The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University

Author: mayagreen (Page 5 of 15)

Bright Red Triangle office

Bright Red Triangle

03/09/2024 / / 0 Comments

Bright Red Triangle

At Edinburgh Napier University, the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and thriving, thanks to the Bright Red Triangle (BRT). Napier’s enterprise hub is not just a space; it’s a catalyst for innovation, offering a variety of resources and support to students, staff, and alumni with entrepreneurial ambitions.

Bright Red Triangle: A Supportive Network for All

Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey can be both exciting and daunting. Bright Red Triangle understands these challenges and has cultivated a supportive network that welcomes and values everyone. Whether you’re a student with a spark of an idea or an experienced professional looking to scale your business, BRT offers tailored support to help you succeed.

From Ideas to Impact

Transforming an idea into a successful business requires learning, growth, and collaboration. BRT facilitates this journey through initiatives like:

  • Free Business Advice from Enterprise Managers: The team provides mentorship, shares insights, and supports you throughout your entrepreneurial journey. For guidance, useful connections, or to bounce ideas, book an appointment here.
  • Offering free 24/7 Hotdesking: Our start-up studio provides a welcoming environment where entrepreneurs can connect, develop enterprise skills, and collaborate.
  • Freelance Academy: Tailored guidance for freelancers to thrive in their ventures.
  • Support for Women and Non-binary Leaders: Empowering underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.

To further enrich this journey, BRT extends an international dimension through collaborations with global partners:

  • The Academic Programme for Entrepreneurship (APE): Connects students with global peers in Munich for an immersive enterprise bootcamp, enhancing their international business acumen and network.
  • Start for Future (SFF): An international consortium of entrepreneurial universities and business incubators working collaboratively to revolutionize university education. The SFF network provides a range of flexible programs tailored for students, graduates, researchers, and the wider community. Whether you wish to develop enterprise skills, connect with fellow researchers and academics, explore ways to embed entrepreneurship into your curriculum, or start and grow your startup, SFF offers the resources and connections to support every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

Bright Red Triangle meeting

Lifelong Learning and Support
BRT’s commitment to its community extends beyond graduation. Alumni have access to a range of free support services, ensuring that the learning and growth continue long after leaving the university. Whether you’re looking to develop your business or simply stay connected with the entrepreneurial community, BRT is here to help.

Join the Bright Red Triangle Community

“I have been a member of BRT for a few years now, and they have had a massive impact on my journey! The whole team is absolutely brilliant, so supportive and friendly. I can see myself returning one day to give back and help support students and graduates. I would recommend BRT to any Napier student or graduate with an idea or plan.” – Adam Al-Khateb, AAL Property Solutions

Bright Red Triangle is more than just a hub; it’s a community of dreamers, doers, and innovators. It’s where ideas are nurtured, and success is celebrated.

Discover the opportunities and events at Bright Red Triangle – brightredtriangle.co.uk

Get started with BRT: brightredtriangle.co.uk/get-started-with-brt

bright red triangle

By Kendra Byers (Bright Red Triangle)

New York Public Library

Librarians on Holidays

29/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Librarians on Holidays

What do Librarians get up to when they go on Holiday? We go to and visit libraries around the world, of course.

Between the team, we have visited many libraries around the globe—enough to form a recommendation list. So when you are next travelling, why not pop into a library?

European Holidays

Starting off in France. An excerpt from one of our colleagues:

I visited the Conde Musee library at the Chateau de Chantilly near Paris several years ago. It was one of the most amazing libraries I’ve visited. We went to see the art gallery specifically but found that there was so much more to see. The library holds vast collections of books from the Middle Ages, and many rare illuminated manuscripts, mainly collected by Heni d’Orleans, who was one of the greatest collectors of his time. The reading room was designed to showcase all the manuscripts collected by Henri d’Orleans and many of the previous owners of the chateau, and many of the most beautifully bound books are also on display there. It holds the Très riches heures du duc de Berry. A book of hours by the Limbourg brothers, commissioned by the Duke of Berry in the 15th century and said to be the most beautiful illuminated manuscript in the world. It was purchased by Henri d’Orleans in 1856. We were lucky to see it in the original but it is now displayed in digital form most of the time to preserve it. There is also a book on the life of St Denis, which is one of the few embroidered bindings made in France which has been preserved and has the initials of Marie de Medici enhanced with pearls on the front and dates from 1629. Certainly worth a visit if you’re in the area!

Looking elsewhere in Europe, may we recommend the following:

Trinity College Dublin Library: The largest library in Ireland dating back to 1592. The Book of Kells Exhibition has attracted visitors since the 18th Century to see a 9th-century gospel manuscript. All inside the incredible Old Library You can visit 7 days a week and tour the magnificent library.  (tcd.ie/library/about/history.php)

The Klementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library: After Prague Castle, it is the second largest building in Prague.  Albert Einstein taught there and Wolfgang Amademus Mozart played.  Located in the old town, it was originally founded as a Jesuit College in 1556, before merging with Charles University in 1622. Baroque Library wasn’t founded till 1722. The library is decorated in frescoes and nods to Greek mythology. The library is home to over 6 million items and hosts the ‘longest continuous series of meteorological observations in Europe’ which dates back to 1775.  (prague.eu/en/objevujte/the-clementinum-astronomical-tower-and-baroque-library) A tour is a must.

We also want to give mention to the Royal Danish Library. And if you are looking closer to home, we have Manchester Central Library, Bodleian Libraries in Oxford and Ornkey Public Library.

Libraries further Abroad

Starting off in the United States, we want to give special mentions to:

Boston Main Library:  Founded in 1848 and ‘was the first large free municipal library in the United States’ (bpl.org/bpl-history/) and became a National Historic Landmark in 1986. You can find over 23 million items including works from Mozart and Shakespeare. The central library has been home to art and architecture spanning three centuries.  One of the founding principles of the library was to be welcoming to all.  The design keeps that in mind. It was ‘to be a palace of people’s own’ (bpl.org/art-architecture/).

New York Public Library : The largest public in the United States. The library is home to over 54 million items including originals from James Baldwin to Augusta Savage. The New York Public Library is an iconic feature of Midtown.

Moving from the States, the National Digital Library of Korea. The newest library on the list opened in 2009.  Often refer as dibrary, combining library and digital.  A Part of the National Library of Korea, it has over 264 million items. The building won an architecture award. The library was created in response to the growing digitisation of information and resources, to preserve the efforts of libraries for future generations.

 

Now we might be biased but we fully recommend visiting a library on your travels, you never know what you might find.

 

Like our recommendations, we also have a recommended reading list.

Photo by Alejandro Barba Unsplash 

Stuggart Library by Tobias Fischer

Librarians and libraries

28/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Librarians and libraries

Librarians go on holidays, of course, but that doesn’t make us less of passionate about Libraries in general. At least I personally find it difficult to go away and “switch off” the curiosity about a service that is more than ever-changing and its similarities and differences.

Public Libraries

Just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit and use the public premises of the library I used to go in the town where I grew up. Despite the passage of time, and the different ways I have been involved in libraries (as a student, as a user, and finally as a professional), up to this day. It’s a trip that I could do blindsided.

Despite of the different locations and countries, the sense of familiarity among the shelves and, the endless enthusiasm about (free!) books, over time my conception of those spaces has been “challenged”, as its best.

Sadly, and beyond homesickness feelings, it is impossible to deny that Public Libraries have lost the important role/attention that they have had from Society and politicians in the past. There were fewer users, than I wished for, and that happens there and here.

If you want a first-hand testimony of how Public Libraries work and face challenges in Scotland.  Plus some wider indirect conversations like Mental Health Awareness or Poverty,  check the book “The Librarian: The Library Saved Her. Now She Wants To Save The Library”, by Allie Morgan.

Edinburgh Libraries

Just to bring this to your attention, the City of Edinburgh Council has been revising their service in their “Edinburgh Future Libraries strategy 2024 to 2029” plan. This aims to set up a new vision for Edinburgh’s Libraries to provide the framework. Looking at  service delivery and development for public and school libraries over the next five years

As an avid reader, and an advocate for libraries I can’t help but wonder a bit about the outcome of those plans, especially in the long run.

Even in days when the overwhelming offer of entertainment that we have at hand (pun intended, I mean our smartphones!). I am still an advocate for Libraries, especially public ones. Possibly because I am glued to the idea and memories that. But among books, there is entertainment, learning and somehow solace, at a different and calmer pace.

E.Pastor Alventosa

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post about our international library visits.

Interested about studying at other libraries, we have SCONUL

Photo by Tobias Fischer 

Comedy festival show

Edinburgh Napier at the Fringe

20/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh Napier at the Fringe

August has come around again and while we’re all hard at work trying to get the campus libraries ready for the upcoming academic year, its hard not to get distracted by all the shows on at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It’s especially difficult to not get distracted this year because it turns out that Napier will be getting some representation in the festival.

 

The Fringe Show

Ted Carlson Webster is one of our PhD students at the university’s School of Applied Sciences. He specialises in researching the phenomenon of false memories, with a particular focus on how these relate to fake news. Last year Ted appeared at the Fringe as part of The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. A series of shows at The Stand comedy club combines academic research and stand-up comedy. Granting academics a platform to discuss and present their findings on under-discussed and overlooked research subjects. While stand-up comedian Susan Morrison hosts and helps to give the discussion a comedic spin. Last year, Ted presented his show “Fact Checking Fact Checks”. He looked at the spread of fake news. He analysed the common ways in which people try to combat its circulation. As well as looking into research around fact-checking to discuss if simply fact checking was an effective preventative measure.

This year, Ted returns to the Fringe as part of the 2024 slate for The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas with his new show, “Make More Fake News!”. Returning again to his topic of expertise. This time, Ted will be looking into Inoculation Theory.  A recent form of research which posits that people can be helped to better understand and resist fake news if they’ve seen firsthand how it is created. As part of the show, Ted will be teaching people how to create fake news articles.

Fringe Show Research

Ted’s research into fake news should of course be of interest to everyone. But we in the library are taking a particular interest in it. Especially because of how it overlaps with the growth in popularity of generative AI technology. A great deal of fake news material, particularly images, is created using AI tools. The university has taken an interest in wanting to educate our students about the role that AI has in their lives. We hope that Ted’s show will be a great opportunity for everyone. Learning how fake news operates, and how to spot it. As well as allowing them to better understand the potential dangers of AI images and content. Plus, it gives the public the chance to see some of the work that is being conducted by our research students!

If all this makes your show, “Make More Fake News!” will be performed at The Stand Comedy Club on the 24th of August at 12:00 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Further information, as well as where to buy tickets, can be found on the page for the event on the Edinburgh Fringe website: Make More Fake News! | Spoken Word | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)

By Matthew Ferrie

Don’t forget our previous article about the Edinburgh International Book Festival 

Photo by Chad Stembridge Unsplash 

books 2024

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024

07/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is coming.

As the yearly Edinburgh Fringe Festival starts the emerge throughout the city centre of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh International Book Festival follows not long after. We as library staff, of course, were not going to pass on an opportunity to promote any events involving books, so do read on if you would like to find out more about what this yearly festival celebrating reading, writing and creativity truly has to offer!

General Information:  About the Book Festival

Running from the 10th until the 25th of August. The Edinburgh International Book Festival hosts a range of famous and well-known authors, artists, performers, and thinkers from across the globe. It provides visitors with the opportunity to engage. Authors will usually sign copies of their books for visitors attending their event. There is also a variety of family-friendly, online, and late-night events to suit a range of different audiences. The festival itself is held at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Which is situated near a wide variety of restaurants, so you are essentially spoiled for choice regarding food and drink! There are also many green spaces such as the Meadows and Holyrood Park close by should you prefer to take a picnic – weather-dependent.

What’s on – Edinburgh International Book 2024…

With just over 550 authors showing face at this year’s International Book Festival in Edinburgh, including well-known writers such as Margaret Atwood, Matt Haig, Ian Rankin and Val McDermid. There is an extensive range of events that visitors can attend. So meet the famous faces behind their favourite novels and literary works. Author events are also sometimes available to attend online. A full programme of these events with dates and times and a link to book them can be found on their Events List webpage.

Unsure of where to take the kids next these summer holidays? A large number of events held at the Edinburgh International Book Festival are family-friendly. Some of the most popular events include the Gruffalo Trail, Meet Pikachu, Rhymetime with Joy Tots, Are you Sitting Comfortably and several Bookbug sessions too. Want to know the best part about all these family-friendly events as well? They are completely free of charge to attend! The events are often held in the EFI Children’s tent, Courtyard Meeting Point or Venue C. Further information about these family-friendly events can be found on their What’s on? webpage under the ‘Events for families’ tab.  

And for our night owls – the Edinburgh International Book Festival also hosts various late-night events, including a pub quiz and even a Ceilidh! These events often run up to 22:30pm and even 23:00pm at the very latest – you can find out more about these late-night functions on their What’s on? webpage under the ‘Late Night Events’ tab.  

Accessibility and Inclusion…

Edinburgh International Book Festival is committed to promoting and practising accessibility and inclusivity. They provide a platform for the voices of individuals which are often overlooked. Making it one of their primary objectives to eliminate barriers to access for those who do not view themselves as a typical book-festival audience attendee or stereotype. In alignment with these values, they also work closely with the local community including educational institutions, public libraries, hospitals, the prison sector and various community hubs to promote a love of and engagement with reading throughout demographics of all ages and backgrounds.

 

As some events are held virtually, this also means that they are accessible for those who cannot attend in person. All live-streamed events and some in-person functions also offer a ‘Pay What You Can’ .

Library Recommendations…

Books by some of your favourite authors from the Edinburgh International Book Festival can be found in our three campus libraries.  See below links to a couple of titles.

 

By Rachel Downie

Have a look at what to do in Edinburgh over the Summer. 

Photo by Jessica Ruscello Unsplash 

Sighthill facilities. Imacs in the library. Eresources and accessibility

New Reading Lists Interface

05/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

New Reading Lists Interface

You have noticed something different if you have been looking at our reading lists lately. A new interface was launched on the 22nd of July. All the key features remain the same, but a new and improved workflow.  So what does this mean for creating a reading list.

Making reading lists using Leganto

Did you know that ENU has a tool that allows you to curate your own reading lists and share them with others? To have a go, log into Leganto and click on ‘create list’. For more information, go to our Reading List LibGuide.

If you are a lecturer, you can associate a reading list with your module code so that students can automatically view any course and further suggested readings. You can also add other resources such as videos, podcasts, and websites to the lists using the ‘Cite it’ feature.

If you’ve used Leganto before, you might have noticed that it looks a bit different. We upgraded to a new user interface in July. The new look of the reading lists makes things easier to navigate. Changes include making it easier to publish your reading lists and add resources to your favourites. If you’d like to learn more about the changes to Leganto or discover how to make your own reading list, sign up to one of our online training sessions.

Take a look at the updates and get inspired for summer reading by checking out this list of suggested summer readings. All the books are available from the library.

 

A look at the previous interface:

Old look at the reading list interface

 

And a look at the new interface:

New Reading list interface

 

 

 

If you are not familiar with libguides, read about them here.

 

 

Olympic rings in front of Eiffel Tower

Paris Summer Olympics 2024

25/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

Paris Summer Olympics 2024

Hot on the heels of Euro 2024 comes the Summer Olympics in Paris. These run from Friday 26th July 2024 to Sunday 11th August 2024.  Followed by the Paralympic Games (again in Paris) from Wednesday 28th August 2024 to Sunday 8th September 2024.

The 2024 Summer Olympics, also known as Jeux olympiques d’été de 2024, are officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and formally branded as Paris 2024.

The motto of the Olympic Games consists of three Latin words: Citius – Altius – Fortius – meaning Faster – Higher – Stronger.

For the first time ever, the opening ceremony will be held in a stadium –  where the Parade of Athletes will take place on the River Seine with boats for each national delegation.

The closing ceremony will be held at Stade de France on Sunday 11th August 2024.

Paris is one of three cities to have hosted the Summer Games three times (in 1900, 1924 and 2024), the other two being London and Los Angeles. The next Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.

The Olympic Rings.

The Olympic Rings represent the five inhabited continents of Africa, America, Asia Europe and Oceania. The interlinked rings demonstrate the inclusiveness of the Games and how athletes from all over the world gather to compete. Antarctica is the only continent participating in the Games due to having such limited habitation.

The Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Torch represents a symbol of unity and peace, spreading the spirit of the Games as it travels throughout France. From Marseille to Paris, the Olympic Torch Relay takes place over three months and also passes through French Overseas Territories.

Emblem for Paris 2024.

The emblem for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics is inspired by Art Deco and is a representation of Marianne, the national personification of France, with a flame formed in negative space by her hair. The emblem also resembles a gold medal. And symbolises the power and magic of the Games, and that the Games are for everyone. The use of a female figure honours the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris – the first Games which allowed women to compete. For the first time, the 2024 Summer Paralympics will share the same emblem as the Olympic Games, with no variation, indicating a shared ambition between both events.

Mascots

The Phryges are the mascots of the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. A pair of anthropomorphic Phrygian caps, they are a historic French symbol of freedom and liberty. The two mascots share a motto of “Alone we go faster, but together we go further”.

Medals & Medal Events.

The Olympic and Paralympic medals feature embedded hexagon-shaped tokens of scrap iron which had been taken from the original construction of the Eiffel Tower with the Games logo engraved into it. The reverse of the medals features Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, inside the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic  Games were held in 1896. The Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower can also be seen in the background on both sides of the medal.

Events.

There is a huge variety of sports featured at the Olympic Games. This year, Breaking (Break Dancing) will feature as an optional sport for the very first time. There will also be events in Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing which featured in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 for the first time. The events will be held across 35 venues, including French Overseas Territories.

Women and the Olympics.

Paris 1900 was the first Games which allowed women to participate in the competition. Paris 2024 will make history again by ensuring that there is an equal representation of male and female athletes. Achieving numerical gender parity. The journey to increase women’s participation has taken over a century. Tokyo 2020 gave women more opportunities than ever before to compete and introduced several new sports. Tokyo 2020 also implemented a rule allowing male and female athletes to jointly carry their flag during the Opening Ceremony for the first time ever. All of this paves the way for women in sports and will help Paris 2024 achieve its goal of full gender parity.

Enjoy!

Whatever you’re doing this summer, have fun watching the Olympics. It is a real test of skill, stamina and sheer determination for the athletes. Watch the best of the best, world records being broken, personal bests being achieved. And, you never know, you might just find yourself wanting to try a new activity!

Missed our post about the EUROs, have no fear.

By Sharon McMichael

Photo by Luca Dugaro Unsplash 

Library Books

Exam Support Summer 2024

22/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

Exam Support Summer 2024

Whether it be resits or Trisemester 3 exams, our summer exams 2024 are here.  With this, we want to cover the exam support from the library.  And a little reminder, we have an abundance of exam and study support articles on the blog.

Exam Support

Our online tools for study skills include our training and event calendar which will direct you to sessions from Academic Skills advisors and subject librarians. If you can’t find what you need, you can also book 1.1 appointments. by emailing your subject librarian. 

Our subject guides cover all courses. These are designed by the subject librarians. Here you can find useful and more relevant resources for your course like databases.  There are also guides to Google Scholar and referencing and much more. And we have a wide range of books in stock and online to help with exam management on LibrarySearch.

Exam Skills

In a previous post, we covered some exam skills.

Set aside time for studying. Create a revision timetable where you can have specific blocks of time to focus on particular topics. Set goals for what you want to achieve during each study session. Prioritising your studies will ensure that you get the most out of each session.

Do not make your study sessions too long. It is better to study for short periods. For example, three one-hour sessions with breaks in between will be more productive than one long three-hour study session.

Use flashcards to remember key information, phrases or concepts on a subject and use these to test your knowledge. This helps you to not only retain the information but to be able to retrieve it quickly.

Regular revision will help you build and retain knowledge. It will also help to keep you focused and avoid panicking.

Exam Stress

We have a previous blog post by Raquel Bryne on beating exam stress.  Detailing a good plan below from the article:

1. Timetable and prepare a study plan.

2. Create a study space that is comfortable, quiet, well-lit, organized, and has no distractions nearby.

3. Put your information into a format that allows you to absorb it best.

4. Take regular study breaks. Alternating subjects you’re studying will also help.

5. Remember self-care!

6. Schedule fun activities to reduce your stress.

7. Eat nutritious foods and exercise regularly to keep your brain power and energy up!

8. Make sure you have all the items you need for any exams. Get them ready the day before to avoid rushing on the day.

9. Remove anything distracting to help you focus. Try putting your phone in a different room when revising.

10. Write down revision targets for the day, review your progress, and update your revision timetable and targets appropriately.

There is the well-being collection found on the libguides. 

 

Good luck everyone.

Bristol Seaside Make a splash this summer

Making a Splash this Summer

19/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

.Making a Splash this Summer

Last summer in our Out and About in Scotland blog item we gave advice about wild swimming. You may like the idea of swimming outdoors but don’t feel confident about trying wild swimming in a loch or the sea. Across the UK there are many outdoor swimming pools or lidos which offer outdoor swimming in an enclosed environment and you may be able to visit one this summer.

History of making a splash

Although public outdoor swimming pools such as Bristol lido began to be built in the 19th century. The heyday was the 1930s. A rising public awareness of the potential benefits of physical activity and an outdoor lifestyle. The popularity of swimming encouraged many local councils of seaside resorts to invest heavily in new pools. By the 1930s it became as essential to have a lido for any seaside town that wanted to attract summer visitors. By the end of the 1930s lidos could be found all across the UK. Typically, they were in the Art Deco style. Many pools had changing rooms indoor or outdoor. Decks for sunbathing and separate cafés were also provided. Most pools of the era had a cascade or fountain which also served to aerate the water. Slides and diving broads featured. Some pools hosted swimming competitions and aquatic entertainment shows.

Saltdean and Jubilee

Two of the best-known UK lidos are Saltdean Lido in Brighton and Jubilee Lido in Penzance. Saltdean was designed by architect Richard William Herbert Jones and first opened its doors in 1938. Named by English Heritage as ‘One of the Seven Wonders of The English Seaside’ it is regarded by many critics as one of the best-surviving examples of lido design in the UK. Jubilee Lido by Captain F Latham, the Borough Engineer was opened with great celebration in May 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Both fell into disrepair but have been refurbished thanks to funding and are now open again in all their Art Deco glory.

Decline

There were few new lidos built after World War 2 – the lido had reached the height of its popularity in the 1930s, although they were still popular attractions right up until the 1970s. As the 20th century progressed tastes gradually changed with more holidaymakers heading abroad. Poor attendance made the pools uneconomic to run. Many fell into disrepair and decay and were finally demolished. It is sad to note that few pools remain today, but those that do are well worth a visit and preserving. The lido stands out as a symbol of the 1930s – unashamed modernity, fashionable chic, healthy activity and the cult of sun worship.

Scottish survivors

Like the rest of the UK many of Scotland’s outdoor pools have disappeared, such as Edinburgh’s Portobello Bathing Pool however, a few do remain.

Gourock Outdoor Pool

Opened in 1909 this pool uses salt water taken from the Firth of Clyde. The pool had a major refurbishment in 2010 and re-opened in 2011 and now incorporates a leisure centre and gym. The pool opens from May until the beginning of September and offers Starlight Swims late on Wednesday evenings.

New Cumnock Pool

It re-opened in 2017 after a full refurbishment and was officially opened by Prince Charles, now King Charles III.

Stonehaven Lido

Opened in 1934 this is currently the UK’s most northerly lido. It is Olympic-sized and uses heated seawater.  Offers moonlight swims, a cafe, and lane swimming during the Stonehaven Folk Festival there is an Aqua Ceilidh with “Drip the Willow” and the “Splashing White Sergeant”

The Future of making a splash

Now some exciting news! Just outside the town of Macduff in a secluded cove sits Tarlair Lido. It’s a beautiful setting looking out to sea with plenty of green space to have a picnic or sunbathe. The pool seems to be excessively big considering the surrounding population base. Opened in 1931 it is a triple pool lido with a paddling pool, boating pool and swimming pool. Replenished with seawater at high tide. Closed in 1995, the pool and buildings fell into disrepair. But as one of only a few surviving lidos in Scotland Tarlair received category A listed building status in 2007.

In 2020 the Friends of Tarlair Community Group acquired the lease on the site and set about raising funds. Even appointing architects to refurbish the cafe pavilion. In 2024 the boating and toddler pool are scheduled to re-open. Pavilion cafe is due to open in late summer. Tarlair will then be able to steal the title of the UK’s most northerly lido from Stonehaven.

 

You can use Library Search to find books and articles on swimming, Art Deco design and architecture.

 

By Vivienne Hamilton

Photo by Martyna Bober Unsplash 

Rain on the high street

St Swithin’s Day

15/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

.St Swithin’s Day

Today is Swithin’s Day. Today determines what the weather will be for the next 40 days.

Who is St Swithin

St. Swithun (also known as Swithin) was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester from 852 – 862. He died on 2nd July 862 AD.

Not much is known about St. Swithun’s life. He was well-known for giving gifts to others and building churches. And built a stone bridge over the River Itchen to allow the poor to cross the river and sell their wares in the town.

He has only one miracle attributed to him. An odd one of repairing broken eggs which were dropped by a woman crossing the bridge. He would hear the woman crying and repaired the eggs immediately.

St Swithin in Norway

St Swithun is also honoured in Norway. He is commemorated at Stavanger Cathedral. The Catholic Church in Stavanger is also named after him. In Norway St. Swithun’s Day is celebrated on the 2nd of July, the date of his death. St. Swithun requested that he was to be buried outside the church so parishioners could walk on his grave and the rain would fall on it. However, the Bishop of Winchester, and Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared that Swithun was to be the patron saint of the restored Winchester Cathedral. Swithun’s body was moved from the church grounds and was interred in the new Cathedral on 15th July 971. Legend has it that a huge storm followed. Raining for forty days after his body was moved, suggesting that St. Swithun was unhappy with being moved from outside the church.

The weather of St Swithin’s Day

St. Swithun is probably best known for a British weather proverb.  It says that if it rains on St Swithun’s Day, it will rain for 40 days.

The St. Swithun’s Day Rhyme:

St. Swithun’s day if thou dost rain, 

For forty days it will remain, 

St. Swithun’s day if thou be fair, 

For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.

 

According to the Met Office, there has never been 40 dry or 40 wet days following St. Swithun’s Day since records began in 1861. So it seems unlikely that it will happen any time soon!

Keep an eye on the weather.

Another fun Day of the Year: Bakewell Tart Day.

Photo by Sarah (Unsplash) 

« Older posts Newer posts »

Contact Us

Email: library@napier.ac.uk

Telephone: 0131 455 3500

Twitter: @EdNapLib

Instagram: @ENU_Library​

 

© 2025 The Library Blog

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑