bucksBiblio Library Newsletter

Issue 3 : AUTUMN 2010

W elcome to the third issue of bucksBiblio, Library Services’ biannual newsletter. In this issue: • A week in the life of the Library Services Supervisor • Tips on developing “healthy information habits” • The Sørensen Collection • Bag yourself a design prize • New shelf-ready book acquisition service • Our regular What’s Hot Resource Review • Lots of useful information about the Library services Read on for bucksBiblio…

A warm welcome to all our new and returning students as we start the new academic year. Both the Gateway and Uxbridge libraries have been operational for 1 year now, supporting students and employees with their information needs. The Gateway Library became a film set full of lights, cameras and actors over the summer as we were part of the location for the Channel 4 programme “Campus”. The comedy, based on a fictitious university campus, is scheduled for release in 2011 so see if you recognise your library!

Denise Watson and Jan Gaska (left) are the new service desk team at Uxbridge. They work closely with librarian Mike King and IT support (Phil Elias and Mike Thomas) to provide a quality service to students. They comment, “The library can get very busy at times, especially at student hand-ins, but it has its own vibe and is a cosy place to study. Working closely with the students helps build up a good rapport with them and a clear understanding of their information needs”. This rapport is what Denise and Jan especially enjoy about working at Uxbridge.

W e are delighted that Elizabeth Chamberlain (right) has rejoined the Library Team. She says, “After 9 years at Bucks I am now Systems and Research Librarian with responsibility for the systems which allow users to find and borrow books, the self-issue units, and ensuring smooth access to online journals and databases. This role involves developing new functionality and ensuring services are up to date. With the Subject and Research Librarians, I help the University’s researchers maximise the library’s information resources to their full potential.

Library staff have been busy this summer with a stock-take of resources at Uxbridge. This mammoth task involved physically checking every item in the library.

I also hold responsibility for the Bucks Knowledge Archive – our repository for research output. One of my aims is to ensure our research activities are visible to the world! Watch this space for more news on this...!”

Sørensen Collection

T he Sørensen Collection is a set of books, journals, reports and videos, mainly on the subject of security management, but also covering related topics such as crowd control, criminology, defence issues (including warfare and terrorism) and business management. Sørensen material can be easily spotted by an S in a green circle on the spine, as shown above.

It is a bonus to have this in-depth collection in one convenient location on the third floor for use by students and staff on security and venue and crowd-safety courses. New material is added to the collection from time to time.

Why Sørensen? The collection came to Bucks from the security firm G4S, who named it after their pioneering Swedish founder Jørgen Philip-Sørensen, who died at the beginning of this year and is remembered as a security legend. The wide range of subjects it covers reflects his aim to professionalise the security industry. Long may it continue.

George Rippon (above), veteran member of the School of Applied Management and Law academic staff, says: Earlier editions of your newsletter, despite giving brief pen-pictures of library staff, seemed not to contain much by way of praise for the library service. Edwin P. Whipple once said, "Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time." Over the years many shipwrecked students, especially those on the rocks with their dissertation, have been rescued by a Grace Darling from the library.

Careers Library Heather Boyd writes, “Access to the Careers Library has been improved with its new home on level 2 in the Gateway Library, by the staircase. Material includes sector handbooks, graduate directories, and career leaflets, all freely available, to keep students informed about employers and opportunities available. We hope to have a weekly drop in session at the Library for students to meet the Careers Team for advice.” bucks.ac.uk/careers

Roland on... Developing healthy information habits

T he Acquisitions Team has just received its 1st box of shelf-ready books. This improved procedure will see books arriving processed and ready to go on the shelves for students. This project has meant visits to and from our book suppliers and much time in setting up reports for our Library Management System to make this new process work.

A week in the life of the Library Services Supervisor by Christa Knott

I have been working in the library for about 15 years. The best part of this job is that every day and week is different and each academic year brings something new.

Essentially, my role is to ensure that staff are timetabled at the service desks at both campuses daily. I also deal with any issues that cannot be resolved at the service desks. Monday: Deal with any messages from the weekend regarding library accounts. Review service desk cover and take my turn there helping our customers. Meet with library assistants to discuss which areas of the library need attention. Start work on next week’s timetables and arrange meetings to discuss how we can improve service. Update the training manual for new library staff. Tuesday: My late evening, starting at 2pm. Start by working through e-mails and enquiries. Then a meeting with the Library Services Manager for an update on the coming week and discussion on future developments. More time spent on timetable planning and management of the pay station machines. Wednesday: Open the service desk and check the library e-mail. Attend library team meeting to discuss service provision for library visitors including students from other universities through the SCONUL scheme and members of the public through TV Inspire. Take a turn at the service desk to handle enquiries and book study rooms for students. Then check all floors of the library for priority tidying and that the silent study area is quiet. Thursday: As well as supporting the service desk assistant, I e-mail new timetables to the Library Team and deal with any e-mail enquiries. My role is cross-campus so the rest of my day is spent at Uxbridge where I manage the pay stations and assist students at the service desk with a wide range of enquiries. Friday: Check the floors in the library, open the service desk and deal with enquiries. Then update colleagues on improved working practices and service developments. Interview students for extended opening hours Service Assistant posts at Uxbridge. A busy but very enjoyable week!

Digital Display Screens

N eed to know about e-book rentals from DawsonEra? Location of the silent study area? The University Counselling Service? (visit bucks.ac.uk/counselling) Where to buy books at Blackwells on campus? ... look at the digital display screens in the Library!

N eed a book or book chapter but it's out on loan? All the titles on the Dawsonera platform, apart from those purchased by the library, can be rented by credit card for a 1, 2 or 3 week period. Visit www.dawsonera.com or see the digital display screens for full details.

A little bit of fun … can you guess where this picture (left) was taken in the Gateway Library? Prize of £5 print / photocopy credit for the 1st correct answer E-mail suggestions to biblio@bucks.ac.uk The answer to the mystery pic from Issue 2 (right) is...the window mesh!

Resource Review: What’s Hot SocINDEX with full text – latest library database acquisition This is truly “the mother of all databases” for sociology, all its varied branches and sub-branches. And the beauty of it all is that so much material is current and available in full text, although the archive for some material goes back to 1908. I have searched & retrieved relevant results for just about every subject taught in the university except pure mathematics & computing. Use it for your studies and teaching – you will benefit for sure!! Elik Borrill – Subject & Research Librarian Lee-Wright, Peter (2010). The documentary handbook (find it at 070.18 LEE) Drama-docs, shock-docs, fly-on-the-wall, spoofs, wildlife spectaculars; how the other half live, how we wish we could live; TV broadcasting and the new media; incisive, hard-hitting or trivial: Lee-Wright's book covers all these aspects of documentary film-making. He considers the ethical implications and the political and editorial constraints and goes on to discuss the skills and job specifications required for anyone seeking to make a career in documentaries. A must. Roland Scales - Subject & Research Librarian

Mike says...Did You Know ?

• The Library supports the National Literacy Trust via the sale of withdrawn stock through Betterworld Books

• Overdue books attract fines of 20p per day for all Bucks students and employees – save money by renewing / returning on time

• Printing & photocopying costs have been kept at 2008 prices • You can pay to rent e-books for 1, 2 or 3 weeks via DawsonEra • The report and user statistics on the extended summer vacation

library opening hours are now available on Blackboard.

Your library bag needs a design Do you have design flair? Are you creative? Design an exciting, original artwork for the library bag and make it a must-have item. This year the library is taking part in the university’s Enterprise Festival and the competition to design artwork for our Fairtrade, organic cotton bag is now open. Win £100 in Amazon vouchers (runner up prize £50 in Amazon vouchers). Closing date Friday 05 November 2010. The winning design will feature on a first print-run of 300 bags, on sale 6 to 8 weeks time after the winner is announced. For competition details, artwork requirements and entry form please visit bucks.ac.uk/enterprise

This publication can be provided in an alternative format: Contact: biblio@bucks.ac.uk