The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University

Month: June 2025 (Page 1 of 2)

Emerald Information and Knowledge Management Collection

AI and Libraries

26/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

AI and Libraries

AI (Artificial Intelligence) has several “connotations arising from strong public imagination fuelled by scientific fiction and other popular media forms”.  It can be viewed as an “evolving” technology rather than a single idea, which includes and not limited to, machine learning, solving and making decisions (Davis 2024). AI can be found in healthcare, transport and finance, growing and expanding rapidly into different services and industries.

With this, AI has been a topic of discussion in academia for a while, with much of the talk focusing on its implications for higher education. And this conversation includes libraries.

What does AI mean for libraries?

It’s not a unique question. Nearly 30 years ago, libraries were wrangling the exact same question regarding Google and Audiobooks/readers. However, libraries are still here. We simply adapted, something we have been doing throughout our 1000-year history.

We adapt, adjust and reinvent.

Digital advancements have brought a reinvention and transformation of our resources, spaces and technologies.

The demand for physical items has declined while the e-book format has thrived. E-book circulation in the United States was 662 million in 2023 and is expected to surge to 1 billion by 2030. In a span of 10 years, libraries in the USA have seen computer usage go from 4 million in 2010 to 250 million in 2020 (Meesad, 2024).

These figures don’t reflect a threat but a change. They reflect the augmentation of library services and engagement.

“Librarians are uniquely positioned to rise to the challenge that AI presents to their field. Libraries and their like have existed for millennia; they progress with society, altering and adapting their services to meet the information needs of their communities. Academic libraries today have greatly expanded their digital offerings, not just to include electronic books or journal articles but also to support software application discovery and use. Some academic libraries might say they lack a fundamental knowledge of AI or that they are ill-equipped to speak on the subject, and yet they have likely been interacting with AI through the different types of software applications they support. At the very least, they have accounted for and mastered the art of the search algorithm.” (Nevis 2022)

Libraries are already becoming increasingly digital, with e-versions of print items becoming more popular than their physical counterpart. Study spaces are more reflective of digital needs. AI is perhaps more present in libraries than some people might know. The introduction of chatbots, sleeker interfaces, and predictive searching in catalogues.

Smart Libraries

We are hearing about smart libraries. Although the term dates to the 1960s with the emergence of tagging books (Farkhari, F., CheshmehSohrabi, M., & Karshenas, H. (2024). It has seen a resurgence in conservation. The term smart libraries is flexible in definition. Smart stands for Services, Methods, Automation, Resources and Technology. For a library to be deemed smart, it can be because the library offers self-service for patrons, e-resources, wifi, printers, green technology and even automated doors (Orji, Anyira 2021). Smart libraries are really libraries with some form of digital offering (Kumar, G. Chikkamanju, (2024).

Smart Library services include

  • Library marketing and engagement
  • Discussion forms
  • Electronic board services
  • Contact the librarian
  • Digital references
  • Portals
  • Virtual library tours

 

(Kumar, Chikkamanju 2024)

 

As the term smart libraries is not a new term, the qualification for being smart is to have some digital aspect. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that libraries are currently in their smart era. But when technology evolves, so will this concept.

Future technologies aren’t far away for libraries, and some of these technologies are already integrated or will be. And while it can be seen to bring opportunities for libraries rather than threatening their existence, that doesn’t mean there aren’t limitations, risks, or concerns.

 

The Risks of AI in Libraries

For every pro for AI in libraries, there is a flipside with a con.  It is important to acknowledge the risks and concerns before proceeding.

AI is known for finding information, and it is used in search engines. All you need to do is search for a question for ChatGPT. And it can assist librarians and library systems in this regard, but it is not without issues. AI poses issues regarding the privacy and confidentiality of library users.

It’s great for patrons to have more personalised searches than general ones. AI can provide more results that patrons want. However, it poses problems of limiting information for the patron. AI has cultural bias; being Western-centric, which can skew information provided (Darrell Gunter 2024).  Providing a certain representation limits different opinions and views, which shrinks the understanding of results.  And back to the point of personalised searches, it means offering information that you think the user would like, rather than what would be useful or interesting, which again limits search results and information (Liblime 2024). Libraries are information hubs; this is what makes them wonderful. A library user can enter a library knowing nothing about a topic but leave knowing everything. AI personalising results and having a Western focus can take away from that.

And then there are ethical issues to consider. For these personalised searches to occur, AI needs to learn from users and access their personal data. Libraries are committed to user confidentiality, which AI can jeopardise by learning from the users.

AI can assist with searching, but there is a possibility of bias and narrow results.  And it might reduce the art of searching itself. AI can create co-dependency. Why do you need to filter search thousands of options on a catalogue when AI can bring up the direct results? This adds to the concern of library users not using libraries to their full potential, but instead receiving limited knowledge.  And in turn can ruin critical thinking.

Again, sticking with the flip side of the coin regarding the pros and cons. AI-assisted tools can aid digital literacy skills by making understanding easier.  It can also deepen the divide. People who already have a basic knowledge of digital skills will grasp these technologies more easily, given an unfair start. To combat this divide, libraries would require more resources, funding to teach users, which not all libraries can provide. Libraries in poorer areas will be disadvantaged already in covering this divide.

 

Conclusion

It is clear that for every benefit that AI can provide, there is a counterargument. It is important to acknowledge both pros and cons. These technologies are impending for libraries, and it is up to libraries to implement and use them. AI is the future technology; it is available in every service and industry, and libraries will not be the exception.

Libraries can work with these technologies, but we need to understand the wider picture before taking up the brush.

By Maya Green

 

References

 

Davis, J. (2024). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Libraries: A Leadership Perspective. College & Research Libraries News, 85(8), 347. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.85.8.347

Farkhari, F., CheshmehSohrabi, M., & Karshenas, H. (2024). Smart library: Reflections on concepts, aspects and technologies. Journal of Information Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01655515241260715

Kumar, G. Chikkamanju, (2024) Smart Libraries in the Digital Era: An Overview. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2401582.pdf

Meesad, P., Mingkhwan, A. (2024). AI-Powered Smart Digital Libraries. In: Libraries in Transformation. Studies in Big Data, vol 157. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69216-

Meesad, P., Mingkhwan, A. (2024). Future Vision: Libraries as Digital-Era Beacons. In: Libraries in Transformation. Studies in Big Data, vol 157. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69216-1_5

Nevi, E. (2022) New from ACRL The Rise of AI https://acrl.ala.org/acrlinsider/new-from-acrl-the-rise-of-ai/

Orji, Sotonye & Anyira, Isaac. (2021). What is “Smart” About Smart Libraries?. International Journal of Research in Library Science. 7. 265-271. 10.26761/IJRLS.7.4.2021.1482.

Unwelcome AI: Examining the negative impacts on Libraries, Liblime Empowering Librarians 2024

Senthilkumar, K. R. (Ed.). (2024). AI-Assisted Library Reconstruction (First edition.). Information Science Reference.

Cyberweek may have passed but you can still read about it

Writing

National Writing Day 2025

25/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

National Writing Day 2025

It’s National Writing Day – an annual celebration of the power that writing holds as well as the joy that can be found in writing recreationally and creatively. National Writing Day normally takes place in the third week of June every year and was first established in 2017 a charity organisation named First Story, whose fundamental objectives primarily centre around enhancing literacy skills and creative thinking among young people. Writing itself is a potent tool fostering effective communication, personal growth and development, active learning and the sharing of ideas among individuals, communities and across the globe as a whole.

Since its launch, National Writing Day has evolved into a nationwide annual celebration, with thousands of participants engaging with it on a yearly basis. It has helped many individuals to rekindle with or develop a love of and passion for writing. Writing takes many different forms as well. Some of these can include:

  • Short stories.
  • Novels
  • Non-fiction books and studies.
  • Poetry
  • Essays
  • Journals
  • Letters
  • Transcripts

 

There are, of course, many more! In terms of writing styles, the four main styles of writing are descriptive, persuasive, narrative and expository. Writing empowers individuals through communication and allows them to express themselves or their ideas in various ways, as well as share unique perspectives and have their voices heard. A love of writing and reading also coincides significantly, meaning that this annual celebration of writing ultimately fosters a love of storytelling and reading as well, which are fundamental aspects of education and lifelong learning. This is a huge part of why this yearly event is celebrated widely across educational institutions and schools as well as cultural organisations across the nation. It is promoted to individuals of all ages, backgrounds and literary skills, with each institution celebrating or promoting the event, often hosting a writing challenge or competition with a set unique theme.

 

How can you celebrate National Writing Day…

If you are a university student currently, it is very likely (in fact, we can pretty much guarantee) that you have been doing a lot of writing over this semester and year for assignments, essays and exams. Your hand probably hurts just thinking about writing. Nevertheless, the summertime for many presents an ideal opportunity to make creative writing a newfound hobby (or perhaps a former hobby to rekindle with!) Maybe there was a novel, short story or poem you were working on before exam and deadline season kicked into full swing, or perhaps you had been previously finishing up a personal piece or blog post? Either way, there are many more ways in which you can take part in National Writing Day, including:

  • Joining a creative writing group, club or event hosted at a local school, community centre or library.
  • Taking part in writing challenges advertised online and sharing your work on social media platforms.
  • Checking out events or free resources centred around National Writing Day to inspire creativity.

 

Want to learn more about creative writing and the art of storytelling? Here are some book recommendations from Edinburgh Napier libraries – all of which can be found and requested though our library catalogue LibrarySearch.

 

  • The Creative Writing Handbook: Techniques for New Writers, Singleton, John, 1938-; Luckhurst, Mary. 2nd ed.; 2000. Available at Merchiston Campus Library.
  • The Story Factor: Secrets of Influence from the Art of Storytelling. Simmons, Annette. Author. Revised edition.; 2006. Available at Sighthill Campus Library.

 

By Rachel Downie

 

Photo credit goes to Ylanite Koppens at Pexels.

 

Read about Shakespeare Day

International Women in Engineering Day image of woman doing some engineering

International Women in Engineering Day

23/06/2025 / / 1 Comment

International Women in Engineering Day

Celebrating Women Engineers: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Every year on 23 June, we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. First launched in the UK by the Women’s Engineering Society, it’s now a global movement. It shines a light on the achievements of women in engineering and encourages more girls and young women to see this as a path for them.

The numbers are improving, but slowly. According to EngineeringUK, women make up 16.5% of the engineering workforce. In 2010, it was just 9%. There’s progress, but much more work is needed.

So, why does it matter?

Diverse teams are better at solving problems. They bring fresh ideas, challenge assumptions, and drive innovation. In engineering, where solutions shape lives—that matters. Gender diversity isn’t a tick-box exercise; it’s essential for future-ready industries.

The UK is home to many trailblazers. Dr. Nike Folayan MBE, co-founder of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK), champions inclusion across STEM fields. Professor Sarah Hainsworth, a forensic engineering expert and senior leader at the University of Bath, is another standout figure. Their stories are powerful. But for many young women, engineering still feels out of reach.

Education

To get women into engineering, we need to start with early education. A 2022 WISE report showed that girls are much less likely to choose A-level physics, despite doing just as well as boys in GCSE science. Why? A lack of role models. Limited exposure. Persistent stereotypes.

This is where schools, universities, and employers can make a real difference.

Edinburgh Napier University and Women in STEM

At Edinburgh Napier University, change is happening. The School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment offers strong support for women entering technical fields. From dedicated mentoring schemes to outreach in schools, the university actively promotes gender balance. Female lecturers and researchers at Napier lead projects in sustainable energy, transport systems, and digital engineering.

Take for example, the work of female PhD students at Napier who are developing smart materials for construction or working on green transport solutions. Their research not only contributes to global challenges but also inspires the next generation of engineers.

Sarah Taylor, a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, has been conducting research in smart, light-emitting textiles since 1995. Her work involves integrating optical fibres into woven textile structures, contributing to advancements in smart materials applicable in various fields, including construction.

In 2023, a team of Edinburgh Napier University students participated in a pioneering construction project in Guangxi, China. They collaborated with local universities to build the world’s first bamboo-timber composite gridshell structure. This innovative project aimed to explore sustainable building methods to combat climate change. Among the participants were female students like Devika Vijayan, Alice June Davyson, and Zara Anam Rafiq, who contributed their expertise in architectural technology and civil engineering. The project was led by PhD student Yanghao Pei and supervised by faculty members, including Dr. Ahmed Mohamed.

Women in Engineering  campaigns

Elsewhere in the UK, campaigns like Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, run by EngineeringUK, and events such as She Can Engineer at UCL, continue to highlight female success in the field. INWED itself is packed with virtual events, talks, and case studies—many of them accessible to teachers, students, and parents.

At the same time, the industry is evolving. Companies like Arup, Rolls-Royce, and AtkinsRéalis are investing in inclusive hiring, leadership development for women, and mentoring programmes. But culture still matters. A welcoming workplace—where all voices are heard—makes it easier for women to succeed and lead.

And it’s not just about big firms. Start-ups and SMEs across Scotland and the UK are building inclusive teams, often led by women who studied at universities like Edinburgh Napier.

So, what can you do this International Women in Engineering Day?

  • Share a story of a woman engineer who inspires you.

  • Encourage a girl to explore STEM subjects.

  • Attend a local or virtual event through WES or your local university.

  • Support or volunteer with STEM outreach programmes.

  • Thank the mentors, colleagues, and leaders who make a difference.

Small actions lead to big changes.

Because the future of engineering isn’t defined by gender—it’s built by collaboration, creativity, and courage. Edinburgh Napier University and institutions across the UK are proving that when you back women in engineering, you’re backing innovation for everyone.

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more on women in Science on our blog here: Scottish Women in Science

International Surfing Day

International Surfing Day

21/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Surfing Day

The 21st of June this year will mark International Surfing Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the sport of surfing, as well as our oceans and beaches, so we thought we’d take the chance to talk quickly about surfing here in Scotland.
The day was established in twenty years ago in a joint effort by Surfing Magazine and the environmental charity The Surfrider Foundation, to establish a day dedicated to encouraging us to appreciate the ocean. In the past twenty years, it has become a day celebrated around the world, with festivals in Morocco, Canada, and Japan.

Now, when you think of surfing, your mind probably goes to warmer climates than here in Scotland, but we’re actually quite a popular destination for surfers around the world. The sea surrounding Scotland has a reputation for strong and consistent waves, resulting in many areas around the country becoming popular surfing spots. For example, Thurso, on the north coast of the country in Caithness, is a very popular surfing spot due to the strong and fast waves of the North Sea.
Just outside of Edinburgh, we have Lost Shore Surf Resort, an inland surf resort that houses Europe’s largest artificial wave pool.

Even here at Napier we have our own Napier Surf Club, where students meet for regular surfing trips and social events, even travelling up north to take part in the annual Scottish Student Surf Championship!
You can learn more about the surf club here!

A few years ago, we actually partnered with Lost Shore Surf Resort to collaborate on research into surfing, resulting in the creation of the Surf Lab. The surf lab will be looking at areas such as surf therapy and, development of equipment. This continues Edinburgh Napier’s involvement in pioneering work in surf research, following the completion of the world’s first PhD in Surf Therapy by Napier student Jamie Marshall. You can read more about Jamie and his PhD work at Napier here!

This is a brief blog about some surfing sites in Scotland. We hope you all take this unusually hot weekend here in Scotland to enjoy the beach!

By Matthew Ferrie

Summer is here, enjoy

Photo by Jeremy Bishop

Autistic Pride Day June 18th

Autistic Pride Day June 18th

18/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

Autistic Pride Day, June 18th

Autistic Pride and Autistic History

Today is Autistic Pride Day. This was started in 2005 in the UK to celebrate Autism and autistic identity, as opposed to seeing it as a stigma. In the past, autistic people were institutionalised (or worse), particularly when their condition was considered severe; Today, Autistic people still struggle with being accepted and treated with the respect they deserve.

The first person to identify and diagnose ‘autism’ was the Ukrainian child psychiatrist Grunya Sukhareva. She conducted her research when working at a Moscow children’s clinic from the 1920s onwards in the Soviet Union.

Characteristics

Nowadays, autism is seen as existing on a broad spectrum (Autism Spectrum Disorder), with autistic people experiencing a variety of characteristics to varying degrees.

Common characteristics are:

  • Motor Difficulties
  • Communication Difficulties
  • Sensitivity to Change and Stimulation
  • Social Impediments
  • Repetitive Behaviour

An autistic person on one side of the spectrum might be non-verbal, and have great difficulty in processing sounds, emotions, information etc. They may also need carers to support their day-to-day lives. Alternatively, there are also low support need individuals. They can hold down jobs, complete complicated tasks, socialise, and be verbally eloquent, whilst also experiencing other features of autism. For instance, they can find it hard to understand social conventions, experience sensory overload, and find it difficult to deal with sudden changes in routine.

Some people like to think of autism through the bio-psychological-social model (BPSM) – that is to say, what we consider illness and health are based on interactions between biology, psychology and social life. Sukhareva hypothesised in the 1950s that autistic brains were different in a biological sense – something that brain scan imaging is proving today. The condition has measurable psychological effects (e.g links to social anxiety), and is undoubtedly shaped by the social attitudes to difference/differently abled people.

A Broad Church

Every autistic person is different, an original. Autistic people excel in a variety of fields, from academia to music, sports to visual art and politics. Without question, autism is a broad church.

Expert on animal husbandry and care, Temple Grandin is autistic – in more recent years, she has become a prominent public advocate for autistic people. Scottish-born David Byrne, the singer/guitarist of the band Talking Heads, is likewise on the spectrum. He was the driving musical force of the band, a sometime film-maker, as well as a distinguished writer. His book How Music Works is in the library catalogue.

Lisa Llorens, a multiple Paralympic Games winning athlete, is autistic, as is ultramarathon runner Jacqueline Herron. Likewise, Irish footballer James McClean (currently playing for the Ryan Reynolds/Rob McIlhenney-owned Wrexham F.C) and former World Number 1 tennis player Chilean Marcelo Rios – both were, like Byrne, diagnosed as adults.

Fife-born artist Richard Wawro was autistic. Legally blind, Wawro primarily used crayons as opposed to a more traditional artistic medium; he became well known in the 1970s after receiving the patronage of Edinburgh arts impresario Richard Demarco, one of the co-founders of the Traverse Theatre and, later in life, pivotal in setting up Summerhall. The 1983 documentary With Eyes Wide Open depicts his life and artistic practice. Last but certainly not least, the most famous climate and social justice activist on the planet – Greta Thunberg – is autistic.

By Kieran Curran

Read more on the blog about mental health with this article: World mental health day

 

 

 

 

 

men health

Men’s Health Week

10/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

Men’s Health Week

This week marks Men’s Health Week, an initiative started by Men’s Health Forum dedicated to encouraging open discussion of physical and mental health issues affecting men. One in five men in the UK pass away before the age of 65, with 75% of deaths from premature heart disease being from men. Speaking anecdotally, I never met either of my grandfathers, as both of them passed away from heart and respiratory issues in their early 50s. Additionally, there has long been a social taboo around the discussion of men’s emotional issues, allowing mental health issues to fester in the male population.

Men’s Health Forum was started with the mission of breaking the stigma around discussing issues of men’s health, especially mental and emotional health, and to encourage the public to take a proactive role in improving men’s health, while also drawing attention to gaps in data relevant to men’s health.

Men’s Health Week is just one of the ways they hope to achieve their goals, with each year seeing them partner with organisations across the UK to put a spotlight on these issues, as well as the resources that are available to anyone who needs them. This year, Men’s Health Forum is focusing on explaining why there is a need for a men’s Healthcare strategy, as well as urging the government to put more focus on tackling healthcare issues with the NHS. Additionally, the Men’s Health Top 5 is a handy list of resources created as part of prior men’s health weeks.

Napier Support

We at Napier take the issue of men’s health among our student body very seriously, just as we care for the health of all our students. As such, we have several resources available to any male student who requires support in this area. As part of our library catalogue, we have the Wellbeing Collection, available in all of our libraries, consisting of books that provide advice to our students who are in need of support with social, mental, or healthcare issues, as well as study tips and general life advice. In this collection are books such as Man Down: A Guide for Men on Mental Health (Available in our Sighthill Collection) which provides advice for men on how to tackle issues such as anxiety and depression, how to handle stress, and how to communicate with others, as well as Boys Don’t Cry (Available at Craiglockhart) which deals with the experience of suffering from depression as a man, and the social stigma associated with discussing one’s feelings. Although these books are housed on different campus libraries, you can use the Napier LibrarySearch to request for them to be reserved for you and sent to a different campus library.
Additionally, our Merchiston campus is now home to Andy’s Man’s Club, a charity dedicated to providing men with a space where they can openly discuss their experiences with mental illness. The club is hosted at Merchiston campus on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm in room A55. You can find out more about the club through the introductory video available on the university youtube channel.

We hope that the resources available through the university are able to provide support for any of our students in need, as they look after their physical and mental well-being. Several of our staff have been trained in providing support to those in need, or can provide contact details for those who are capable of providing support, so please don’t be afraid to approach them if you feel you need help.

By Matthew Ferrie

Photo by Dawid Łabno

Our blog post ranging mental health awareness

wellbeing study skills inclusion

Loneliness awareness week 

09/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

Loneliness awareness week

This week marks Loneliness Awareness Week, so we here at the library blog would like to discuss what Loneliness Awareness Week is, why it is important, and the support the university can provide for you if you are feeling lonely.

There has been much talk in recent years about a heightened feeling of loneliness experienced by many people in the UK, with nearly half of of adults in the UK reporting that they experience feelings of loneliness, and around 7% saying they feel lonely most of the time. This trend has only intensified following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the pandemic resulting in many feeling isolated and disconnected from others. Studies have shown that levels of social engagement have yet to return to their pre-pandemic levels.
Loneliness can have a terrible impact on a person’s emotional and mental state, with studies showing it results in poorer sleep quality, a general lack of self-confidence, and potentially results in issues such as depression and anxiety.
Additionally, in recent years, people aged 16 to 34 years old are one of the groups most at-risk for experiencing feelings of loneliness. With the experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic making it clear how important social interaction is for many people, there have been efforts to raise awareness about what has been referred to as the “Loneliness Epidemic”, with Loneliness Awareness Week being one such way of raising awareness.

Loneliness awareness

Loneliness Awareness Week was started by Marmalade Trust, an award-winning charity dedicated to combating social loneliness by helping lonely people to make new connections, as well as aiming to reduce the social stigma associated with loneliness. This is done through the organisation of social events at local venues, as well as making doorstep visits to people who are unable to leave their homes. Further support is provided through online webinars that instruct people in how to manage loneliness.
The trust itself has its origins with Amy Perrin, the founder of the trust, who, through her work as a health professional,l met several older people in her local area who were experiencing Christmas alone. Amy was inspired to organise a Christmas event for local people in Bristol spending Christmas alone, and this event rapidly grew in size. Seeing the positive impact it had on others, Amy decided to expand her efforts and recruit volunteers to organise further events, taking the Marmalade name as a tribute to Paddington Bear. From there, the charity has only grown and grown, with Amy being awarded an OBE last year for her charity work.
Anyone is free to take part in promoting the week and combating loneliness by organising local events for people to meet each other and build. You can check here to find handy resources to help you set up a local event. These include resources tailored for use with businesses, local community groups, or even just some local people setting up an event themselves.

Support at Napier

Furthermore, we here at the Napier library have some resources that any of our students are free to use if they feel they are experiencing loneliness. All of our libraries have a Wellbeing Collection, with books dedicated to providing support and advice to those in need. These books cover a variety of topics, and one of these topics is to provide support for those experiencing loneliness. These include self-help books such as The Cure for Loneliness by Bill Howatt (available in the Craiglockhart wellbeing collection) which contains advice from counsellor Bill Howatts on how to handle feeling lonely, as well as novels which feature social loneliness as a major theme, such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (a book that I’d highly recommend personally)
Additionally, Napier Student Support is there to provide any students with advice and counselling for any issues you may have, including if you are feeling isolated at university.

If anybody reading this finds themselves feeling lonely and socially isolated, then we hope any of these resources can provide you with any of the help you need.

By Matthew Ferrie

You can access the wellbeing collection from the top tab on the blog

Ocean reef

World Oceans Day 2024

08/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Oceans Day 2024

It is World Oceans Day 2024. It’s not exactly a catchy title, but the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day is “catalyzing action for our ocean and climate”. Phew. The founders of the event, which is celebrated every year on the 8th of June, are hoping to build a worldwide movement, bringing together activists, politicians and business leaders, as well as ordinary citizens, to save our oceans from the ongoing climate crisis.

Protect our Oceans

They want to protect and restore natural coastal and ocean ecosystems, stop fossil fuel extraction, phase out production of single use plastics, and build a healthier, more abundant future for all.

Those are lofty ambitions to be sure. But here’s why: the oceans cover two-thirds of our planet. Life wouldn’t exist without them, but they face constant threats from plastics, overfishing, biodiversity loss, polluted runoff from land, ocean acidification, rising sea levels, and coastal overdevelopment.

Let’s take one of those threats. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, every year 13 million tonnes of plastics enter the world’s oceans, and that staggering figure is set to quadruple by 2050.

Here’s another: illegal fishing in Mexico’s Gulf of California has led to the rapid decline of the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal.

It’s easy to despair in the face of such grim statistics. But we can all do our bit to start to reverse the damage done to the oceans. If you can’t campaign yourself, you can connect with other concerned citizens and organizations. At the very least, we can all be more mindful of the way we use and dispose of plastics. And next time you’re at the beach, rejoice in the life-giving power of the oceans.

By Lesley McRobb

Photo Naja Bertolt Jensen

Read about Tree Week 

World Environment Day

World Environment Day

05/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Environment Day

Ever since 1973, June 5th has marked World Environment Day. Each year it is hosted by a different country; this year is the Republic of Korea.

World Environment Day is the largest effort for environmental outreach, with millions taking part around the world.

Focusing on ending plastic pollution, according to the United Nation, “400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide. Half of which is still only designed for single use. And less than 10% is recycled”. So this year World Environment is going #BeatPlasticPollution”, highlighting, promoting and teaching the science to “refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink plastics use to build a cleaner and more sustainable future”.

Taking action is becoming increasingly important to save the environment. You can explore events taking place around the world, access campaign resources, and learn how you can help prevent plastic pollution at World Environment Day.global.

 

Edinburgh Napier on World Environment Day

With today at World Environment Day, we are going to look at Environmental Sustainability at Edinburgh Napier University and the path to Net Zero Carbon 2023. Our sustainability is tied to our academic research and actions.

 

Edinburgh Napier’s Environmental Sustainability

At the university, we are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as Scotland’s National Performance Framework. Much of our research and curriculum is dedicated to the SDG14, and embedded toolkits and case studies are available for academics to frame their degree programmes to meet the SDG. For example, in the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, our built environment is dedicated to teaching sustainable construction.

Our first score of Impact rankings, Napier achieved 76.1 out of 100.

On top of this, we have made strides from biodiversity to reducing waste.  We listed some of the stuff we do at Napier below.

Did you know that Craiglockhart campus contains around 50 different plant species, which include a rare fungus and a yellow barista. We also have the Lion Gates Garden that sits just outside Merchiston Library, or you can take part in a gardening club at Sighthill. And we are proud that all our campuses are hedgehog friendly.

All our campuses and accommodation’s energy usage is monitored, LED lighting is used throughout.

And 80% of our waste is all recycled, with 20% going to refuse-derived fuel. By 2030, we plan to be a net-zero university.

 

Read about our World Sustainable Transport 

Best online resources for finding news: Times Digital Archive & NexisUni

Welcome to Edinburgh Napier Libraries

03/06/2025 / / 0 Comments

Welcome to Edinburgh Napier Libraries

A warm welcome to any new students joining us here at Edinburgh Napier University this Summer. Here’s a comprehensive guide to our library services to help you get started.

Library resources: books, databases, and more

First of all, check out  LibrarySearch. This is the Library catalogue where you can find all the resources you need for your courses. It includes both online and physical resources such as journals, ebooks and databases. You can borrow books on a 7-day loan that renews automatically for up to four months unless requested by another user. You can borrow up to 30 physical items. If you need something we don’t have, our inter-library loan service is here to help with that. It allows you to borrow books and access articles from other libraries, ensuring you have all the resources you need for your studies.

Finding information: reading lists, subject guides, and librarians

Each of your courses will have a reading list, that you can access through the LibrarySearch. Make sure to log in at the top right corner as a university member. We also offer subject and research guides created by subject librarians to help you with finding information and resources. These guides are available online and cover a wide range of topics relevant to your studies, you can find them in LibGuides. For more personalised help, you can contact your subject librarian or arrange a one-on-one appointment. Details about your subject librarian are available on the library webpages.

Libraries: physical and online spaces

Our libraries offer various study spaces, including silent areas for focused work, and group work zones for collaborative projects. We have study rooms equipped with PCs and Macs, as well as printers and scanners for your convenience. Each library also has a relaxation space with games, colouring sheets, and comfy sofas, providing a perfect spot to unwind. Make sure to have a look at our wellbeing collection. It is a selection of books and resources that is designed to support your mental health and wellbeing. If you can’t make it to campus, most resources are available online, ensuring you have access to the library’s offerings from anywhere.

Useful information

For more details, visit our library webpages or contact us in person at the help desks, via email at library@napier.ac.uk, or by phone at 0131 455 3500. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help. Our staff is always ready to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. Best of luck this trimester!

You can also find additional library information in previous blog posts. These articles provide insights into various library services, updates, and tips to make the most out of your library experience.

By Patrycja Respondek

 

 

« Older posts

Contact Us

Email: library@napier.ac.uk

Telephone: 0131 455 3500

Bluesky: @ENULibrary

Instagram: @ENU_Library​

 

© 2026 The Library Blog

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑