Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading, organised by the Scottish Book Trust to promote the joy of reading throughout Scotland. Between 14-20 November, a packed programme of in-person and online events and activities will take place in venues across the country. See the Scottish Book Trust website for more information about events taking place near you.
Every year, the Scottish Book Trust invite people from all over Scotland to write about their experiences and tell their stories as part of the Your Stories project. The theme for 2022 is Scotland’s Stories. As part of Book Week Scotland, a collection of these stories will be published in a book which will be freely distributed in venues throughout the country.
Edinburgh Napier University are pleased to be able to offer copies of Scotland’s Stories to students and staff. Pick up your copy in one of the campus libraries or student residences between 14-20 November before they’re all gone!
Logie with Scotland’s Stories
You can join Book Week Scotland on Facebook or follow Book Week Scotland’s Twitter updates at twitter.com/BookWeekScot, and by using the hashtag #BookWeekScotland.
Don’t forget, you can browse the thousands of books and journal articles available to students and staff at Edinburgh Napier University by using LibrarySearch.
World Kindness Day was founded in 1998 and is an international holiday to spread kindness and compassion across the world. It is recognised by the United Nations and activities to celebrate World Kindness Day involve concerts, dances, and kindness cards.
The movement highlights good deeds, focuses on communities and small acts of kindness. An example could be an act of service, checking in on someone, complimenting or providing a creative gesture. Here are some examples of how you can spread and share kindness every day:
· Praise someone for their achievement
· Speak to someone you haven’t spoken to for a while
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks Armistice Day and 104 years since the end of the Great War. From that moment on, this day has become a day of Remembrance. Although particularly mindful of those affected during the First World War, this solemn day is dedicated to remembering all those who died in the line of duty in conflicts, old and new.
The oldest part of the buildings at the Craiglockhart campus played an important role during the First World War when it was requisitioned for use as a military hospital for the treatment of officers recovering from shell shock (or neurasthenia, as it was then officially called). During the hospital’s twenty-eight months of operation between 1916 and 1919, around 1,800 officers were assessed and treated at Craiglockhart, including the famous war poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. To honour their memory, Edinburgh Napier University established the War Poets collection in 1988, and in 2005 a dedicated exhibition space opened in the entrance and foyer area of the former war hospital. The exhibition recounts the stories of those affected by war and remembering their lives plays a central role within that.
For Edinburgh Napier University, this Remembrance Day will also be inextricably linked to the memory of Catherine Walker MBE. Although not military personnel, Catherine was the face of the War Poets collection for many years, introducing audiences new and old to the (extra)ordinary stories behind each and every item in the collection. As part of her work, she contributed to preserving the memory of all the officers who passed through Craiglockhart War Hospital, many of whom – after having been discharged back into duty upon recovering at Craiglockhart – did not live to see the world rejoice the official end of the war at 11am on 11 November 1918. A beloved member of staff at Edinburgh Napier University, this month marks one year since Catherine passed. Her work and love for the collection will be remembered, and the new Special Collections team look forward to continuing – and building on – her legacy.
In memory of Catherine Walker, curator of the War Poets Collection at Craiglockhart. Photographed for the relaunch event on 1st November 2016
International Games Month is our biggest and best yet!
This year for International Games Month we’ve organised some exciting new activities for you!
You’ll find links to all our activities (and Terms & Conditions for the games) hereLibCal.napier.ac.uk
Game-Based Searching Skills Support
Looking for a fun way to learn academic searching skills, join our Subject Librarians in this fun game-based searching activity. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask further questions! We’ve organised one session for each campus register by following the link below.
Did you know that games can be good for your well-being?
In collaboration with our Well-being team, we’re really pleased to be able to offer this well-being workshop on video gaming and how it can be good for you. This is an online session run through Webex and is open to staff and students.
As in previous years, we’re giving students multiple opportunities to win an Amazon voucher!
Play online, send your completed puzzle/quiz from your University email address to library@napier.ac.uk with the subject line International Games Month and we’ll enter correct entries into the draw to win a voucher. Paper copies of the Word Search and our Plot Keywords Quiz are available at each campus library if you prefer to hand in a paper copy.
New for 2023 our Plot Keywords Quiz ! Use the keywords provided to work out the title of the book which has been made into a film! Click on the link at LibCal.napier.ac.uk to access the quiz sheet.
The Mexican Day of the Dead known as Día de los Muertos is a two-day holiday celebrated from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November to honour and reunite the living and dead together. It is a reunion where the spirits of children join on October the 31st and the spirits of adults join on November the 2nd.
Day of the Dead face paint
The ritual originates from the Aztec and Nahua people who saw death as an eternal part of life. The Nahua rituals were held in August where food and water were to aid the deceased in the journey to the Land of the Dead and therefore contributed to the traditions of today.
It is a very colourful celebration and altars are decorated with marigolds, and photos of their loved ones, and food and drinks are consumed. The Marigolds are golden pathways to guide and attract the spirits. Families gather either at home or in the cemeteries at night to light candles and play music. There is no crying or grieving but to enjoy and appreciate all human associations and comforts on a spiritual journey.
Printmaker and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada used the skeletal figures to mock politicians. La Calavera Catrina is the most iconic work that features a female skeleton in ornate clothing. Sugar skulls known as Calaveras are decorative skulls made from sugar or clay to symbolise that death is not all that bad. They are often embellished with jewels and face painting. In contemporary Day of the Dead, skulls masks are worn, and treats are consumed. Pan de Muerto is a simple sweet bread that is consumed all year round!
Pan de Muerto and Marigolds
You can find lots of articles on the Mexican Day of the Dead in our LibrarySearch
Our mental health has been challenged pre and post-pandemic, with rises in anxiety and depression, as well as other unrecognised disorders; we can strive to play a role in increasing awareness, signposting, listening to one another and having conversations.
The World Mental Health Day theme is to use spoken words about the different ways we can talk about our experiences. Getting the words out to describe how we feel can be tough at times Mind shows you can confide in advisors, and find online and local communities and other information.
At Edinburgh Napier University, not only are our library help desks here to support you with library-related enquiries, but we are also here to listen to your concerns and provide you with as much support as possible. Napier’s counselling service is here to help your well-being and mental health through practical tools and coping strategies such as CBT and meditation: https://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/student-life/counselling-and-mental-wellbeing
Our Shelf Help collection at Edinburgh Napier University Library is materials chosen by professionals to overcome uncomfortable or stressful thoughts, experiences, and feelings.
Self-care, such as exercise, meeting friends and family, sleep and eating nutritiously have physical and emotional benefits to improving your well-being. You can check out resources on the library blog for further support and building resistance
International Literacy Day was originally founded by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and raises awareness of illiteracy globally.
Reading and writing are essential for our everyday lives, such as navigating signs, news, menus, and even labels on food. There are challenges with illiteracy, as approximately 771 million people still lack basic reading and writing skills.
UNESCO is holding a hybrid event and awards ceremony to remind everyone of the importance of literacy: You can find more information here
But what can be done to support literacy?
· Governments, schools, and communities can participate in activities to focus on illiteracy.
· Books can be donated to libraries and offer tuition to support success and development.
· Discussions, group sessions and 1-to-1s.
This year the theme is ‘transforming literacy learning spaces’ and at Edinburgh Napier University, we want to show how important spaces can be to ensuring inclusive education for everyone. For example, our group study rooms on resourcebooker.napier.ac.uk in the library provide a comfortable space for collaborative and group discussions, as well as technical equipment that can support development with researching and writing for dissertations and assignments.
What is the result of literacy?
Increasing literacy also gives people skills for employment with opportunities to develop and break the cycle of poverty, through small steps. It also provides people with knowledge and communication to express feelings and emotions.
You can find articles and books via the library search:
Manga is Japanese comics, and graphics, in newspapers, magazines and books, that emerged in the 1920s. The word consists of ‘man’, ‘whimsical’ and ‘pictures. Manga demonstrates stories of characters through pictures and expressive lines. It is usually printed in black and white due to cost savings; however special editions are printed in colour.
Manga comic at Merchiston Library
History:
Although Manga emerged during the 20th century, the earliest association was found on scrolls created by Japanese, Buddhist monks in the 12th century. They depicted chapters of animals mirroring human gestures. Printing techniques flourished in the 19th century and Manga focused on politics, although the government censored artists and even closed publishers.
Post-World War II, American occupation of Japan influenced the style, so it became more animated and entertaining for readers. These were called ‘Red Books’ and have influenced more contemporary pictures and stories today that suggest emotions and actions.
Manga Genres:
The Manga sub-genres consist of romance, fantasy, horror, and adventure. The most popular and modern classics are Naruto, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Fruit Basket, and Bleach. A lot of other Manga has been satirical and can focus on darker areas like corruption and injustices.
As Manga is mainly comic books, they have also become ‘anime’ meaning animations in Japanese. Anime uses movement to explain complex stories.
Bleach
So, if you are ready to read Manga, you may find that the print copies are not your usual way of reading as traditionally it is read back to front, from the top right to the left!
You can find Manga resources from how to master the art of drawing Manga to Bleach via the Library Search.
Today’s celebrations come to us from Big Cat Rescue. World Lion Day is celebrated to raise awareness and support for their protection and conservation. It was started in 2013 by Dereck and Beverly Joubert to celebrate these legendary animals (nationaltoday.com)
Lions are the second largest cat in the world, they can weigh between 300 and 550 pounds. They used to roam all over Africa and the Eurasian continent. But now it is estimated that there are only 30 000 and 100 000 lions left (daysoftheyear). World Lion Day was started in 2013 by Dereck and Beverly Joubert to bring attention to the dwindling population of these big cats as they are listed as endangered species.
We also want to give a huge shout-out to our own lion; Logie. Logie is the library’s mascot. Why a lion you may ask, well it’s all due to the Lion’s Gate Garden at Merchiston Campus. And you all named him back in 2019, a shortened version of logarithms which was invented by John Napier. He has been with us ever since, proudly promoting our libraries.
Photo of Logie the Lion at Merchiston Library
You can find out more about these majestic creatures by following the hashtag #WorldLionDay on Twitter, the Big Cat Rescue or watching some documentaries on BOB (Box Of Broadcasts)!
While it may seem doom and gloom, raising awareness matters and individuals can make a difference. The demand to tackle climate change and to take care of our natural environment is there. Let’s join Logie and roar for the lions.
Have you ever wondered what else Library Assistants do when they aren’t at the desk?
Starting our Day
Our day begins with emptying the book return bins as we check all returns to see if they have been requested or belong to another campus. If they belong to another campus or are requested at another campus, they will be put into our library crates for the porters to pick up and deliver.
We will check the library for any repairs and take any lost property to security.
The MFDs must be checked to see if the paper needs filled or if there are any issues that need to be resolved, for example, paper jams.
Using ALMA, our library management system, we compile a list of requested books and process them for the Click and Collect shelf. Any requests for postal loan users are parcelled up and put in the post.
Picture of books on a library shelf
We also use ALMA to generate other lists such as the missing list.
We can check our bookshelves to see if any of the missing items are there.
Our lapsafes are checked daily to make sure all laptops and chargers have been correctly returned.
During the day
We scan the bookshelves with our hand-held scanners to check for missing and mis-shelved items. We process new books and journals as they arrive and put them out on the shelves.
There is a procedure for all our tasks, and these are updated as necessary and receive an annual check.
We arrange displays and put up decorations and posters for campaigns and events such as Pride, Love your Library, and Book Week.
We write articles for the Library Blog, update the library’s digital signage, and post items on Twitter and Instagram.
Creative planning at work
A day in the life of a Library Assistant: Training
There are all sorts of training courses that we attend throughout the year such as GDPR, Mental Health Awareness, and Fire Safety.
Should extraordinary events such as Covid-19 arise we respond by taking appropriate steps to fulfill University or Library guidelines.
For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to place social distancing stickers on the study desks, put seat covers on unavailable seats, block off bookshelves and make sure hand sanitisers were available for use throughout the library.
A day in the life of a Library Assistant: Summer
During the summer we will be involved in larger projects such as weeding and stock moves, but we are also on hand to help at the helpdesk and answer your phone and e-mail enquiries.
When term begins again we will be available to help with all your queries such as connecting to Eduroam, issuing books from the self-service kiosks, using the lapsafe, how to operate the MFDs, booking a group study room and so much more!
