and meditation.

National Stress Awareness Day raises awareness about stress, how to prevent it and how to manage it once it occurs. Further resources on beating stress can be found on their website.

(Sadly Charlie the Cat isn’t available to borrow!)

Welcome to the Library

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So, you’ve made it to Loughborough – congratulations! At the University Library we take great pride in how we support all our new users – if you ever have a question about how we can support you, ask one of our friendly staff.

As a new student you are automatically enrolled as a member of the Library. your student ID card is also your Library card. Don’t lose it as you need to swipe in through the barriers to enter the Library and to use our self-service machines to borrow your books.

Getting the most of out of your Library

Academic Librarians will be out in the schools during induction week – look out for the Library session in your timetable. You don’t have to wait for the session to use us though – feel free to pop in when you arrive and have a look round, or just come along to one of the quick library tours & induction sessions we’re running over the first week of term.

We’ve also set up a dedicated web page for new starters full of handy tips about how to use the library and get the best out of us. Check it out here – http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/students/about/welcome/

Get the Know How Library workshops

During the autumn term Library staff will be running workshops offering helpful guidance on a wide variety of academic practices including essay writing, note taking, time management and presentation skills. You can find more information about these workshops on our webpages.

Using the Library

Enquiry Desks

The Library offers an Enquiry Desk Service across all levels of the Library during standard office hours (Monday – Friday 9AM to 5:30PM).  User Services staff will be able to help you with most of your enquiries and if necessary will refer you to a colleague with more specialist knowledge.

The Enquiry Desks are staffed by a smaller team of Library staff until 10pm on weekdays, and throughout opening hours on Saturday and Sunday. The staff will be able to help you with most of your enquiries but may need to refer you to a daytime member of staff for detailed assistance.

Finding Information

For specialised help in finding information in your subject area, each School has its own Academic Librarian to offer support and guidance.

Academic librarians are available to assist all University staff and students to find and use information resources effectively, develop library collections to meet your needs and to be your contact point for any information related enquiry.  They have all developed expertise in the subject areas of their Schools and are very happy to help.

Study Spaces

The Library has a range of different study spaces, from silent and quiet spaces to group and social areas. There are also a number of spaces that you can book online including grpup study rooms, bookable booths on Level 4 and individual study carrels on Levels 1 & 2 . Ask at the Enquiry Desk to be shown how to book these rooms yourself.

IT Facilities

There are 250 PCs (excluding those dedicated to accessing Library Catalogue Plus) available in the Library with the majority of these located on Levels 3 & 4. The Library also has a wireless network throughout the building, enabling users to connect to the University’s network from their laptops.

The Library provides basic A4/A3 monochrome and colour printing/copying facilities. Before being able to print or copy you will need to purchase printer credits. You can pay for this at the main Enquiry Desk on Level 3 of the Library.

PC Clinic

The Student PC Clinic is now situated on Level 3 of the Library and is available to help with any IT queries you may have. It is staffed during standard office hours through until 6PM (Monday – Friday) and is open 12pm-2pm at weekends.

Library Café & Shop

We have a café situated on Level 3 which is one of the most popular on campus, not least of all because of their amazing breakfast cobs – as Library staff will testify! We also have a small shop situated near the entrance which sells a variety of snacks, stationary and basic essentials.

Leisure Reading

Here at the Library we’re championing leisure reading! Why? Well, not only is reading for pleasure a great mood enhancer, it’s also strongly linked to academic achievement. So, if you want to give your grades a boost, why not come and browse our dedicated Leisure Reading Collection? The Collection comprises a broad range of genres including contemporary fiction, graphic novel, biography, memoir, crime, fantasy, horror and science fiction – something to suit all tastes!

… And of course, look out for our favorite feline, Charlie the Cat. Your Loughborough experience isn’t truly complete until you’ve had a selfie with him!

Doctoral Researchers: Finding Information for your Literature Review and Beyond

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If you’ve just started your PhD research, or if you’re looking for help and advice about finding information, we’re running a workshop next Wednesday that will prove extremely helpful.

This session enables you to turn ideas into an effective search strategy and statement. It outlines the current information landscape and takes you through the stages involved in deciding upon and developing an appropriate search strategy, as well as enabling you to create a search statement that you can put into practice. You will be able to seek and find research material in an effective and efficient manner using the resources available to you at Loughborough University, but also in the future too. You will be able to test and evaluate the search strategies and stantements for your own research topic as well as tryiing out citation techniques and setting up alerts to keep you up-to-date and further develop your knowledge of your research topic. 

Expert staff will be on hand to facilitate the session and provide guidance on resources and strategies.  You will also learn the key skill of critically assessing the results that you can find to further develop your search strategy.

The workshop will be taking place in Library Seminar Room 1 between 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 8th August. As spaces are quite limited, you will be required to book first. To do so, follow this link:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/students/eventsandworkshops/listing/dr-finding-information-for-your-literature-review-1.html

Digital Tools for Learning

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If you’re on campus next week, why not visit our ‘Digital Tools for Learning’ stands in the Library, James France and the Student’s Union between 12-2pm. Come and tell us what your favourite digital tool is and give us feedback about your experience with Learn – don’t forget to grab a freebie from us too! Below are the details of the dates and locations for the Digital Tools for Learning stands:

  • Monday 23rd – Library
  • Tuesday 24th – Students Union
  • Wednesday 25th – Library
  • Thursday 26th – James France
  • Friday 27th – Library

If you can’t make it to any of the stands, you can still contribute by answering a simple question here about your favourite online resources.

That’s not all! The library is hosting a workshop on ‘Learn Smart with Lynda, Digital Tools and Apps’ on the 27th April from 12-1pm. Click here to book now.   This session will introduce you to a range of web tools and apps which will help you with your studies:

  • Learn about the free online video tutorials available from Lynda.com
  • Discover a variety of apps which will help with all sorts of tasks from communicating and collaborating to problem solving and analysis

New Semester Resolutions

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As we approach Semester 2 now a great time to reflect on how the past semester went and how you might be able to develop your academic skills. We will be holding an event in the Pilkington Library on Tuesday 6th February and Thursday 8th February looking at how you can improve your academic skills. We’ll share some areas where the library can support you in your development.

Do you have any tips you’d like to offer your fellow students on how you can improve your grades? Share your thoughts on twitter using #lboroNSR or on Facebook @lborolibrary. We’d love to hear what you think.