Important! Last Chance to Save Your RefWorks References

Are you a RefWorks user? If so, it is important that you act now in order to ensure that you do not lose any of your work.

From the end of October 2017, the University will no longer be supporting RefWorks; so it is vital that you make provision to migrate any references you have in RefWorks to a new platform.

The University is now recommending Mendeley as our chosen referencing software. If you choose to use Mendeley migrating your references from RefWorks to Mendeley is a simple process, details of which can be found on the Referencing Software pages on Learn:

http://learn.lboro.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3539

These pages have further details about Mendeley, with videos and guides, informing you about the functionality of Mendeley and how to get started using it.

The Library is also running an introductory workshop on 9th November, 2-3.30pm.

Go to the Library website to book your place:

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

Alternatively contact your Academic Librarian for further details about workshops and Mendeley:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/staff-researchers/about/librarystaff/

Borrowing books over Easter vacation

We will be rolling the out the issue dates on all week and long loan items taken out for the Easter vacation on Friday 20th March 2015.

Any week and long loan items taken out ON OR AFTER this date will be issued until the start of the next term (Wednesday 29/04/15 for 1st and 2nd year Undergraduates and Friday 01/05/15 for Finalists and Taught Postgraduates).

The last recall notices for books will also go out on Friday 20th March 2015, so users should continue to check their emails up to that date to make sure they do not have to return books on their record before the end of term. We will not be issuing further recall notices during the vacation.

Please note that if a book reservation is collected AFTER the 20th March 2015 and it has ANOTHER hold request outstanding after the person who it is on hold for, it will only issue for ONE week NOT for the entire vacation period, so users should check the loan status very carefully as fines will still be levied on any book that is not returned by the due date .

High Demand book loans stay the same over the vacation period apart from Thursday 2nd April, when they will be issued until Wednesday 8th April when the Library re-opens after the Easter weekend.

Enjoy your vacation!3430706546_4d6fc995a0

Library staff member interviewed by ‘O Globo’ (major Brazilian newspaper)

U18770043[1]Dr Graham Walton, Head of Planning and Research in the Library, had the honour of being interviewed by ‘O Globo’ when he was in Rio de Janeiro this August. ‘O Globo has over 1 million readers and is the major Brazilian national newspaper. Areas covered in the interview were the increase in digital information, the impact on libraries and their buildings of digital information and how university students use technology in their learning.

He had been invited to be a guest speaker at the international Challenges of the Digital Library conference. This was organized by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) (a world renowned Think Tank and higher education provider). The conference debated challenging and emerging issues, such as management, technology and digital information. Graham provided two papers: one considering the importance of the User Experience (UX) in the digital library and the other about how physical library space is being changed by digital information.

Image copyright O Globo

Helping you get through the exam season

We know that revising is stressful enough without having to cope with issues such as faulty PCs, empty vending machines or messy washrooms.
If you notice any problem like these whilst in the Library please do let us know and we will advise our colleagues in IT Services, Campus Living and Facilities Management. Alternatively, if you prefer to contact these services directly please get in touch via the options below:

Don’t forget:

Together we can help make the whole exam experience a little easier!

Movember mug shots

4Thanks to all the marvelous people that came to give us feedback on the transformed Library last week.

As you can see from our facebook page, we have a whole album of photos where people have Mo’d up after claiming their free mug – can you see your photo up there? If so, feel free to tag and share it.

We have also made a donation for every photo we posted to the fantastic Movember campaign – maybe next year we can get people to grow real Mos and have their photos taken in the Library?

Need help? – ask a roamer!

 journals2                                              Ever wondered what those staff who wonder the floors of the Library are up to? Well, one possibility is that they could be one of the customer services team whose job it is to roam the floors to help out our users without them having to go to one of the enquiry desks.

The roaming staff work Monday – Friday between 11am and 3pm during the term, so if you see them and want some help, just let them know and they will be happy to help with finding books, printing problems or just helping you find where you want to go in the Library. They will have an iPad on them, so if you need to ask something to do with the catalogue, they will be able to give you an answer on the spot.

The roamers will also make sure people are behaving in an appropriate manner, that the printers are full of paper and that all the tables and chairs are kept neat on the lower floors. If you notice a problem that needs dealing with, let them know and we will take it from there.

University Library: Renewal reminder notice for staff & researchers

6334680358_f2ec282b4bThe next renewal reminders (Courtesy notice) for staff & researchers who have borrowed long loan books from the Library are due to be sent out on Monday 4th February 2013 for all long loan items that are due for return on 8th February 2013.

If you want to beat the rush, it is possible to renew your books now until 28th June 2013, either by logging on to the catalogue and renewing them online or by emailing the Customer Services Manager. M.S.Cunningham@lboro.ac.uk

For anyone who is not sure how to renew books online, we have prepared a short video with instructions.

Please note, if you have already renewed your long loan items, you will need to bring them back to the Library, return them on the self-service machines and reissue them to yourself, as staff and researchers only have one unseen renewal online.

Please ensure that you check your account and renew / return any items on or before the 8th February 2013 to ensure you are not fined for late returns. If you have any queries about your account, please ensure you contact the Library so that we can resolve an issues before any fines are charged.

'Spotted' pages on Facebook

Library_Rebecca_Hall_3_ScreenThe Library would like to draw attention to the recent statement from the University’s Chief Operating Officer about  ‘Spotted’ pages on Facebook

“We have become aware that a number of pages, entitled ‘Spotted’ and referencing various venues at Loughborough University, have been set up on Facebook.

We would like to make it absolutely clear that any student who posts inappropriate comments or material to these sites is contravening the University’s acceptable use of IT policy and, as such, the University will take disciplinary action against them.”

The necessary maintenance work to the Library’s Cafe 641 will now not be completed until the end of this week. Apologies for the disruption but during this time the Library shop, Paper 676, will remain open and shall be providing an alternative source for hot beverages and snacks.

We’d also like to remind visitors of our opening hours during the vacation this first week of January 2013:

Wednesday: 9.00 – 8.00
Thursday: 9.00 – 5.30
Friday: 9.00 – 5.30Library_Rebecca_Hall_1_Screen

Open access publishers: separating the wheat from the chaff

With the increased push to publish in open access (OA) journals, academics are often asking how to rate the quality of an open access journal – especially as many such publications are new and have no impact factors yet.  Unfortunately, many organisations are jumping on the OA bandwagon and are trying to cash in on academics’ need to publish by setting up low-quality OA journals.  We came across this list of “suspect” OA Publishers, and thought it might be a useful starting point.  If you want any further advice on choosing where to publish, please speak to your Academic Librarian.