The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.

Month: October 2026

subject librarians

Subject Librarians

14/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Subject Librarians

Here at the library, we try our best to provide students with the support they need during their studies, Napier. Whether that be helping you find the books you need in the library or fixing any pesky IT issues you might be having. However, our Information Assistants aren’t the only people at the library who are here to help you. We also have our team of Subject Librarians here to help provide you with in-depth study support and research guides tailored to the different schools here at Napier.

Our Subject Librarians

There are five Subject Librarians in the library, and you can find a full list of them along with their contact details on the MyNapier library help page.
At our Sighthill campus library, we have Catriona Robertson, who serves as the Subject Librarian for the School of Applied Sciences (as well as the Department of Learning and Teaching), and Dawn Adams, who serves as the Subject Librarian for the School of Health and Social Care.
At Merchiston, we have Joyce Templeton at the School of Computing, Engineering & Built Environment, and Sarah Jeffcot with the School of Arts and Creative Industries.
And at Craiglockhart, we have Keith Walker for the Business School, which includes our law degree courses.

Subject Librarian Support

If you’ve got a question for the Subject Librarians or would like to arrange a 1-on-1 session to go over any concerns, you can just get in touch using the details linked above. The 1-on-1 sessions are especially useful if you have any research concerns. For example, if you’re unsure about how to use some of the more specialised and complicated databases used by the university (a common concern among some Health and Social Care students!) then you can get in touch with the Subject Librarian for your school and get the guidance you need.
The Subject Librarians can also advise you on how to understand and best make use of the different referencing styles used by the different departments here at the university, something that you’ll definitely need to get to grips with when it comes to writing your assessments!

Along with answering any questions you might have for them, the Subject Librarians are also responsible for writing the library LibGuides, a collection of in-depth guides to walk you through different aspects of research. These guides are tailored to each of our schools or to different aspects of research (such as reference management or literature reviews), so you can get the exact help you need. If you ever find yourself with a question about how to go about doing your research, then be sure to have a look at the appropriate LibGuide page before contacting the Subject Librarian. You might find out there’s already a LibGuide that has all the information you need.

The Subject Librarians also support you by working with your course lecturers and the library’s Resource Acquisitions team to manage the catalogue of books and journal articles that you have access to through the library.
Each Subject Librarian helps to oversee the library collection for their respective school, and is responsible for ensuring that the university has access to any of the materials included on your course reading lists. If there is a book your lecturer thinks would be just perfect to use as reading material for your module, then it’s up to the Subject Librarian to ensure that we can get a copy of it for the library.

 

We hope that this brief overview has helped you to better understand the role that our Subject Librarians play here at Napier, and the ways that your learning is supported by them, even if you don’t realise it!
And we hope that those of you who feel you need extra support in your studies now know who to contact for the help you need.

By Matthew Ferrie

Dyslexia Awareness.

Dyslexia Awareness.

08/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Dyslexia Awareness.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a lifelong neurological condition that often runs in families and affects people’s abilities in reading, writing and spelling.

People with dyslexia may have difficulty processing and remembering what they see and hear, which can affect their learning. Dyslexia can also affect other areas such as memory, maths, co-ordination, time-keeping and organisational skills.

Approximately 10% of the UK population is thought to be dyslexic, with around 4% being severely affected, but the condition is often misunderstood.

Under the Equality Act (2010), dyslexia can be classed as a disability. Dyslexia can affect children in education, adults in the workplace and situations in everyday life.

Everyone’s experience of dyslexia is different – it can range from mild to severe and can exist alongside other neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and developmental language disorder.

 

Dyslexia Awareness Week.

Dyslexia Awareness Week UK runs from 5th to 11th October 2026.

The theme for this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is “Dyslexia in real life: At Work”, which focuses on adults with dyslexia and their experiences at work, particularly the impact that recruitment, communication, organisational processes, management, and access to additional support can have on dyslexic employees.

As a lifelong condition, dyslexia can have a major impact on a person’s working life. Everything from job applications to managing daily organisational tasks to career progression can be affected by dyslexia. Workplaces should be designed to encourage alternative ways of thinking to avoid creating obstacles that make it difficult for dyslexic employees to succeed.

Dyslexia does not lessen an individual’s intelligence or potential. Many people with dyslexia achieve great success. There are many famous people who are dyslexic, including Jamie Oliver, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Keira Knightley, Sir Jackie Stewart, Holly Willoughby, Jennifer Aniston and Sir Richard Branson.

Employees with dyslexia have a diverse range of skills and contribute to the workforce by thinking differently. They have many strengths, including creativity and observation. They can see patterns and trends in data and are good at problem-solving, often with an intuitive understanding of how something works. Workplaces should provide sufficient support for dyslexic employees through assistive technology and reasonable adjustments, enabling them to thrive in all aspects of their working lives.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day is on 8th October 2026 and is a global initiative which aims to raise the profile of dyslexia. It is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of the condition. It reminds us of the importance of supporting those with dyslexia by promoting inclusivity, access to education, and the use of effective strategies to support their learning journeys.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day aims to raise the profile of dyslexia for policymakers, educators, employers and the general public. Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, with around 700 million people affected worldwide. As well as raising awareness, World Dyslexia Day highlights the rights, capabilities and accomplishments of those who live with the condition. Dyslexia is a common condition which can be managed effectively with the correct support, and people with dyslexia can achieve their full potential.

 

Supporting People with Dyslexia.

There are several ways you can support people with dyslexia. First, learn about the condition and how it can affect people. Share information about dyslexia via social media to raise awareness; campaign for inclusive educational practices that accommodate students’ needs; support dyslexia organisations either by donating or volunteering; and encourage and support those with dyslexia to achieve their goals.

Employers should ensure workplaces are supportive environments that promote understanding, remove barriers, and inspire creativity, where dyslexic employees can contribute, develop skills, and prosper within the organisation.

Here at Edinburgh Napier University, the Disability Inclusion Team are available to ensure that every student has equal access to university life. The team can help students access the support they need during their time at university. The team work across all three campuses and offer support to students with a variety of learning difficulties, disabilities, and other support needs.

There are also a number of organisations which can provide information and support including Dyslexia Scotland, The Dyslexia Association and British Dyslexia Association.

 

Find out more:

Use LibrarySearch to find books and articles about Dyslexia.

 

By Sharon McMichael

reading

Wee Read Campaign 2026

07/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Wee Read Campaign 2026

 

Most of us may have a wee read every day, which can include, but is not limited to, reading and do not identify with being a reader. Despite the fact that most of us may have a wee read every day, which can include and is not limited to reading the news, graphic novels, recipes, letters, emails, and even social media posts and content. The Wee Read campaign, which takes place on the 7th of October this year, celebrates all forms of reading. Whilst also encouraging individuals and communities to incorporate reading for leisure into their everyday lives and routines, whether this is for the first time in a long time or more often than they usually already do.

 

Fun Facts about Reading…

 

  • There is a strong link between reading for leisure in childhood and better academic performance and mental well-being later in an individual’s life.
  • Reading for leisure has a more significant influence and impact on a child’s cognitive development than their parent’s level of education or socioeconomic background.
  • Studies have shown that those who read for leisure often have higher self-esteem and resilience. Reading regularly for leisure is also associated with better sleeping patterns and quality.
  • Higher literacy rates are associated with higher employment rates and wages. Career progression is strongly linked to an individual’s level of literacy.
  • Reading for leisure has academic, economic, and socioeconomic benefits – 44% of those who identified as regular readers reported better mental health and well-being. This is compared with 23% of those who rarely or never read for leisure. This could coincide with the other various benefits that reading has, one of which is better sleeping patterns as mentioned!

 

All facts and statistics can be found in the Wee Read website. The benefits of reading for leisure for health, well-being, longevity, the economy, quality of life, and community are vast. This is a big part of why we and many other library institutions across Scotland have chosen to promote the Wee Read campaign this year.

 

Our participation in this year’s Wee Read campaign…

 

The Wee Read campaign is primarily run by libraries across Scotland, in collaboration with mental health charities, book retailers, educational institutions, and third-sector organisations, to promote reading nationally. One of the main objectives of this campaign is also to encourage patrons to use their local libraries more! Edinburgh Napier University campus libraries will be participating in the Wee Read campaign taking place this year on the 7th of October.

We will be setting up displays in our three campus libraries featuring fiction, poetry, graphic novels, comics, manga, and some non-fiction titles on wellbeing and general life. Some titles will also be set aside for a “Blind Date with a Book” activity where we will get willing patrons to take a slip from the desk with a number that will assign them a corresponding text to read for the Wee Read challenge.

 

Don’t worry! If the title does not sound like your cup of tea, you do not need to, borrow it or take it out on loan. This is simply an attempt to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and discover new reads, genres, and books that may surprise you and that you might not usually read or pick up in a local bookstore or library! Have a book suggestion of your own that you would like to share? Feedback boxes and slips will also be put up in all three of our campus libraries where you can write any book recommendations you may have and share them with us.

What patrons have to say about public libraries…

 

Public libraries make reading free and accessible to all, but this is not the only purpose that they serve in society. They also serve as vital community hubs that provide patrons with digital access, printing facilities, Wi-Fi, and a quiet, warm space to study, read, or rest. It is a safe space where individuals can remain indefinitely without obligation to pay for any services. Public libraries welcome all patrons and serve a vastly diverse audience that may include people with protected characteristics.

 

Overall, many individuals greatly value public libraries – the Wee Read website has feedback recorded and highlighted regarding the positive impact public libraries have had on patron’s lives and the lives of their loved ones as well. Some of the quoted feedback is as follows:

 

  • “Libraries rekindled my passion for reading and studying. I wish I had discovered public libraries sooner.”
  • “Our local library is a village hub where people come together. It fosters a love of reading across all ages in the community and is a vital resource.”
  • “Since having children, the library isn’t just for my pleasure (browsing/borrowing books) but to encourage this love of reading for them.”
  • “It’s a comfort to know that I can easily access reading material at no cost whatever happens in my life but also have access to knowledgeable, professional staff who are kind and willing to help.”

 

Our Displays on Campus…

 

Our Wee Read campaign displays have been set up in all three of our campus libraries and have numbered slips to take and then bring to our library helpdesks where a member of our library team will issue you the book corresponding with the number on the slip you have selected. We also have suggestion boxes where you can write and post recommendations in for what could be included for the next Wee Read campaign and perhaps even to be added into our own library stock!

 

 

Got any questions about the Wee Read campaign 2026? Email library@napier.ac.uk, phone 0131 455 3500 or visit our library helpdesks during our staffed hours (Monday to Friday, 8:45am – 16:45pm).

 

By Rachel Downie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Poetry Day 2026

02/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

National Poetry Day 2026

The first Thursday in October is the UK’s National Poetry Day, a day dedicated to celebrating poetry in all its forms and giving us all the chance to come together and share in the pleasure of poetry.
As Scotland has such a rich history of poetry, we thought we’d take today to talk a little about poetry in Scotland, National Poetry Day itself, and a little bit about poetry here at Napier!

National Poetry Day has been celebrated in the UK for over thirty years and has seen participation from millions of people taking part in organised events such as discussions and workshops. Celebrations for the day are typically organised by the Forward Arts Foundation, but organisations across the entire UK join in with their own celebrations as well. Past celebrations have involved public readings and discussions hosted by poets, public displays of poetry in prominent locations, and workshops to help aspiring poets hone their craft.
You can find the full list of official events on the Forward Arts Foundation events page. However, you don’t need to join an official event in order to take part – just trying sharing some of your favourite poetry with people you know, or even write some yourself. One of the most beautiful things about poetry is that all you need to get started is a pen and paper!

Poetry in Scotland

Now, here in Scotland we have a long history of poetry stretching back hundreds of years, with epic poems of the medieval era such as Brus by John Barbour, and Blind Harry’s The Wallace, serving as romantic (and heavily fictionalised!) recordings of Scottish history that have done much to shape the popular view of medieval Scottish history. This tradition then continued over the following centuries, with Scottish poetry coming to place an emphasis on capturing Scottish vernacular and being written in either Scottish Gaelic or in the Scots language. From this tradition we have Robert Burns, perhaps Scotland’s most famous poet, who was known for collecting poetry and folk songs from around the country and adapting them to both Scots and English, along with discussing the important topics of his day such as the development of Scottish identity in Britain, issues of social class and the church, and gender.

By the twentieth century, Scotland would see a great revival of Scottish prose and poetry writing dubbed the Scottish Renaissance, with a new wave of writers helping to bring about a renewed interest in poetic works written that are written in Scots language and which tackle Scottish identity in the modern world. Edinburgh served as a major hub of this movement, with many prominent Scots poets such as Hugh MacDiarmid calling the city their home.

The Scottish Poetry Library

As a testament to this, Edinburgh is now how to the Scottish Poetry Library, which can be found just off the Canongate, a short walk from the Royal Mile. The Poetry Library is the heart of poetry in Scotland, with their website holding records of over 3,000 poems that you can read for free anytime you want. They also run several ongoing projects, such as their toolkit for running your own poetry workshop, which we can proudly say is being ran in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University. Another project from the poetry library, ran in collaboration with Napier and other higher education institutes, was the Poems for Nurses & Midwives pocket book, an anthology of poetry intended to serve as a source of comfort and inspiration for newly qualified nurses and midwives. You can find a copy of the collection in our Sighthill Campus library in the Wellbeing Collection, and it is recommended reading for any of our student nurses who are making the transition to work.
The Poetry Library also works closely with Scotland’s national poet (known as the Makar) to promote poetry nationally. The current Makar of Scotland is Pàdraig MacAoidh, who is also the first Makar to write his work primarily in Gaelic.

Our Library

We here at Edinburgh Napier we are happy to have been the host of the Scottish Revival Network, a group led by academics here at the university dedicated to studying the work of the Scottish literary revival, including looks at Scottish poetry of the era. The network oversaw the publication of academic papers on the subject, as well as a range of different lectures. You can find recordings of many of these lectures on the Network’s Youtube page.
Also at Napier we have the War Poets Collection, dedicated to the memory of the poets of the First World War who were treated at Craiglockhart hydropathic, which is now the building that makes up our Craiglockhart campus. In the collection, you’ll find first edition copies of work by famed poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, collections of prose and other written works relating to Craiglockhart, along with recordings of the poetry recited by legendary Hollywood actor Daniel Day Lewis, author Pat Barker, along with many others.

Of course, you can also check what poetry we have in stock at our campus libraries by checking on LibrarySearch. Your university membership also gives you access to the university’s Literature Online subscription, where you can find a huge variety of poetry and other written works.

By Matthew Ferrie

Black History Month 2025 image of arty peoples heads

Honouring Our Communities for Black History Month

01/10/2026 / / 0 Comments

Honouring Our Communities for Black History Month

Every October, Black History Month allows us to celebrate Black history, culture and achievements across the UK. This year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities”. At Edinburgh Napier, that feels like a perfect opportunity to look closer to home. Our University community is full of people who are making a difference. They are students, graduates, staff, researchers, athletes, entrepreneurs, creatives and leaders. So this Black History Month, we are celebrating some of the people of colour who have been part of the Edinburgh Napier community and recognising the contributions they have made.

Panashe Muzambe: making history in Scottish rugby

For Panashe Muzambe, Edinburgh Napier was where a new passion began. Panashe studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University. Before then, rugby was not part of her sporting plans. She had grown up playing basketball. That changed when she attended a women’s rugby “come and try” session during her third year. She quickly fell in love with the sport.

Panashe became an early member of Edinburgh Napier’s women’s rugby team and went on to become team captain. Her university experience helped her develop her skills and confidence, both on and off the pitch.

Her achievements continued after graduation.

In 2019, Panashe became the first Black woman to play rugby for Scotland, making her international debut during the Women’s Six Nations Championship. She has since continued her career in rugby and coaching and was appointed Head Coach of Heriot’s Rugby Women for the 2025/26 season.

Her story is a reminder that sometimes university gives us more than the qualification we came for. It can also introduce us to opportunities, people and passions that change the direction of our lives.

Liseli Sitali: changing the game

Another Edinburgh Napier alumna making an impact is Liseli Sitali. Liseli studied English and Communications at Edinburgh Napier after moving to Edinburgh from Zambia at the age of 17. During her time at the University, she became a Student Representative, played hockey and worked as an International Marketing and Advertising Intern. A university assignment even helped open the door to her first major career opportunity. After Liseli wrote about branding and Formula One for her final-year assignment, her lecturer connected her work with Ferrari’s Head of Communications. She subsequently secured an internship with Ferrari’s racing division, Scuderia Ferrari.

Since then, Liseli has built an impressive career across sport, marketing and media. Her roles have included working with Ferrari, The Wall Street Journal, DAZN, Sky Sports and Expedia. But her work goes beyond her own career.

Liseli founded In Her Corner, a platform supporting women in sport, and has worked to create career and development opportunities for women and girls. She has also used her experience in marketing and sport to support greater visibility and opportunities for underrepresented talent.

Liseli received an Edinburgh Napier Alumni Award in 2013. Her story shows how the ideas, connections and opportunities developed at university can continue far beyond graduation.

Mary Abboah-Offei: Improving healthcare through research

Dr Mary Abboah-Offei is a Lecturer in Public Health at Edinburgh Napier University and Programme Leader for the MSc Healthcare Management. Her research focuses on public health, person-centred care and health inequalities. She is Principal Investigator for the ExtraCECI project, a major research programme exploring how community-based, person-centred care can improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The project received around £1.5 million from the Medical Research Council.

Mary began her healthcare career as an emergency nurse in Ghana, and her experiences there helped shape her research interests. Through her research and teaching, she continues to connect healthcare practice, education and communities across Scotland and Ghana.

Dr Timothy Olawumi: Building a more sustainable future

Dr Timothy Olawumi is a Lecturer in the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University. His work brings together construction, technology and sustainability, exploring how new approaches can help address some of the challenges facing the built environment.

Timothy has worked across academia and industry in Nigeria and internationally, including at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His experience includes major construction projects, including a US$4 million World Bank-funded bridge construction and highway rehabilitation project in Nigeria.

At Edinburgh Napier, his research focuses on sustainable construction and informatics. He also leads the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the built environment.

His work extends beyond the University too. Timothy is a member of the Green Building Council Nigeria’s Research and Development Board and co-founded Nigerian Researchers in Europe, where he supports and mentors research students.

Through his teaching, research and professional work, Timothy brings an international perspective to Edinburgh Napier while contributing to research into how we can create more sustainable buildings, infrastructure and communities.

Celebrating our community

These are just a few stories from the much bigger Edinburgh Napier community. They also show why this year’s Black History Month theme matters. Honouring our communities means looking at the people around us and the amazing contributions they make. We should be recognising the work people do to create opportunities for others and listening to different experiences and making space for new voices.

The University has also taken steps to strengthen its Black community and create a more inclusive environment. In 2024, Edinburgh Napier became the first Scottish higher education institution to partner with Black Professionals Scotland, supporting the University’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and representative community.

Want to learn more and check out some books or research: Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk can help

By Juliet Kinsey

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