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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Women's History Month 2023. 14-yr. old striker, Fola La Follette, and Rose Livingston. Glass negative from the George Grantham Bain Collection, 1913.

Women’s History Month 2023

11/03/2023 / / 0 Comments

Women’s History Month 2023

It’s Women’s History Month 2023. It is celebrated throughout March to highlight the often overlooked contributions that women have made in history and modern times. It is celebrated in March to coincide with International’s Women Day which is celebrated on the 8th of March. According to legend, it coincides when a group of women from different factories in New York City went on strike to demand better working conditions and the right to vote (Britannica.com). Another story is that honours women striking in Petrograd which coincide with the beginning of the Russian Revolution (ibid).

Themes

There are different themes each year to the celebration. In the United States, the theme this year is to celebrate women who in storytelling. A theme to highlight the ‘achievements of these powerful women who have used their voice and creativity to inspire, educate, and entertain people across generations all over the world’(International Business Times).

While here in the United Kingdom, the theme is Embrace Equity. Equity being the quality of fairness and impartial and is a must have in today’s world. According to International Women’s Day.com, the reason for the theme is to spark a discussion of ‘why equal opportunities aren’t enough.  People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action (InternationalWomen’sDay.com) In the their words ‘We can all truly embrace equity. It’s not just something we say, It’s not just something we write about, It’s something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. It’s what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world’.

Additional Reading

We hope you have had a chance to celebrate Women’s History this month. Each of our libraries have a display for more information and books for further reading. As well as finding more on our library catalogue

You can read about our previous posts here

Photo Source: Library of Congress

National Bed Month

01/03/2023 / / 0 Comments

National Bed Month

March is National Bed Month so what better time to remind you how important it is to get enough good quality sleep – especially with dissertation deadlines looming and exams imminent. Countless studies show that getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health and well-being. Like exercise and a balanced diet, sleep may help prevent a range of health issues, including heart disease and depression.

As a student you may not feel that sleep is something to prioritize. You have course work, social events and perhaps a part-time job to fit in to your busy schedules, so missing out on a few hours’ sleep doesn’t matter, does it? The consequences of poor-quality sleep or sleep deprivation include:

  • Irritability 
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Increased anxiety 
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Lack of creativity
  • Negative impact on your overall mental health

Staying awake for 18 hours can have the same effect as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% which is the same as the Scottish drink drive limit. Staying awake for 24 hours can equate to a BAC of 0.10% which is well over it.

How to get some quality sleep

Although many studies argue that 8 hours sleep is recommended for adults, it is actually the quality of your sleep that is vital. This means you need to stick to a regular sleeping pattern to ensure that you get enough REM (rapid-eye movement) or ‘dream’ sleep.

So how can you do this?

  • Consistency-try going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time each morning
  • Make sure your bedroom is quiet and at a comfortable temperature.
  • Remove electronic devices an hour before you want to sleep.
  • Exercise during the day.
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeine or large meals before sleeping.
  • Structure your day and plan ahead of your exams, assignments and due dates and activities so you don’t end up cramming or working late into the night.

The benefits of a good night sleep

Because there are many benefits to getting enough good quality sleep it’s a no-brainer that you should be prioritising sleep to maximize results. Benefits to students from a good sleep include:

  • Sharper brain 
  • Increased productivity
  • More positive mood
  • Stress reduction
  • Boosted immune system

Taking these active steps to promote healthy sleep should help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep, and get a more restorative sleep.

You can use Library Search to find books and articles on sleep deprivation and the benefits of sleep.

If you feel you need some guidance on how to better your study routine, some tips are provided in the link provided below:

https://www.grb.uk.com/blog/five-productivity-upgrades-to-your-university-routine

You can read our post of National Sleep Day from 2022 

By Vivienne Hamilton

Photo by Liz Vo 

Wellbeing space

Changes to the spaces at Craiglockhart library

27/02/2023 / / 0 Comments

Changes to the spaces at Craiglockhart library

We have made some changes to the library spaces at Craiglockhart campus over the past few months. By removing unused bookshelves at the rear of the library the area is now much more open and the space is being used more effectively.

The relaxation space has been made larger and is brighter and less confined. There are lots of helpful books and posters promoting relaxation, taking time out from your studies and de-stressing. Look out for our different suggestions throughout the year from birdwatching to beachcombing. We have provided some new games, non-academic books and origami paper. We have increased the amount of seating and returned the cushions and throws to the area.

Shelf Help

Our shelf help books are now in a dedicated space making them easier to find.

The jigsaw tables have been moved away from study spaces and there are extra puzzles to help complete.

There are 4 new single study booths and 2 extra round tables for groups, along with some new social seating. All these spaces are available on a first come first served basis so if you think you would like to use any of them, arrive early as they are proving popular!

PCs

Along with the changes to the library spaces some of our PCs now have dual monitors.

We hope you like the changes and think the new spaces are useful, and please remember, your feedback is always welcome.

We have access to shelf help through our blog https://libguides.napier.ac.uk/shelfhelp

And more information on Craiglockhart library https://my.napier.ac.uk/library/about-the-library/craiglockhart

 

LGBT+ History Month 2023

22/02/2023 / / 0 Comments

LGBT+ History Month

LGBT+ History Month and the Library

As we approach the end of February, we are coming to the end of LGBT+ History Month. While the book displays may come down, we would like to stress that this is not a monthly note in our calendar. We are an ally 365 days of the year, please browse our LibrarySearch catalogue for further reading.  Also in addition, we have our virtual bookshelves https://blogs.napier.ac.uk/library/virtual-bookshelves/ and a reading list over at our LibGuides page https://libguides.napier.ac.uk/wellbeing/sexuality

We want the library to be a safe and inclusive space for all our users. 

We are currently working on decolonising our reading list which we hope will be published soon. 

Continue reading

Head bust of Charles Darwin wearing goggles

Charles Darwin Day

12/02/2023 / / 0 Comments

Charles Darwin Day

What an adventure! Virgin jungles, unclimbed mountains, teeming oceans, tropical rainforests, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes – Charles Darwin saw it all on his five-year voyage around South America. And all the time the young gentleman naturalist was exploring the pristine wildernesses and the unexplored islands, he was taking assiduous notes, writing up his observations more than 20 years later.

Nothing escaped his notice: the flatworms, spiders, and parasitic ichneumon wasps fascinated him every bit as much as the giant tortoises and the massive bones of extinct beasts that he strapped to his horse and hauled back to his study.

He explored, observed and thought about it all. The primaeval world in all its glory and grotesqueness was laid out before him. By the end of his trip, he’d written a 770-page diary, 1,750 pages of notes, and collected nearly 5,500 skins, bones and carcasses. But it wasn’t only the natural world that impressed itself upon Darwin’s consciousness. He saw naked poverty and the horrors of slavery and genocide up close and personal. He realised, once and for all, that nature – including every manifestation of human behaviour – was not the result of a benign creator but rather a long journey through adaptation and evolution.

Natural Selection

No wonder he blew apart the received wisdom on the origins of creation when he published his “On the origin of species by means of natural selection” in 1859. It sold out immediately and rocked the scientific and religious communities to their very foundations. Those reverberations are still being felt today.  

Something that is perhaps unknown is that Darwin had a strong connection to Edinburgh. It was while studying medicine at Edinburgh University that Darwin learned how to classify plants, stuff birds and identify rock strata and colonial floral and fauna.

It’s Darwin’s birthday today. He was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 12th February 1809.  Why not celebrate by reading all about him and his works. (I’ll be honest – I’m starting with “Darwin for beginners”.)

By Lesley McRob

Sources and further reading 

Photo by Misael Moreno

Further reading available on LibrarySearch

Read our blog post on another Victorian trailblazer names Charles: Charles Dickens 

LGBTQ Love heart

LGBTQ+ History Month

01/02/2023 / / 0 Comments

LGBTQ+ History Month

Today is the 1st of February and the 1st of February is the start of the celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK. Throughout the month, events are held nationwide to raise awareness and celebrate achievement and diversity while combating prejudice.

Events and celebrations are organised by the LGBTQ+  History Month organisation which was founded in 2004. The first LGBTQ+ History month was in February 2005 by was run by Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick. The organisation has three taglines ‘claiming our past, celebrating our present, creating our future’. The main aims are ‘increasing visibility, raising awareness and advancing education’. Whilst ‘working towards creating safe spaces and promoting welfare’. You can find all events that are taking place this month on the LGBTQ+ Plus History Month website here. 

Behind the Lens

The organisation runs a theme each year in order to raise more visibility of lived experiences. This year is ‘Behind the Lens’, celebrating LGBTQ+ peoples’ contributions to cinema and film. Looking at directors to animators, from special effects to lighting directors and beyond. As ‘at, a time when LGBTQ+ lives are in the media we also encourage you to look ‘Behind the Lens’ and listen to LGBT+ peoples’ lived experiences.’ Check out the LGBTQ+ History web pages here.

Here at The Library

Each campus library will have a display with information and books to celebrate the theme ‘Behind the Lens’, please feel free to have a look and you can borrow any book that takes your interest. Follow our social media for upcoming posts celebrating and happy LGBTQ+ History Month. You can also check out our LGBT+ bookshelves on the blog.

We have many, many more books and articles for you to read here at the Library so why not check out what’s available in our library catalogue: Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk

Sources: LGBTQ+ History web pages

Read more on this on the blog: Check out last year’s post LGBTQ+ History Month 2022

Chinese New year

Chinese New Year

22/01/2023 / / 0 Comments

Chinese New Year 

22nd January 2023, Year of the Rabbit

Happy New Year, 新年快乐, xīn nián kuài lè

January 22nd marks Chinese New Year, a holiday that is celebrated by 20% of the global population. Also known as the Spring Festival, it marks the end of the cooler months, taking place between 21st January and 20th February, lasting for 16 days.

Chinese New Year Traditions

Chinese New Year involves a lot of traditions involving decorations, food, and customs which symbolise blessings and good fortunes. Traditionally, it is a time spent with family (usually visiting elders of the husband’s side first), and large feasts are prepared particularly on New Year’s Eve which is considered a time for family reunion. Feasts are seen as offering to the gods and blessings for the New Year where ingredients’ names and appearances can symbolise good fortune.

Fireworks are set off at night and in the morning. According to the myth, night fireworks scare off monsters and bad luck, particularly the monster Nian (年) who was a monster that lived at the bottom of the sea. Once a year, he would scare people into mountains out of fear of eating them and their livestock. However, people soon realised that loud noises and the colour red scared off the monster and so began to fill their homes with red decorations and set off fireworks. And speaking of red, elders will give children red envelopes that contain money. It can be given to friends as well and now digitally. It is known as New Year money, carrying the hope of good fortune.

Year of the Rabbit

2023 marks the year of the Rabbit and unfortunately, if this is your zodiac, it means a year of bad luck. Rabbits are seen to have pure characteristics and are extremely kind. They are the fourth animal out of the zodiac. The legend is that Jade Emperor told the animals that the order of the zodiacs will be determined by which of the animals would arrive at his party. The Rabbit was confident of his speed so he decided to have a nap. By the time he woke up and went to the party, three other animals had already arrived before him. For any Rabbits out there, there is more information on how your 2023 will be at ChineseNewYear.net 

 

Read more about New Year traditions in our post on Scottish New Year traditions

Find more resources at Library Search 

Image source by Jason Leung 

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