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Edinburgh Napier University

Month: June 2023

Merchiston book stock

Campus Libraries this Summer

26/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

Campus Libraries this Summer

If you are heading off after exams we hope you have a great summer and we will see you again in September. If you are staying around and intend to use the library, we thought you might like to know about the projects we have going on in our campus libraries.

Craiglockhart Campus in the Summer

The research collection is going to be weeded in order to remove unused stock and space the collection out.

Additionally, 2 new lapsafe towers are to be installed giving another 24 laptops for loan.

The staff office is going to be converted for hybrid working with docking stations and new furniture.

Redundant compact storage to be removed to provide more study space.

Merchiston Campus in the Summer

One extra lapsafe tower will be added giving another 12 laptops for loan.

The final batch of DVDs will be uploaded to OMNI.

Journals are being weeded and compact store is being tidied.

Trial of new touch screen equipment in study room 8.

Sighthill Campus in the Summer

SHSC subject librarian is working on lists for stock weeding.

Redundant furniture being moved on LRC5 and 2 collaborative desks are being added. The space is being divided into group study and single study spaces.

New School of Applied Sciences subject librarian has started.

All library staff will be taking part in other projects:

Stock scanning for missing and mis-shelved items.

 

Checking that all links on our webpages/libguides are working.

Libraries will be open throughout the summer. Link to opening hours:

https://my.napier.ac.uk/library/about-the-library/opening-hours

You can contact us if you have any enquiries about your loans, returns, interlibrary loans or issues accessing electronic books and articles.

Of course, books and laptops can be borrowed and returned, group study rooms can be booked and relaxation spaces are there to take some time out.

You can follow the library on social media and there will be regular posts on our blog right through summer.

And there are Box of Broadcasts access lots of tv programmes to help pass the time!

Also, you can compare to what we did last summer 

Photo of a beatles sculpture for Blog Post on Global Beatles Day

Global Beatles Day

25/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

Global Beatles Day

June 25th

Good morning, Good morning, Twist and shout! it’s the 25th of June. So grab your magical mystery tour ticket to ride, because it’s Global Beatles Day. Furthermore, there’s not a blue meanie insight. So whether you’re a beautiful dreamer or day tripper. Take a swift step back in musical time to find out more about Global Beatles Day.

Can you dig it?

This unofficial holiday is an opportunity for people from all around the world to come together and celebrate the lasting impact the Beatles have had on music history, pop culture and the lives of generations of music lovers. The Band is regarded as the most influential group of all time, a leader of the era’s youth and social movements and influenced the counterculture of the 1960s.

Their experimentation with recording techniques and musical styles resulted in popular music being accepted as an art form. They revolutionised numerous areas of the music industry through pioneering recording techniques, songwriting and artistic presentation. So, if you’re a fan, or you’ve never heard of the Beatles, now’s the perfect time to delve into their work.

The back story: A beginning almost like it was Yesterday:

In 1956 the Band came to the attention of Brian Epstein, a local Liverpool record store manager. He saw their talent and potential for mass appeal. It wasn’t long before the world would be introduced to the Beatles, and the frenzy-based mania they would cause, which UK press aptly went on to call Beatlemania. But first, the band needed a recording deal, which was secured with Parlophone, a subsidiary of the giant EMI group of music labels.

Do you want to know a secret?

Once signed with Parlophone, George Martin became the band’s producer. He was referred to as the fifth Beatle, because of his in-depth involvement with each of the Beatle’s original Albums. Also, he suggested firing drummer Pete Best, who’d been part of the group since 1960. Subsequently replacing him with Ringo Starr, who was a more seasoned drummer.

The boys were also fondly referred to as the Fab 4: Though Lennon and McCartney had been performing together since 1957, with various individuals and changing band names from Quarry Men to the Silver Beatles. Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison recorded together for the first time in 1962.

I’ve got a feeling:

Try to act naturally, but the fans just couldn’t, the mayhem the band caused just by being present here, there and everywhere brought with it an unprecedented level of chaos. The band first appeared on British Television in 1963 and Brain Epstein’s hunch about the band’s mass appeal was correct. Additionally, their songs, popularity and influence made them the centre of attention and admiration for the hopes and dreams of a generation, that came of age in the 60s, and had something to say.

Getting better

A year later they took the states by storm, appearing on American Television and flying high in pop culture. The level of their popularity is encapsulated in the Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night

Here Comes The Sun:

Notably, June 25, 1967, was seen as the pinnacle of “The Summer of Love”, and saw the first-ever live global satellite television link to 26 countries worldwide, broadcasting the BBC’s Our World programme to an audience of 400 million viewers. With none other than the Beatles attending to perform “All you need is Love”. It was for this very reason the first Global Beatles Day was celebrated on June 25th 2009, by Beatles fan Faith Cohen. Faith referred to the idea as “a thank you or love letter to The Beatles”. This idea proved to be a popular means by which fans worldwide, old and new, continue to connect and celebrate the musical legacy of the Beatles.

Goodbye, the end:

I guess all things must pass, and this is where I must leave you. The band formally broke up in 1970. The group members did go on to have solo hits and collaborate with other artists. But don’t let this stop you, because, like many people worldwide, you can listen to the Beatles anytime at all. There’s a wealth of information out there on the band and its members.

If you’re a student or lecturer check out bob (Box of Broadcasts) to watch some of the Beatle’s films or documentaries like:

  • A Hard Day’s night
  • Help!
  • Magical Mystery Tour
  • The Yellow Submarine
Just for fun

If you had to pick 3 of your favourite Beatles songs which, would they be?

Having read the blog, did you spot The Beatles song titles hidden in the text, what are they? and how many are there?

By Mo Almas

——

Thinking about studying a music course, why not look at what Napier University has to offer in Music study

Read more on our blog with articles like:

Image SOurce: Photo by Fedor on Unsplash

image of The Kelpies sculpture at Falkirk for blog post International Faerie Day

International Faerie Day

24/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

International Faerie Day: A Scottish History

So, before we go any further. One thing…don’t call them Faeries! For they most certainly do not like it. Fair folk is fine but remember to show the utmost respect as they enjoy playing tricks on humans and take very badly to perceived slights. Though there is the odd kind faerie, most of them are mischievous at best, and terrifying at worst.

Scotland and Faerie History

In Scotland, Fairies are traditionally called Seelie or Unseelie from the word ‘seilie’ in Scots, which means Happy or Lucky (source). Also known by the fair folk, elevs, good people and many other names. In Gaelic they were called Daoine Sith meaning ‘people of peace’ (not because they were peaceful mind, but as an act of fearful respect).[1] In Gaidhealtachd, the Scots Gaelic oral storytelling tradition they were called the “still folk” or “silently moving people,” spelt SITH and pronounced SHEE [2].

We have mentions of them throughout the last 1000 years of recorded history, which is pretty incredible. Some of our earliest sources are from poems like Thomas the Rhymer, Tam Lin and The Elfin Knight.

Protection

Throughout Scottish History, there are many records of Faeries being blamed for people’s misfortune, from crops failing and cream curdling to lost children.

To protect themselves superstitions grew around how to protect oneself. Wearing rowan berries or decorating your home with them was one. Carrying Iron was another. There were also the acts of Saining or maistir. Saining involves the burning pine cones or metal-imbued water being sprinkled over a new mother and her child. Maistir, a rather more unpleasant choice involved stale urine. This was placed on windows and doors to keep out Faeries…and everyone else probably [3].

It was believed that every source of water from a well to a loch had its own Faerie protector. One must appease these protectors with gifts and respect. This is perhaps why we find so many precious items from the past in them.

Famous Scottish Fair Folk

Apart from Nessie, is any other creature more famous in Scotland now than The Kelpies? The stunning sculptures pay homage to a terrifying creature, half man, half horse. Said to trick the unwary into rides on his back, only to drag them into the water and drown them. Gulp!

The sad tales of Selkies are another well-spun story. Beautiful creatures who take on human form when they remove their seal-like skin. Humans would fall in love with them and trap them by hiding their skins. Preventing the Selkies from returning to their homes. These tales always end in heartbreak when the Selkie finally frees itself and returns to the water where it belongs.

A lesser-known being (I only heard about them when researching this article!) is the Scottish Faerie Vampire. Baobhan Sith. Known to devour their male victims and take their hearts [4].

Not that they were all bad! Wee sprites and Brownies would favour children and help them out in times of peril. The well-known Ghillie Dhu or Gille Dubh was thought to be a kindly sort, devoted to children.

Places to visit

One of the best places for Faerie fun in Scotland is the Isle of Skye. With its well-known Fairy Pools and  Fairy Glen. Take a brave dip in a pool and see who you might meet! or wander the glen just as dusk falls and keep your eyes open.

Although not actual Kelpies thank goodness, Scotland’s stunning sculptural artwork of them is well worth a visit. Also, whenever you are on the coast keep your eyes peeled for both Selkies and Kelpies, but don’t get too close.

No matter where you are in the Scottish countryside, you will find faerie circles hidden in woods or mystical glens to wander through. Just keep your wits about you or you could disappear into the faerie court for 100 years in the blink of an eye!

By Juliet Kinsey

Library Resources

Read more about the subject of Faeries on Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

How about this article by Moir Marquis, Otherworld Here: On the Ecological Possibilities of Faeries

or this book: The Virtue of Temperance in the Faerie Queene

To learn about all things fairytale and Celtic, read The Golden Bough.

Why not learn more about History in our blog post on May Day?

References

[1]Henderson, L. & Cowan, E.J., 2001. Scottish fairy belief: a history, East Linton: Tuckwell Press

[2] & [3] https://www.guide-collective.com/gc-magazine/fairies-the-still-folk-of-scotland

[4] https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15583075.scottish-myths-legends-vampire-fairies-shape-shifting-selkies-loch-ness-monster/

Sources

https://www.scotland.com/blog/faeries-in-scottish-folklore/

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/stories/fairy-belief-fairy-tales-scotland

https://www.guide-collective.com/gc-magazine/fairies-the-still-folk-of-scotland

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15583075.scottish-myths-legends-vampire-fairies-shape-shifting-selkies-loch-ness-monster/

https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/mythical-scotland-exploring-the-legends/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghillie_Dhu

 

Can music improve your wellbeing and health? Blog post Image of headphones

World Music Day 2023 🎵

21/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

World Music Day 2023: Fête de la Musique

Is there anything better than when your favourite song comes on? Whatever grey clouds are there, good music brings a little bit of sunshine. And that’s what World Music Day 2023 🎵 is all about.  An annual celebration that occurs every 21st of June, originating in France.

The first ever World Music Day took place in Paris in 1982, organised by the Minister of Culture for France. Its objective was to promote music by encouraging amateur and professional musicians to perform in the streets and organising free concerts to make more music accessible. Since it first began, over 130 countries have taken part in celebrations, as well as over 1000 cities worldwide.

Why not try out some World music events right here in Edinburgh this summer! Check out what’s on here.

Resources for World Music Day 2023 🎵

The library has a wide range of musical databases that celebrate musical talent which you can find at our LibGuides

Or search for the vast amount of music scores and CDs available through LibrarySearch 

And of course, our Spotify account!

SO why not spend this day wrapped up in music? Listen to all your favourite songs and dance like no one is watching!

By Maya Green

Find out more about what the Library has to offer over the summer here.

Photo by C D-X on Unsplash

Blossom marking June

June Solstice

21/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

June Solstice

Did you wake this morning at 04:26? I did.* I rose with the sun in celebration of the longest day of the year. I bathed my face in the fresh, morning dew, ready to enjoy the summer solstice – the day when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly excursion relative to the celestial equator.  In our northern hemisphere, the area north of the Arctic will receive a full 24 hours of sunlight, while areas south of the Antarctic circle will have a full day of total darkness.

Nearer home, today we will enjoy a full 17 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds of daylight. Solar noon, if you want to time your lunch hour precisely, occurs at 13:14. The sun sets tonight at 22:02. It’s all downhill tomorrow when we lose a full three seconds of light and start the gradual journey to autumn.

Solstice through time

The changing of the seasons has been marked throughout history in literature and cultural symbolism. In the north we tend to light fires to mark winter events, but the ancient Celts, Slavs and Germans celebrated summer with bonfires. They believed that fire had the power to enhance the sun’s energy and ensure a good harvest. Bonfires could also banish evil spirits, they believed.

In ancient Greece, summer marked the new year and the build-up to the Olympic Games. It was also a time when slaves could temporarily turn the tables on their masters.

How are you celebrating the longest day? With a picnic in the park, or a walk along the beach? Maybe a barbecue with family and friends? However you celebrate, we wish you a long, happy summer full of sunshine and warmth. Go on – have an ice-cream.

Solstice Poem

We’ll leave you with some lines from Edinburgh writer Alexander McCall Smith’s poem, Summer:

“May soft winds blow about your head,

May sun caress your tender cheeks

May tears of gentle rain then wash

The marks of fretful care away.”

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/summer-2/

*That is a lie. I didn’t.

Read about what the libraries are during this summer

Photo source Joseph R

Magna Carta

Magna Carta

15/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

Magna Carta

You’ve heard of the Magna Carta, right? You know – the obscure, 63-clause document written 800 years ago and probably the most enduring legislation in history? But have you any idea what it says or why it still matters? The Magna Carta (“great charter” in Latin) has been held up throughout the centuries as a beacon of liberty and freedom, for the first time giving the common man (and a few women) access to legal rights.

The History

However, the document was drawn up by the aristocracy in order to protect their own wealth. King John’s knights and barons were alarmed by the significant taxes he was raising to fund wars in France and the 13th century cost of living crisis (yes, really).

The rebels got together in June 1215 and put into writing for the first time the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits on royal authority.

This was so radical an idea that the charter led – indirectly and gradually – to the 1689 Bill of Rights, the United States Bill of Rights in 1790, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in France in 1789, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948.

Magna Carta and Today

Most of the clauses would be unfathomable to us today. You’ll never be required by law to pay a knight’s fee, seize corn or return Welsh hostages. In fact, of the 63 clauses, only clauses 39 and 40 still apply. These are: “that no free man shall be seized, imprisoned, dispossessed, outlawed, exiled or ruined in any way, nor in any way proceeded against, except by the lawful judgement of his peers and the law of the land”.  And “to no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay right or justice.” These clauses establish the rule of law, due process, and the principle of trial by jury.

Of course, King John resisted the legislation (which was not one document, but several, tweaked and amended over time). However, it prevailed. It became the cornerstone of the English legal system before its principles were adopted by societies across the globe. Recently Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the internet, has called for a “Magna Carta for the web” to protect rights and privacy of users worldwide.

You can still see original copies of the Magna Carta in Lincoln Cathedral, the Cathedral of St Mary in Salisbury and the British Library. In addition, you can find editions from 1216, 1225 and 1300 in Durham Cathedral; a 3rd edition (1217) in Hereford Cathedral and 3 copies of the surviving 1217 editions in Oxford’s Bodleian Library.

Additional Reading

https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta

https://lincolncathedral.com/education-learning/magna-carta/

https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/discover/magna-carta/

https://www.herefordcathedral.org/magna-carta

 

Want to read more about historical documents, read about the Edward Clark Collection 

Lego figure with moustache

International Men’s Health Week 2023

12/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

International Men’s Health Week 2023

 

Today is the start of International Men’s Health Week, running until the 18th. The goal is to increase awareness of men’s health which can prevent health problems, encourage the development of health policies and support a healthier lifestyle. In the UK, one man in five dies before the age of the 65. Together we can all change that.

International Men’s Health Week and the UK

Each year, each country that participates in International Men’s Health Week has a theme. The theme for International Men’s Health Week 2023 in the UK is Men’s Health and the Internet – examining the benefits of being able to access health services and information on your phone but also examine the downsides. The forum also examines the dopamine that our phone apps give and what dangers can be. You can explore more at the Men Health’s Forum UK There is also a registration for upcoming events for the week.

History

Men’s Health Week was created by the U.S congress in 1994 to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of illnesses. It was sponsored by former Senator Bob Dole and former Congressman Bill Richardson. It wasn’t until 2002 that it became internationally recognised when six representatives from men health’s organisations met in Vienna, Austria.

Additional Reading

Don’t forget to check out our blog post on the importance of Movember.

And you can read about more mental health support

Check out the NHS 

Men’s Health Fourm/UK

and International Men’s Month

photo source Alan Hardman

Pride flag

Pride 2023

09/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

Pride 2023

It’s Pride 2023.

June is here, Pride is here. Happy Pride Month everyone!!!

Our libraries are all decorated to celebrate Pride. We ‘pride’ ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming space for all our staff and students. At the library, we want to avoid tokenism. We are working hard to diversify our collections to be inclusive and more representative.

Please get in touch if you have any feedback about our Library stock.

Library Support

The Library has a wealth of books and articles on the subject. We have a dedicated reading list over on our LibGuides. Reading includes the history of LGBTQ+ rights and the current Legal information to keep you informed. Use LibrarySearch to find what you are looking for, or contact us for help with any of your research needs.  Or you can check out our virtual bookshelf here at the blog.

Edinburgh Napier University Support

If you are an LGBTQ+ student you can join Edinburgh Napier’s LGBTQ+ Society or find out more about the student LGBTQ+ community on the Queer Napier site. Staff can join the University’s thriving LGBTQ+ Network or visit our web pages to learn more about becoming an ally.

Pride and Edinburgh

Pride March will take place on June 24th, starting at 12.30 pm at the Scottish Parliament.

You can find out more information at Pride Edinburgh

And you can find more information on more Pride events taking place on the city.

Bike Week 2023: On yer bike! cyclist on bike

Bike Week 2023

05/06/2023 / / 0 Comments

Bike Week 2023

No disrespect to Giovanni Fontana. I’m sure he meant well, but that bike he designed way back in 1418 really wasn’t practical.  For a start, it had 4 wheels and its gears were connected by rope. Still, he was on to something, and a mere 400 years later German baron, Karl von Drais, invented what is regarded as the first modern bicycle – or the steerable running machine as he called it. So what if it didn’t have pedals and the rider had to push it along the ground with his feet? It was the big bang of cycling – the realisation that mechanized personal transportation was a thing, and that thing was here to stay.

Not long afterwards the first pedal-driven bicycle with rear wheel drive was invented by a Scotsman – yay! He was either Kirkpatrick MacMillan or Thomas McCall. It’s been disputed since the 1860s – and that’s when cycling really started to, erm, motor.

Today, of course, bike technology is so advanced that there is a type and model for every type of cyclist, whether you’re into racing, mountain-biking, recreational weekend tootling, getting to work or just nipping down to the shops. And of course, cycling is not just a convenient way to get around, it’s healthy and good for the environment too.

According to charity, Cycling UK, British cyclists notched up 5.03 billion miles in 2020, and the trend is going up by an average of 3 billion every year.  We’re still lagging well behind our European neighbours, though.  Out of 28 countries surveyed, the UK came 25th for cycling.  So let’s all get saddled up and bump up those statistics.

Bike Week 2023

This month national Bike Week takes place from the 5th to the 11th of June. To see how you can get involved, see here:

Bike Week 2023 | Cycling UK

And for more local information, check out: Edinburgh Festival of Cycling | Cycling UK

We at Edinburgh Napier are keen to promote safe cycling in and around the city.  To see what resources are available and how we can encourage you to get on your bike, please see here:

Cycling (napier.ac.uk)

By Lesley McRobb

Exercise is a great way to practise self-care and get fit. For more ideas why not check out some of the books here.

Contact Us

Email: library@napier.ac.uk

Telephone: 0131 455 3500

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