Library study skills

Now that the new trimester has started and we’ve all woken up from our winter hibernation, we’ve started to notice a lot of students coming into the library to ask us for advice about studying. Some of these are new students who are excited to get started here at Napier, and some are returning students who seem to have forgotten how to study over the winter break. So, we decided it would be a good idea to just quickly remind everyone about the different ways that the library at Edinburgh Napier can support you during your time studying here.

Study Guides

Firstly, the library provides you with LibGuides, which are specialised guides teaching you the skills you need to navigate the library and how to best use the resources the university provides to you. These include guides to referencing using APA 7th style, more general guides such as advice on Critical Thinking, as well as specialised guides for each of our schools.
The other handy thing about the LibGuides is that they can provide you with a full list of the databases the university has access to. Through your student account, you can access 184 research databases that provide you with access to research articles, e-books, and other publications covering a range of different subject areas. These databases are a great way to expand your research and find a wide range of sources to help you when studying specialised topics.

These guides for our schools are written by the Subject Librarian for that school, providing you with detailed help from an experienced professional who specialises in that field. For example, if you’re a student at our business school, you can check out the guide to the business school library written by Keith Walker, who has been with the university for years and knows exactly what a business student needs to know for their studies. You can also contact the Subject Librarians directly if you have any questions for them. Contact details can be found on the MyNapier Subject Librarians page.

You can also find some helpful study advice through the MyNapier pages on our libraries. Here, you can find guides on how to access the different study resources that the university provides to you, such as how to search for books in the library or how to use the different academic journals that the library provides you with access.

Library Collections

Each of our libraries also includes a Research Collection, where we have books that will give you advice on how to carry out research in your subject area. These collections are tailored to the campus that they are at, so you can expect to find advice on studying as a nurse at our Sighthill campus library, while at Craiglockhart you’ll find books on business research.
Our libraries also have a Wellbeing Collection, with books focused on providing advice on mental health and personal development issues. Although this might not immediately seem relevant, it is important to look after yourself during intensive research periods, and these books can help advise you on how to balance completing your university work with staying healthy and happy during your time at Napier.

In particular, I’d recommend some of the books we have on how to avoid procrastination, as this was definitely one of the biggest issues I faced as a student!
Like with most things, you can learn more about the collection through our Wellbeing Collection LibGuides page.

You can also check out the Training and Events calendar to see if there are any upcoming workshops covering skills you may need help with. These workshops can include sessions by our Subject Librarians on how to use referencing software (very useful for big assignments like your dissertation!) or drop-in sessions with the academic skills team to see if they can support you in any way.
You can learn more about the academic skills team at the Improve Your Academic Skills page on MyNapier.

And lastly, please remember that you’re always welcome to ask a member of the team at one of our Library Helpdesks if you have any questions during your time at Napier.

By Matthew Ferrie