Work experience in Hugh Owen Library

Laura Nichols, a 3rd year student at Aberystwyth University has just finished a short work experience placement with Information Services staff in Hugh Owen Library, via GO Wales.

This is what she had to say:

"My 3 days here have been really useful to me and have strengthened my understanding of what goes on behind the scenes in Information Services. My first day centred on Customer Services, I was introduced to ‘customer service mapping’ which emphasises the role of the customer in everyday processes. Working with the Lending Team was more hands-on, I was able to observe processes such as digitising, document supply and meeting with customers at the enquiry desk. My third day working with subject librarians was most interesting as I was able to see how the staff liaise with the different departments. The special collections were also interesting as I got to sit in on a meeting regarding a planned World War One display of Welsh students who went to war, which was particularly interesting to me as a History student.

After my time here I’ve found that each member of staff is responsible for multitude of different tasks so work never gets boring. The taster has really strengthened my understanding of Information Services and made me sure that I’d be interested in a career in librarianship or similar. It was great to experience things here and the staff were all very supportive and friendly".

Sarah Gwenlan, Laura Nichols and Joy Cadwallader in Hugh Owen Library, Penglais Campus

E-resource trial to 26th April 2014 - Irish Newspapers Archive

Access on archive.irishnewsarchive.com or through the Electronic Resources Trials page.

“Irish Newspaper Archives is the largest Digital Archive of Irish Newspapers in the world, with over 40 titles from all over the country, providing access to millions of newspaper articles spanning over 300 years of Irish history.”

It consists of digitised Irish news publications from 1738 onwards. It currently includes: the Freeman's Journal, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Irish Farmers Journal and some other regional newspapers. Further digitisation of these titles and the addition of new titles is ongoing.

• You can choose to explore by title, keyword, or time period.
• Search text articles, pictures, or adverts. 

Here's an example of what can be discovered - a book review from the Irish Independent, Tuesday 9th May 1939.  The reviewer certainly doesn't seem to have been able to get their head around James Joyce...

Two judges visit the Thomas Parry Library in one week

A post by Lillian Stevenson, Academic Services Manager and Law Librarian.

It was a real pleasure to welcome the Rt Hon The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd,  The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and His Honour Judge D. Elgan Edwards DL, Recorder of Chester, to the Thomas Parry Library, the new home for the Department of Law and Criminology’s library. It was a unique opportunity to discuss the role of legal information and law librarians, within the legal profession and legal education in the United Kingdom and internationally. Students studying in the library also found themselves cross examined but they rose to the challenge!

Literature Online is Changing

ProQuest Literature Online provides Aberystwyth University students and staff with access to a vast number of literary texts as well as collections of reference and critical materials. It is an essential resource for the study and teaching of English literature, poetry, and drama.

Things may look different the next time you access Literature Online - ProQuest has developed a brand new interface and the existing version will be taken offline in May 2014. Try the new LiteratureOnline now.

Here's a word from ProQuest:

The new Literature Online features all the existing content - the more than 350,000 works of poetry, prose and drama, the ever-growing full-text journal collection, the vast library of reference resources such as biographies, encyclopedias and companions, and the exclusive audio and video offerings - as well as the bespoke and specialist search features and functionalities. Now, however, that advanced functionality and in-demand content has been paired with a modern search interface which is more intuitive and straightforward to use and navigate. What's more, Literature Online is now fully mobile-compatible, meaning you can use it on tablets or smartphones, wherever and whenever you need it. 

A day in the life of a librarian #2

Anita Saycell, the Information Studies and Management and Business librarian.

8.45am: I arrive at work drenched from the journey in. A quick change and then at my desk catching up with emails. As any part-timer knows the emails don’t stop even though you are not in work! One of which includes a request for a 10 minute lecture drop in to chat about finding resources for an assignment. I find these are the best sessions as they are at the point of need and relevant.

A day in the life of a librarian #1

Question: What do librarians do?
Clue: It doesn't usually involve stamping books.
To get the answer, read on in this new series of blog posts! We've already had a 'meet your librarian' series, and will continue to write those. This series is 'a day in the life of a librarian' and will give you an insight into what some of the librarians do on a typical day. We'll just pick a few events from each day.

I'll kick this series off: I'm Karl Drinkwater, the psychology librarian.

This is where I work (standing up).

I call it The Temple of Doom.