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.

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UFO

The truth is out there! – World UFO Day.

02/07/2026 / / 0 Comments

The truth is out there! – World UFO Day.

This 2nd of July is World UFO Day, marking  the 79th anniversary of the alleged UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, that helped spark our modern fascination with UFO sightings. UFOs, which means Unidentified Flying Objects, are exactly what they sound like – something in the sky that we can’t quite explain. These can include strange lights, shapes, or what appear to be aircraft in the night skies.

Now, many UFO sightings do have somewhat mundane explanations, such as being tricks of the light, normal human planes, or even just people’s imagination. But that hasn’t stopped many people from speculating that these could be signs of alien life visiting Earth. Humans have been seeing strange and unexplained shapes and images appearing in the sky for a very long time, with some of our earliest know records dating back to over a thousand years ago!

 

UFO phenomena

Some of these instances can be explained by people in the ancient past having a limited understanding of space and physics, which led them to misunderstand phenomena we now see as normal. For example, there are documents from Ancient Rome describing strange objects in the sky that we would now recognise as meteor showers or comet sightings. However, others are much stranger and don’t have such a clear explanation. Such as Chinese writer and inventor Shen Kuo, who in 1088 recorded a series of sightings of a large flying object appearing over the city of Yangzhou at night.

However, it was in the years following the Second World War that the number of UFO sightings really took off (excuse the pun) with 1947 seeing the first widespread reports of UFO sightings in the United States when a pilot claimed to have seen flying discs in the air near Mount Rainer. This story became a media sensation, and the alleged objects were quickly dubbed “Flying Saucers.”
It’s from this that we have the modern community of UFO spotters and investigators, with dedicated groups around the world discussing the phenomenon.

Now, while cultural depictions of UFOs tend to associate them strongly with the United States, the UK has had its fair share of UFO sightings as well. To the point that in the 1950s the UK government set up an official investigative group to study possible UFO sightings and alien encounters, calling the group the Flying Saucer Working Party.

UFOs in Scotland

In fact, did you know that Scotland was at one point the world hotspot for UFO sightings? Yes, really!
Specifically, the village of Bonnybridge, located near Falkirk between Glasgow and Edinburgh, has a history of UFO sightings dating back to the early 1990s, when many locals began reporting strange goings-on in the skies. These strange sightings took all forms, from lights in the sky that assumed strange shapes to alleged sightings of objects landing in fields.

Pretty soon, the area between Bonnybridge, Falkirk, and Stirling was dubbed in UFO circles as “The Falkirk Triangle” and the area would remain a UFO hotspot to this day with hundreds of alleged sightings every year.
Things got so bad that local councillor Billy Buchanan got involved, writing a letter to the Prime Minister asking that the government launch a formal investigation into sightings in the area. Billy is even still trying to raise awareness about UFO encounters to this day!

Just recently, Glasgow was crowned the Alien abduction capital of Scotland, showing that there’s still people out there with a passion for UFO spotting. So why not take the 2nd of July to get involved and maybe do a bit of UFO spotting yourself?

By Matthew Ferrie

Photo by Brian Warrington Unsplash

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wimbledon

Wimbledon 2026

29/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

SSWimbledon 2026

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is the home of the Wimbledon British Tennis Championships, which run from Monday, 29th June – Sunday, 12th July 2026. The Club was founded on 23rd July 1868 as the All England Croquet Club. After a few name changes, it became known as The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Limited in August 2011. The first Wimbledon Championships took place in 1877, making it the oldest tennis championship in the world. When it began, Men’s Singles was the only event, but this was soon followed by Ladies’ Singles, Men’s and Ladies’ Doubles tournaments.

 

The Championships

The Championships begin with two days of Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles matches. In total, 128 players are entered into both the Gentlemen’s Singles and Ladies’ Singles competitions.

Wednesday 1st July sees the start of Gentlemen’s and Ladies Doubles, followed by Mixed Doubles on Friday 3rd July. Junior Championships (18 and under) begin on Saturday, 4th July, and the second week hosts competitions for wheelchair competitors and juniors aged 14 and under.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club is a private members’ club with courts being used all year round – except the grass courts, which are used from May to September. The club has a capacity for 42,000 spectators across the 42-acre site, which must be maintained to the highest standard. Ground staff work year-round to maintain the courts and ensure they remain of the highest quality. The grass on the courts is cut to exactly 8mm to ensure the very best tennis. The All England Lawn Tennis Club is a private members club with courts being used all year round – except the grass courts which are used from May to September. However, Centre Court and other Show Courts are only used for the Championships.

Wimbledon is one of four Grand Slam tournaments which include the Australian Open, Roland-Garros (French Open) and the US Open.

Presitge

These are the most prestigious events in professional tennis, each having its own rich history and traditions. The name Grand Slam refers to the accomplishment of winning all four major championships in the same calendar season. Swiss player Roger Federer holds the Men’s record of winning eight Wimbledon Singles titles while Czech-American Martina Navratilova holds the record for the most Ladies’ Singles titles, including the overall most Wimbledon Singles titles won, achieving an incredible nine titles! German Boris Becker is the youngest ever winner of the Men’s Singles title, winning Wimbledon in 1985 when he was only 17, and Swiss Martina Hingis is the youngest Ladies’ Singles winner at the age of 16 in 1997.

 

Dress Codes

Since 1909, green and purple have been the official colours of the tournament after it was discovered that the previous Club colours of blue, yellow, red and green were very similar to those of the Royal Marines. Her Royal Highness, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been the patron of the Club since 2016 and often dresses in the official colours when attending and presenting prizes at Wimbledon.

The Championships have a strict white dress code. Players must wear appropriate tennis clothing, which must be white. They are only allowed a single trim of colour, no wider than one centimetre (10mm), around the neckline, cuffs, or side seam of shorts, skirts, and tracksuit bottoms. This rule also applies to caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks. Shoes must also be almost entirely white, with soles and laces completely white. Large, coloured manufacturers’ logos are discouraged.

For spectators, a smart/casual dress code is in place, such as blazers, smart trousers and a collared shirt for men and dresses, jumpsuits or tailored trouser suits for women. If you are fortunate enough to be in the Royal Box or certain hospitality areas, more formal dressing is required. Ripped jeans, running vests, scruffy trainers, sportswear and clothing with offensive or political slogans are prohibited. Large hats, which may block the view of other spectators, are also not permitted.

 

New Balls Please!

During the Championships approximately 55,000 tennis balls are used. The balls are kept in a refrigerator at a constant temperature of 20oC to ensure they stay in tip top condition until they are ready to be used. They are replaced every seven to nine games to make sure they are in perfect shape. Originally, white tennis balls were used in the tournament, but these were replaced with yellow balls in 1986 as they were more visible for television viewers.

French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard recorded the fastest-ever serve at Wimbledon 2025, at 153 mph (246 km/h), during his first-round defeat to Taylor Fritz, breaking the long-standing Wimbledon record of 148 mph (238 km/h) set by American Taylor Dent in 2010. The fastest serve in the Ladies’ Singles was recorded by Venus Williams who recorded a speed of 129 mph (207.6 km/h) in 2008.

 

Henman Hill or Murray Mound?

The hill is officially known as Aorangi Terrace, the Māori word for Aoraki (the highest mountain in New Zealand), dating back to when the London New Zealand Rugby Club used the space until 1981. It is a communal viewing area near No. 1 Court, where spectators gather to watch matches on a large screen. It became colloquially known as Henman Hill in the 1990s, when crowds gathered to support four-time semi-finalist Tim Henman in dramatic matches as he tried to win the title.

ince been named after other British players over the years, most notably Sir Andy Murray, to become Murray Mound when, in 2013, he became the first British man in 77 years to win the Singles title. Now, with a new generation of players coming through the ranks, some people have renamed the hill as Radacanu Rise, in support of Emma Radacanu. The media usually still refer to it as Henman Hill, but whatever name is used is often dependent on your age or your favourite tennis player!

 

Food and drinks

Strawberries and cream are synonymous with Wimbledon, having been served at the very first tournament in 1877 and have become a firm favourite ever since. Around 140,000 portions are served up each year, which is about 28,000kg of strawberries and 7,000 litres of cream!

Pimm’s is the quintessential drink of the Championships. The Pimm’s Cup has been a popular cocktail at Wimbledon even before the first Pimm’s bar opened in 1971. It is also served at other major events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, Henley Royal Regatta and Royal Ascot.

2026 is proving to be a bumper year for sport. So, get your strawberries and cream and your Pimm’s cocktail ready for one of the biggest sporting events of the British Summer. Let the games begin!

By Sharon McMichael

Photo by Matthias Davies Unsplash 

It’s sports summer, so have a look at some other sporty posts

National Writing Day

National Writing Day

24/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

National Writing Day

The 24th of June is National Writing Day, a day where creative people across Britain come together to celebrate and practice the art of writing as a form of self-expression, as a way of improving literacy, as a way of creating entertainment for others, or even just because it’s fun to do!

National Writing Day is an initiative organised by First Story, a charity that provides artistic and cultural education to school pupils who might otherwise be unable to access it, with the emphasis, of course, on creative writing. First Story champions creative writing as a fantastic medium for helping young people improve their reading and communication skills, build confidence in exploring new ideas, and learn a skill set that requires discipline and focus.

First Story provides this help to young people through their Young Writers Programme, matching professional writers with schools and having the writers run a sixteen-week workshop that encourages aspiring young writers to develop their writing skills and provides support through editing and proofreading their work. Perhaps most impressive of all, at the end of this workshop, the work the pupils have done will be compiled together and published in a printed anthology – a copy of which will even be catalogued into the British Library!

Writing at Napier

If you’re a student at Napier, you can get involved as well by taking the day to just write something purely for fun. Writing for pleasure can be a great way to unwind now that most of you will be on holiday for the summer, and who knows – you might just be able to make a new hobby out of it!
There’s no need to feel left out if you’re not interested in creating prose fiction either. National Writing Day celebrates all forms of creative writing, whether that be poetry, script writing, essays (although we imagine you might be sick of writing essays by now!) or even just journaling for yourself. You don’t need to fret or worry over if what you’re writing is good enough to show to anyone either, what matters is building up the confidence to write something just for yourself.

Need help getting motivated? Or maybe you’ve been bitten by the writing bug and want to get more involved? If you’re a student here at Napier, Why not consider joining the University’s Creative Writing Society. Ran by students here at Napier, they meet every Monday on our Merchiston Campus to host writing events and competitions, as well as social events outside the university such as picnics or even just casual meetups! The Creative Writing Society can be a great way to meet others interested in creative writing, share ideas and projects you might be working on, and hopefully build up the confidence to share your work with others.

Writing Motivation at the Library

You can also check out some books on writing that we have in the library. I’d highly recommend Stephen King’s “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” if which the horror icon talks about his own history with writing, his creative process, and offers some of his treasured advice on aspiring writers. The book positively oozes with infectious enthusiasm for writing and is a great motivator to get started, even if horror isn’t your genre.

So why not get involved? 24th just grab a pen and paper and get to writing!

By Matthew Ferrie

We have a whole range of writing posts to keep you going

Photo by Aaron Burden Unsplash

 

World refugee day

World Refugee Day

20/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

World Refugee Day

This year on the 20th of June the UK will celebrate the 25th annual World Refugee Day, a day in which we honour the bravery of refugees who have had to flee their country in search of a better life, and we celebrate the contributions they make to society. Organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Refugee Day consists of events hosted by volunteer organisations, government groups, and refugee communities, with over 100 countries around the world taking part in the festivities.
These events can take the form of talks, workshops, exhibitions, or general community gatherings, with some being educational, others entertaining, but all are built around a spirit of solidarity and community.

This year’s celebrations are focused on the right of all people to seek safety and on how this safeguard protects everyone by ensuring that we all have the legal right to seek sanctuary in times of persecution. This right was enshrined by the United Nations in the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee and sets the minimum standard of treatment to which refugees are entitled under international law.
World Refugee Day is also celebrated alongside Refugee Week, a wider celebration of the resilience of refugees worldwide, which draws attention to their contributions and creativity. The week is coordinated among several groups, including the British Red Cross, Amnesty International, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and features a range of events similar to those I’ve mentioned above.

World Refugee Day and Universities

Universities across the United Kingdom have a long and proud history of supporting refugee communities, and this continues to this way with the Universities of Sanctuary creating a network of higher education institutions that are committed to maintaining a safe and accepting environment of refugees.
Here at Napier, we’re proud to carry on that tradition. The library is one of the most open and welcoming spaces at any university, and indeed in society as a whole. Being a peaceful and open environment where anyone can come and have free access to our catalogue of knowledge, equipment, or even just a quiet area to sit and think for a while.

World Refugee Day and Edinburgh Napier Library

We here at the Edinburgh Napier library team have done our best to ensure that all libraries across our three campuses meet the standards of inclusiveness and acceptance that all libraries should uphold. We do this through our work with the Disability & Inclusion team, ensuring that the library environment and materials meet the requirements for easy accessibility, and by keeping our library catalogue stocked with materials that support and represent our students. This latter point is achieved through our library’s Wellbeing Collection, a curated collection of books that can offer advice and support to members of the university. This covers practical advice on university life, discussions of personal and group identity, and mental health support.

Along with this, we have a variety of other resources in our catalogue that can provide support to members of the refugee community and raise awareness and understanding of their struggles. For example, over on our virtual bookshelves, we have the BIPOC bookshelf, curating books in our collection that tackle issues of race in Britain, a topic that frequently overlaps with refugee issues.
Also in our library catalogue, you’ll find online access to the Journal of Refugee Studies, an academic journal that examines refugee communities and issues worldwide.

By Matthew Ferrie

Photo By Ricardo Gomez Angel Unsplash 

Loneliness awareness week library support

Loneliness Awareness Week

15/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

Loneliness Awareness Week

 

Being alone and feeling alone can be two very different experiences altogether. Loneliness can manifest in various stages, events, and occurrences in our lives – even when we are surrounded by others. Life’s experiences and stages where we may be vulnerable to feeling lonely can include going through a break-up, bereavement, becoming a parent, moving to a new city or place, developing a chronic illness, suffering from declining physical or mental health, or even starting university.

Loneliness can affect any one of us at any point in our lives, which is a small part of why Loneliness Awareness Week was launched to raise awareness of this matter whilst trying to reduce the stigma and silence that often surrounds loneliness as an individual and wider social experience. This year, loneliness awareness week commences from the 15th of June to the 21st of June. Whether you or someone you know is experiencing loneliness or feeling alone in what they may be going through, there is help and support out there. Edinburgh Napier University also offers a wide range of resources and services to support students and staff who may be struggling with loneliness and their mental health as a result.

 

How ENU can support students and staff…

 

Loneliness as a feeling and emotion is very complex and subjective. It is fundamental when an individual feels an uncomfortable absence of their desired level of social connection and belonging. All age groups and demographics are at risk – if prolonged or chronic, it also carries an increased risk and susceptibility of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and various other chronic illnesses. This is fundamentally because prolonged periods of loneliness and isolation can significantly elevate cortisol levels and negatively affect your immune system and sleep. Edinburgh Napier University recognises the severe impact that loneliness can have on our student and staff community, particularly on physical health and wellbeing. If you are struggling with loneliness and even your mental health as a result, here are some ways in which we can help:

  • Edinburgh Napier Students Association (ENSA): ENSA is Edinburgh Napier University’s student union. Every student registered and enrolled with us is automatically a member as well. Through ENSA, you can join societies and sports clubs, and get tickets for any upcoming ENSA events. It’s a great way to meet new people and engage with the wider student community, and maybe even build your own! They also offer opportunities for growth and personal development, such as the chance to become a part of the student council, a student representative or even a co-president. Visit the ENSA Homepage for more information.
  • Wellbeing and Inclusion Team: More often than not, experiencing loneliness and feeling isolated is not plain sailing, and deeper internal or external factors may be at play. These can range from financial and health issues to caring responsibilities and many other complex reasons, which you may feel alone in experiencing and feel like you have no one to talk to about. Our university counsellors, as well as our wellbeing and inclusion team, are here to listen and offer a wide variety of support if you are struggling with mental health, personal circumstances or academic pressure. Find out more about available help and support on our Wellbeing Support and Inclusion My Napier webpages.

 

How the library can help…

 

Edinburgh Napier University libraries have a range of resources that can support your wellbeing. Our Wellbeing Collection is curated to offer a vast range of materials and resources covering topics such as depression, anxiety, stress management, finances, neurodiversity, relationships, university life, and more. In our Wellbeing Collection Libguide, loneliness appears as a subcategory under Mental Wellbeing, and it reveals recommended reads, a podcast recommendation, and a website that can be borrowed or accessed institutionally. Whilst social connection and community significantly alleviate loneliness, sometimes reading or listening to someone else’s story, experiences, or perspectives can make you feel less alone, particularly if you are going through similar experiences, circumstances and stages of life. This page of our LibGuide also points students and staff to useful contacts and helplines such as TogetherAll and Breathing Space.

 

Some of the recommended titles we have on loneliness are as follows:

 

  • The cure for loneliness: how to feel connected and escape isolation. Howatt, William A. author. 2021. Available at Craiglockhart Wellbeing Collection.
  • Lonely: learning to live with solitude. White, Emily, 1980- author. First Harper Perennial edition.; 2011. Available at Merchiston Wellbeing Collection.

 

To facilitate group study and encourage collaboration, Edinburgh Napier University campus libraries also offer a mix of social and silent study spaces. We also have bookable study rooms which can accommodate more than one person. These study rooms can be booked through Resource Booker.

 

Combatting loneliness whilst living away from home…

 

As well as A – Z of Societies ran by ENSA, the City of Edinburgh often has a wide range of social clubs and events focused on bringing people together and fostering a sense of community within the city. There are a wide range of book clubs, such as the Edinburgh Book and Pudding Club, Brunswick Book Club, Chapter 25 Book Club and many more that are often hosted by public libraries and independent book retailers. There are also many sports clubs and fitness classes hosted within the city, such as running clubs, yoga classes and walking groups. Social groups such as Go&Glow are wellness and wellbeing clubs that host weekly socials, often featuring a leisurely, creative, or fitness-oriented activity. All of these social groups and community events are fundamentally a great way to meet new people, particularly if you have moved to Edinburgh from another city or place.

 

By Rachel Downie

 

 

Have a look at our wellbeing collection today

 

 

 

 

world blood donor day

World Blood Donor Day 2026

14/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

World Blood Donor Day 2026

World Blood Donor Day is held on 14th June each year and aims to highlight the need for safe blood and blood products. These products include red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. The theme for World Blood Donor Day 2026 is One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives., reminding us that each donation is an act of support, kindness and compassion for humankind.

14th June is also the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930 for discovering the ABO blood group system, which transformed modern medicine. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system in 1901, and it is still crucial for blood transfusions today. The ABO blood group system classifies human blood types based on the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of red blood cells. People can have type A, B, AB (both antigens), or type O (neither antigen), and this decides who they can safely donate blood to or receive blood from.

 

Why give blood?

Blood donations are essential to health systems everywhere. Every donation acts as a lifeline, helping to support patients during emergencies, childbirth, surgeries, cancer treatment and the lifelong care of many other serious conditions. A minimum requirement of 1–2% of the population donating blood is essential to meet national needs – this level has yet to be reached in many countries. Safe blood relies upon people being willing to donate blood voluntarily and regularly, but countries still face shortages and access to safe blood and blood products. Every drop of blood donated can save a life. One unit of blood can save up to 3 lives, having a tremendous impact on the recipients and their families. World Blood Donor Day provides an opportunity to thank the countless unpaid voluntary donors who generously give blood to help save lives every day.

 

Who can give blood?

Most people can donate blood if they are healthy. There are some essential conditions which must be met to become a blood donor. Some simple eligibility guidelines are:

  • You should be aged between 18 and 65.
  • You should weigh at least 50 kg.
  • You must be in good health when you donate.
  • If you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection you will not be able to donate blood.
  • You must have a minimum haemoglobin level to donate blood. You will be tested for this when you donate blood.

There are several other eligibility criteria relating to health, travel, behaviours, pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can find more information on the Who can give blood pages of the World Health Organisation website. Eligibility criteria will vary in different countries so check for specific details with national/local blood services.

 

How is World Blood Donor Day celebrated around the world?

World Blood Donor Day is observed by many countries. Blood transfusion services throughout the world mark the day with a wide range of activities including hosting blood donation sessions in hospitals, schools and community centres; running campaigns to inform the public about the importance of safe blood; advertising promotions to recruit more donors and thank-you events for regular donors.

 

How can you support World Blood Donor Day?
  • Discover your blood type and register to donate blood.
  • Become a regular donor and donate blood throughout the year.
  • Inspire others by encouraging your friends and family to become regular blood donors.
  • Volunteer with your local/national blood service and support your community, offer care to donors, and assist with blood donation sessions/drives.
  • Use your social networks to promote World Blood Donor Day to others.

 

World Blood Donor Day is not simply a date – it represents universal recognition of compassion and unity. Every donation gives the gift of life, and every donor counts.

So, whether you’re a first-time donor or a regular lifesaver, 14th June is a day for you. Thank you for giving blood.

If you have never donated blood, please consider donating. Remember – every drop can save a life!

 

Find out more about giving blood:

World Health Organisation

Scotblood

By Sharon McMichael

 

photo by Victoria Druc

John Napier bronze bust at Merchsiton.

History of Napier

12/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

History of Napier

Ever wonder how the name Napier in Edinburgh Napier University? Ever wonder about the old tower on Merchiston Campus? Or the statue placed by the tower? Well, wonder no more.  We are going to look at the History of Napier.

John Napier

John Napier, eighth Laird of Merchiston, was born in Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh in 1550. He died in Merchiston Tower in 1617, the very tower that stands in the centre of Merchiston Campus.

John Napier is most ‘famous for his contributions to the world of Mathematics. His invention of logarithms decoded previously unexplored complexities within mathematics and inspired contemporaries, as well as future generations, to pursue and realise their own academic achievements in many fields of scientific inquiry. His later introduction of a series of calculating devices ensured mathematics was applied to common use and enabled the development of entrepreneurialism’ (Napier.ac.uk/ourHistory)

Today, logarithms are an internal part of Science, Engineering and Computing.

Napier’s dedication to the Protestant Faith is well-documented and it is suggested by some historians that he considered his book Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St John as his finest work.  It is his interpretation of the Protestant Christian Bible’s Book Revelation.  A time of change in Scotland including the dethronement of Mary, Queen of Scots and the coronation of James VI.

John Napier also had a number of other inventions including Machines of War and Archimedes Screw (one of the earliest hydraulic machines) and Common Salts.

John Napier died in 1617, nearly 350 years later, Edinburgh Napier University began it’s journey.

Edinburgh Napier University

Our foundations go all the way back to the 16th century. But in the last five decades has seen us grow into a globally renowned institution. Opened our doors as Napier Technical College in 1964, welcoming 800 students. To now, home to over 19500 students from over 140 countries. In 1992, Napier is officially inaugurated as a University. Lord James Douglas Hamilton and Principal William Turmeau unveil the new University sign at Merchiston.

In 2024, Edinburgh Napier wins the 2024 Higher Educational Institution of the Year.

At Edinburgh Napier University, we believe in the importance of making a difference. While we’ve risen in rankings and grown in scope over the years, we’ve stayed true to our heritage as an applied technical institution. For our students and researchers, this means that learning and discovery don’t just take place in the lab or the classroom, it happen in the real world.

We’ve come a long way from 1550.

A timetable of Edinburgh Napier University.

Read about our Heritage

 

Butterfly on a flower

Butterfly Education and Awareness Day (BEAD)

07/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

Butterfly Education and Awareness Day (BEAD)

Butterflies. Such beautiful creatures are also fascinating and very important members of the insect kingdom. This is ultimately what inspired a whole day each year being dedicated to learning more about them, the fundamental role they have in our ecosystems, their conservation and ultimately their significance in the world and why they need to be protected. It was also launched to raise awareness of declining butterfly populations and the endangerment of specific butterfly species, and to underscore the need to conserve this insect group.

 

Some fun and interesting facts about butterflies…

 

How much do you know about butterflies? If you would like to learn a bit more about this fascinating member of the insect kingdom, keep reading on for some fun facts about them below.

  • Butterflies can taste through their feet.
  • A butterfly’s lifecycle consists of four different phases: Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult.
  • There are over 18,000 named species of butterflies.
  • Butterflies are cold-blooded and cannot fly in cold temperatures and climates below ten degrees.
  • Their skeleton is outside of their bodies!
  • The word ‘Butterfly’ emerged from ‘Butter-coloured fly.’
  • Some butterfly species in the UK have gone extinct.

 

Importance of Butterfly Conservation…

 

Various butterfly species have experienced population declines over the past 150 years, mainly due to significant environmental shifts and climate change. Butterfly Education and Awareness Day ultimately emphasises and promotes the significance of their conservation and their intrinsic value worldwide and as part of Life on Earth. Their value goes far beyond the intrinsic. Butterflies have a positive environmental impact within many ecosystems, including natural pest control and pollination.

Usually, a wealth of butterflies within a specific environment is a strong indicator of a healthy ecosystem. They are also widely used by scientists as model organisms to measure and estimate habitat degradation and climate change. They also hold significant economic value in the modern world. People from around the world as fascinated by their beauty, biodiversity and contribution within various ecosystems and travel all over the globe to study them or join eco tours which generate a valuable source of income for many countries throughout the world.

 

How to get involved…

 

  • Read and learn more about butterflies: Which you have already done by reading through this blog post! Nevertheless, there is still much to learn about butterflies with regards to their habitats, life cycle stages and their species as a whole.
  • Go to Butterfly Gardens and Nature Reserves: Pay a visit to one of these gardens or reserves to observe butterflies in their natural habitats and learn more about them first-hand.
  • Get involved with Citizen Science Projects or volunteer with Butterfly Conservation Charities: These organisations and movements contribute significantly to the conservation of butterfly populations by tracking and monitoring butterfly migrations and movement for essential research purposes, preserving and safeguarding their natural habits and also to promote awareness of the importance of butterfly conservation on a global scale.

 

Library Recommendations…

 

If you would like to learn more about butterflies and butterfly conservation, our libraries have a wealth of material on these fascinating insects which you can find in our LibrarySearch catalogue.

 

  • Butterflies, Vane-Wright, R. I. (Richard I.) 2003. Available in Sighthill Campus Library Main Stock.
  • The butterflies of Scotland: A Natural History. Thomson, George, 1943-. C1980. Available in Sighthill Campus Library Main Stock.
  • Butterflies and moths in Britain and Europe. Carter, David. 1982. Available in Sighthill Campus Library Main Stock.

 

By Rachel Downie

 

 Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny unspash

Have a look at more nature posts 

welcome

Welcome to Edinburgh Napier Libraries Trimester 3 2026

03/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

Welcome to Edinburgh Napier Libraries Trimester 3 2026

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

Each of your courses will have a reading list, that you can access through the LibrarySearch (more on that further down). 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.

LibrarySearch is the library catalogue used to search for a wide range of books, articles, and ebooks. LibrarySearch provides details of all items on the library shelves as well as subscription databases, including ebooks, ejournals, online multimedia and e-conference proceedings.

Library Loans. You can borrow and return books via the Self- Service Kiosks. They are really easy to use, just follow the on-screen instructions. When returning items, you can leave them in the return boxes beside the self-service kiosks after scanning them in. Books are 7-day loans, but they renew automatically for up to 4 months unless requested.  You can borrow up to 30 physical items. If you are looking for something we don’t have, we have an inter-library loan service.

Click and Collect services are available at each campus library. Items can be requested and will be held in our designated Click and Collect areas, where you can pick them up at your convenience. The requested items will be held for seven days. Please remember to check out your books at the self-service kiosk.

Laptops and Printers

Printing, scanning and copying is available using our Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs). MFDs are situated in all three campus libraries. You must ensure you have enough print credit to print.

Laptops to Loan. Laptops are available at each campus library, JKCC and Bainfield, where laptops can be borrowed for up to 14 days. The lapsafes are self-service and can be operated by scanning your student card.

Study Spaces.

We have a variety of study spaces available at each of our campus libraries. There are individual and collaborative study spaces as well as silent study areas.

Group Study Rooms are also available and can be booked up to 14 days in advance. You can check availability and book online via Resource Booker for up to 1 two-hour slot per day.

Our general Opening Hours can be found on our My Napier webpages via the library tab.  Staffed hours in all of our campus libraries are 8:45am-16:45pm Monday to Friday. Our libraries are unstaffed. at weekends, but still free to use from 9am-5pm. During the summer, the Merchiston campus library is having some essential maintenance. Access is as follows:

  • Zone 1, the area near the helpdesk (including Group Study Room 8), will remain open. The Library helpdesk will remain open, with the usual Opening Hours.
     
  • All other library areas will be closed. This means no access to quiet, silent study spaces, print books, journals, and other items on shelves.  

In our spaces, we also have our Wellbeing Collections available at each campus, with a range of books to support both your physical and mental health and well-being. There are also relaxation areas where you can take a break from studying and de-stress for a while by reading, playing games or doing some relaxing activities such as jigsaws and colouring in.

Degree show

Degree Show 2026

01/06/2026 / / 0 Comments

Degree Show 2026

Breaking the Mould: A Celebration of Creativity and Innovation
From May 29 to June 5, we’re excited to invite you to an extraordinary event at our Merchiston campus, showcasing the remarkable talents of our next generation of designers and creatives. This week-long celebration marks the unveiling of our undergraduate and postgraduate students’ final year projects—a testament to their hard work, creativity, and innovative spirit.
In this unique display, witness how these emerging talents are challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of technical craft. It’s an opportunity to meet students from diverse disciplines, each bringing their own fresh perspectives and ideas. Join us as we shine a spotlight on these talented individuals and explore their worlds. This event promises to be a captivating experience that embodies the essence of breaking the mould in design and creativity. Don’t miss this chance to see where imagination and skill converge!
Find out more at napier.ac.uk
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