Have Your Say! Library Focus Group

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.

Academic Writing Workshops

This term the Academic Language Support Service is running a series of free workshops on academic writing.  These workshops are designed primarily for students whose first language is English. 

The available workshops are as follows:

  • Using Supporting Evidence

SMB104 – 27th February 2019, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

  • Punctuation and Proofreading

D109  –  28th February 2019, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

  • Coherence in Writing 1  

Bridgeman BRI 2.08 – 5th March 2019, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

  • Coherence in Writing 2

Bridgeman BRI 2.08 – 12th March 2019, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

  • Paraphrasing and Summarising

Bridgeman BRI 2.08 – 6th March 2019, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

To book any of the workshops click on the titles below or go to Learn module LBA001 

Get the Know How for Semester 2

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

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

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/

LU Arts New Year Creative Writing Course

LU Arts Creative Writing evening class is back again in 2019 for another series, which is designed to hone your creative writing skills in any form. During this 10 week course, you will learn how to develop characters, utilize senses, create dialogue that will develop character and so much more. Their experienced tutor will focus on fiction but will be able to adjust course content to cover your particular writing needs!

“I loved the creative writing classes, particularly the variety of exercises and the balance between being encouraged to read work out and there not being any pressure to do so. Marianne was very encouraging and created a laid-back, inclusive atmosphere. The exercises she suggested helped me to think about my writing in different ways – the ‘crusty mustard’(!) exercise was especially useful in helping me to stop procrastinating and start writing something I could work with.” – Class Attendee (2018)

Places are now on sale and cost £50 for students and £100 for staff and the general public. To book classes, please follow this link: https://store.lboro.ac.uk/short-courses/lu-arts-lua/art-classes

The class will run every Wednesday evening 7-9pm from 9th January until 13th March 2019.

LBA001: Academic Writing Workshops

Using academic language appropriately and correctly can make a tremendous difference to the quality of your work, but it doesn’t always come naturally.

The Academic Language Support Service offers a range of support in academic writing and study skills specifically aimed at and designed for native or near-native English speaking students.

Students can sign up on Learn module LBA001 for courses on

Coherence in writing 1 Wavy Top WAV0.41 30th October 5PM – 6.30PM

Punctuation and proofreading Wavy Top WAV0.41 1st November 5PM – 6.30PM

Coherence in writing 2 Bridgeman Building BRI 2.08 6th November 5PM – 6.30PM

Paraphrasing and summarising Wavy Top WAV0.41 8th November 5PM – 6.30PM

Doctoral Researchers: Finding Information for your Literature Review and Beyond

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

Demystifying the REF – Limited Edition Workshop!

Come and find out how to demystify research quality – Everything you always wanted to know about REF / impact … but were afraid to ask!

‘Demystifying the REF: What is research quality and impact?’ is organised by Professor Liz Stokoe and runs on 10th May between10am-3pm. It includes a Q&A session, and some preparation is necessary before the workshop starts.

ALL @lborouniversity and @lborolondon Doctoral Researchers are welcome. You can book via Learn: https://bit.ly/2qCV9bg

Digital Tools for Learning

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