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.

Category: Library Information (Page 1 of 24)

reading lists

Reading Lists

25/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

ere Reading Lists

 

Your set reading lists for your modules will be the bread and butter of your research and further study in your specific subject area. Reading lists will also make it easier for you to find, access, and request relevant resources for your coursework and assignments, with all materials categorised as essential or recommended reading for your subject area and modules. All reading list resources and materials are usually up to date and tailored to your specific module and its content for specific weeks throughout each trimester.

Accessing Reading Lists

There are a few ways to access reading lists for your modules. You can find your course reading list on your module pages in Moodle, or search for it in Leganto. If you go into our LibrarySearch catalogue, there is a tab titled Reading Lists above the search bar that takes you directly to these pages.

reading list

Once you click on the reading list tab, you can then put in the module code for your specific subject and access the reading list from there. You will often find that the resources listed are organised under a drop-down menu titled ‘essential’ or ‘recommended’ reading, clearly defining which resources are compulsory reading for parts of your course and which may be useful. You can then click on all the essential and recommended resources and webpages, which will include links to access them via a database we subscribe to or a specific website or link. Physical books and resources have a tab when you click on the full details of the item in which you can place a request for the specific book or item that you need for your research.

Requesting

reading list

Once you click the ‘Request’ button, you will be asked where your preferred campus is to collect the book from and given the opportunity to leave a note if there is anything you would like to ask or inform us about. Requested items will be kept on our hold shelves for up to 7 days altogether before being reshelved. Once collected and checked out at our self-service kiosks, they will automatically renew for up to four months whilst on loan to you unless recalled to fulfil another request. Don’t worry – you will receive an email notifying you if this is the case, and you will have 7 days from the date this email is sent to return the book!

Reading List Material

Some of the books, journals and articles that you will come across on our reading lists will only have digital access provided – usually, to access online resources, a link to a specific database or databases will be provided within the item record. Some E-books can be downloaded; however, others often only allow you to save or print a limited number of pages.

reading list

There are some academic journals and databases may ask you to log in with your student number and password. Databases are accredited academic search engines and websites that give you access to a wide range of up-to-date, high-quality research, articles, and materials. You will find that you will use databases more and more as you progress through your course.

 

More information about Reading Lists, including how to create one, add items and publish one is available in our LibGuide.

 

By Rachel Downie

 

More library information, your subject librarians are there to help

Five Research Mistakes Students Make (and How to Avoid Them) image of laptop and papers

New Skills@ENULibrary Programme for 2026/27

24/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

New Skills@ENULibrary Programme for 2026/27

September 2026

Welcome to the new Skills@Library Programme for 2026/27, previously known as the Digital Library Skills Programme.

The programme offers short, practical sessions to help staff and students develop their research and information skills. Sessions cover a range of Library tools, services and subject-specific resources.

New Skills@Library Programme for 2026/27

The programme includes online sessions that help you refresh your knowledge of Library tools and services. You can also use these sessions to find resources and guidance to signpost to your students.

Whether you want to develop your own skills or support your students, Skills@Library offers practical learning opportunities throughout the academic year.

What’s on offer?

The programme includes a range of standalone sessions. Some sessions also focus on the needs of specific Schools or subject areas.

Sessions are available online. Students can also attend drop-in sessions in our physical libraries. Sessions are free and open to all students.

Upcoming topics include:

Find out more

Explore the full programme, view upcoming session topics and check available dates on the Training and Events Calendar.

You can also book places for upcoming sessions through the calendar.

reading lists

Inter library loans

17/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

Interlibrary loans

One of the great perks that you get when you become a student at Edinburgh Napier University is access to our library catalogue, which consists of thousands of books and online articles that you can use to help you in your studies. These books and articles can easily be found, requested, and read through our Library Search, which you can access through the tile on your student app or through a web browser.

However, at some point during your studies, you might feel like you need access to a book or article that isn’t part of our library catalogue. In cases like this our Inter Library Loan (ILL) Service has got your back.

Inter Library Loans allows you to request access to books and articles that are not normally part of our library catalogue. You simply submit a request for the material that you need and the ILL team will get in touch with another university in Britain to see if they have a copy that they would be willing to loan us.
Need access to an article from a journal the university doesn’t have a subscription to? Maybe the ILL team can see if there’s a university who can send us a PDF.
Is there a book that would be just perfect to cite in your assignment, but the university doesn’t have it? The ILL team can check if there’s a university close by who’d be willing to send us their copy.

The ILL service is free to use for students and staff at Napier, but please keep in mind that the university is actually paying for this service on your behalf. So only submit a request for material that you’re absolutely certain you need (and try not to request too much at once!)

We should also note that there are some restrictions to what material we can get through ILL. For example, you won’t be able to request copies of dissertations or theses, and we aren’t able to provide you with access to full copies of e-books. However, we can maybe get you a copy of one specific chapter if that is suitable.

Now let’s go over how exactly the ILL service works.

You can find the ILL service through Library Search by clicking the InterLibrary Loans tab above the search bar and signing into your university account.

Inter Library Loan

Once you’re logged in, you’ll have to select what type of material you’re requesting and then fill out a form provide us with information such as the title, author name, and what journal it is part of if you’re requesting an article. If you only need one book chapter, then you might want to let us know the specific pages as well. You’ll also have to select which of our campuses you would like to collect books from. Articles that you request will be sent to your student email address.

Please make sure that you’ve selected the correct option from the top of the page before you fill out the form. Selecting the wrong option will result in the request being rejected, and you will have to resubmit correctly.

Inter Library Loan fees

Once the request has been submitted, the ILL team will first check if it is necessary for us to get the material through ILL. You’d be surprised at how often people request books through ILL without first checking to see if we already have it in the library!
Many online articles are also available through Google Scholar, so you might want to have a quick check on there before submitting an ILL request.

If the book isn’t available in our catalogue or through Google Scholar, then the ILL team will do a search of our partner institutions to see if any of them have a copy of the material they would be willing to loan us.

For articles and book chapters, these will usually arrive quite quickly as our partners will email them to us in their preferred format – sometimes they send us a PDF, sometimes they’ll send us an encrypted link that can be accessed using a password they provide. We’ll then pass this on to you so you can get to studying!

Please keep in mind that the format the material is provided in is decided by our partner institution, and that these formats sometimes come with restrictions such as links only being accessible a certain number of times or expiring after a certain number of days.

For physical books, we ask that you please be patient and wait at least fifteen days for the book to arrive in the mail from our partner library.
The return date for ILL book is set by our partner library so we ask that you collect the book from your requested helpdesk as soon as you can. You have no idea how many people have come to collect an ILL at the last minute only to discover that our partner library expects the book to be returned to them the very next day!
Once the book arrives it must be collected and returned to one of our library helpdesks during staffed hours (8:45AM to 4:45PM, Monday to Friday) Additionally, ILL books cannot be sent out to you through Postal Loan the way our normal catalogue can be.

As these books are not the property of Edinburgh Napier, we ask that you please be extra careful and look after them when you have them out on loan. Also, you should keep in mind that our partner libraries have the right to recall books at any time. In this case we will email you to let you know when the book should be brought back to us.

This blog post ended up a bit longer than expected, but that’s only because there’s a lot to talk about with our ILL service!
This year alone we’ve supplied over four hundred books and articles to our students and staff through our ILL service, and in turn we’ve lend hundreds of our own books and articles to other universities across Britain.
So why not get involved yourself? It’s a great way to get your hands on some unexpected study material that your classmates might not even know about.

By Matthew Ferrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September

September Starts

16/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

September Starts

It’s halfway through September; studies are on their way, and the justification to eat Halloween sweets is getting closer.

 

Welcome to Trimester One

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the first week of teaching for Trimester One? As everything starts to settle, we wanted to take a moment to share some fantastic library services tailored for both our undergraduate and postgraduate students. Whether you’re familiar with everything we offer or just discovering the resources available, this post is a handy guide to help you on your academic journey.

Academic Skills and Study Support

First and foremost, the Academic Skills Team should be your go-to for any support in your studies. They provide practical advice regarding your coursework, which can be especially crucial as you navigate the heavier workload often associated with a postgraduate program or navigate your undergraduate program for the first time. You can arrange a one-on-one appointment or attend walk-in sessions on campus. More details are available on their web pages. To make things even easier, they have also produced short pre-recorded videos on Panopto, giving you academic tips in bite-sized formats. Be sure to check out MyNapier for all the information you need related to academic skills and support for research students, including answers to frequently asked questions about research degrees. And we can’t stress how wonderful they truly are.

And Maths Plus, organised by lecturers from the School of Computing, Engineering, and Built Environment, will return to the Merchiston Library soon. we will keep you posted. Maths Plus is 1 on 1 support to help with any mathematical problem.

Our Online resources

If you’re looking for resources, our LibGuides are designed to help you quickly find relevant information specific to your area of study. They offer advice on searching for both print and electronic resources, recommend useful websites, and provide access to databases. Additionally, you can explore our A-Z list of subscribed databases, complete with trial access for your research needs. Our detailed subject guides cover every school within the university, along with resources for conducting literature reviews, developing critical thinking skills, and understanding referencing styles such as APA 7th edition. And our subject librarians are always there for contact if you would like 1-to-1 support, whether on campus or online.

Training and Events Calendar

Throughout the year, we host a variety of workshops and training sessions led by our knowledgeable library staff. These workshops aim to enhance your academic skillset, covering topics like literature reviews and reference management systems such as Endnote and Mendeley. You can easily sign up for these sessions through Libcal, and don’t worry if a session fills up—more will be scheduled throughout the year to ensure you have plenty of opportunities to participate! For more detailed information about our training offerings, head over to the Home page of the Edinburgh Napier University website.

Study Spaces and Relaxation Areas

Each of our campus libraries has a range of study spaces tailored to fit various needs. Whether you require a silent study area to focus on your coursework or a collaborative space to work with classmates, you will find what you need. Our study rooms can be reserved through Resource Booker and most are equipped with PCs, whiteboards, and plasma screens. For students with young children, we also have our family rooms at Merchiston and Craiglockhart.

Wishing you the best of luck

Funnily we have lots of study support posts

welcome

What do you wish you had known in first year of University?

07/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

What do you wish you had known in first year of University?

 

Starting university is often a significant, exciting but also daunting transition in one’s life. Whether you have moved to the city where your new university is based, commute to the university or have enrolled as an online student, there is often so much to learn, prepare for, and organise – particularly in the first couple of months. This goes beyond just the academic side of university life alone as well – for many students in their first year of university, they may also be living out for the first time, learning to manage finances and budget, making new friends and navigating many other aspects of university life as well. That first year of university often flies by as well, and sometimes, there are things we discover or come across later on in our university careers and life that we wish we had known in our first year.

 

So, we are now allowing you to tell us what you wish you had known in your first year of university! What life lessons, wisdom, and information would you like to pass down to other students commencing their first year of university with us? Pop by one of our campus libraries over the next few weeks and check out our Welcome Week displays where you can leave a Post-it note with a message for our new students (and for us if you wish)!

 

What many students wish they had known in their first year of university…

 

  • Most students wish they had budgeted more, and more wisely. There is often so much going on in your first year of university, academically and socially. This can make it difficult to save money, which is why it is important to make the most of any student discounts you can get, whether it’s on food, entertainment or clothes. Another good way to save money – visiting the library! You can borrow books for free from us rather than buying them, especially textbooks as these can often be very expensive to purchase!

 

  • Start early and plan your studies. You will thank yourself later! Start to search for, save and make notes on any relevant sources and articles you come across for upcoming assignments as early as possible before they are due. Break down each part of the assignment into small, manageable daily tasks by deciding, for example, that you are going to write one chapter or section a day – you may find yourself finishing two or more in fact if you get really into the flow of writing. It is often starting that is the hardest part! Make the most of what our campus libraries have to offer by using our study spaces, physical and online resources, and Libguide, and ask us for help if you need extra support with anything.

 

  • Reference as you go! Leaving your referencing in an assignment, project or dissertation to the last minute never usually ends well – it extends the amount of time it can take to input them all through each page and into the bibliography at the end. It can also lead to you losing or forgetting the source the reference came from in the first place! If you are stuck or need some extra help with referencing, check out our Referencing in APA 7th Style guide in our Napier LibGuide.

 

  • Health is wealth – take care of your physical and mental health! This can include learning to cook health and nutritious meals, exercising, going out with friends, devoting time to hobbies and of course, resting! Make sure to take some time out to relax when you can so that you will feel rested and recharged when you start conducting research and revision again.

 

  • Join societies and social activities to meet your people. Most of your first year of university will involve meeting new people and making new friends along the way. One of the best ways to do this is to join as many societies and social activities as you can, particularly where you are likely to share common interests with others.

 

  • Explore and familiarise yourself with your city and campus. Check out your local shops, cafes, restaurants and green spaces, as well as spots on campus such as your union, social spaces and campus libraries. You may find a new favourite place to study or meet up with friends in the process!

 

  • Ask for help! There are various teams across our three campuses at Edinburgh Napier University which can assist and support you with matters such as finances, academic skills, wellbeing, accommodation and admissions. Our campus libraries are also here to help with matters regarding your studies and research.

 

Book Recommendations…

 

Here are some book recommendations from us which give useful advice and tips on how to make the most of university life in your first year and beyond this. All of these can be borrowed and requested through our LibrarySearch catalogue.

 

  • Starting university: what to expect, how to prepare, go and enjoy, Scallan, Melissa, author.; Salmon, Louise (Editor) editor.; Shields, Molly, illustrator. Second edition. 2021. Available at Sighthill, Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus libraries.
  • Manage your money. Smale, Bob, author. 2019. Available at Merchiston campus library.
  • The little book of student food. Williams, Alastair, 1969- author. 2019. Available at Craiglockhart campus library.

 

welcome

Welcome to ENU Libraries: An Introduction

01/09/2026 / / 0 Comments

Welcome to ENU Libraries: An Introduction

A very warm welcome to all of our new and returning students to our Edinburgh Napier University campus libraries this year! Have you had a chance to visit us yet? No worries if not! There is still plenty of time to get to know us, the resources and services we offer, and how we can support you throughout your university journey. Don’t be afraid to pop by one of our help desks to say hello! In the meantime, we will briefly introduce ourselves and share the resources and services we offer to support our student and staff community throughout the year.

 

Books!…

 

What is a library without it’s books? We have a vast range and collection of physical and online books and journals which you can consult and borrow from us. Most of these books and journals are also tailored to your specific school and area of study. Our books and journals can be accessed by visiting our campus libraries or by signing into LibrarySearch, where you can access our e-books or online journals or place a request for a physical book to be kept on hold for you for up to a week at any of our campus libraries, which is most convenient to you.

 

Any physical books you take out on loan will automatically renew for up to four months maximum unless it is recalled to satisfy another request – in this instance you will receive an email regarding this and have seven days to return the item from when the email is sent. You can scan any books out at our self-service kiosks on campus; we also offer a Postal Loans Service which you can apply for as well. More information about Finding and Borrowing Books is available in our My Napier Webpages.

 

PCs and Laptops…

 

Digital access is very important to us at Edinburgh Napier University. Our libraries have loads of PCs in each campus library which are free to use and don’t have to be booked in advance – it’s all first come first served! Some of them also have dual screen monitors if you need to do a bit of multi-tasking, and we also have standing desks as well as seated ones. We also have library laptops which can be taken out and borrowed for up to two weeks – these can be borrowed from our self-service Lapsafe lockers located in our Sighthill, Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus libraries, as well as the JKCC and Bainfield Student Accommodation. Unfortunately, because our library laptops are so popular, they cannot be renewed for more than two weeks, but you can check their availability in the Laptop Availability tile in your student account and My Napier app.

 

Our LibGuide…

 

We have a thorough, up-to-date LibGuide which covers all schools and subject areas at Edinburgh Napier University as well as topics such as copyright, literature reviewing, publishing and open access, reading lists, referencing and how to use reference management software such as Endnote and Mendeley. Check it out! Find out LibGuide in here.

 

Study Spaces and Bookable Study Rooms…

 

Whether you need a quiet place to study or a space to collaborate on a group project, we have a wide range of study spaces tailored to your individual needs in all three of our campus libraries. We also have bookable study rooms which can be reserved through Resource Booker. Rooms can be booked up to 14 days in advance for a maximum of two hours. Some of them are also equipped with AV equipment, screens and PCs as well as whiteboards, tables and chairs – great for a bit of collaborative group work and learning! For students with children or childcare responsibilities, we also have Family Study Rooms in our Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus libraries equipped with toy boxes to keep your little ones entertained while you study.

 

Our Wellbeing Collection…

 

Fun fact: we don’t just have academic books and textbooks! We also have a range of books, DVDs and resources covering topics such as mental health, managing finances, personal relationships, sleep, neurodiversity and university life. They all come under our Wellbeing Collection, which can be found in our LibGuide. In this collection, you can find a range of resources to support different areas of your health and wellbeing, including inspiring stories and practical tips, advice and tools which can be applied to everyday realities and challenges in both your personal and university life.

 

Online Workshops…

 

We have a range of workshops, training and drop-in sessions available, both online and in-person, that can be found and booked through our Libcal. There are sessions specifically tailored to students, staff or both groups sometimes as well! There are workshops and drop-in sessions that cover areas such as getting started with the library, literature reviewing, database searching (sometimes specific ones such as CINAHL or JSTOR), referencing and open access publishing, to give a few examples.

 

Displays…

 

Throughout the year, our library staff will often put up and curate a range of themed displays advertising our resources and services – some of these displays are also in line with national holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day. They often have posters, flyers, bookmarks and leaflets advertising our services and resources – sometimes they may also have some relevant books on display, Post-it notes to leave us some feedback, and even sweets or fruit!

 

Contact us…

 

Need to get in touch with us? Our contact details can be found below.

 

Email Address: library@napier.ac.uk

Phone Number: 0131 455 3500

 

See our Opening Hours here.

 

By Rachel Downie

Need a bit direction, we have a campus guide

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2026

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2026

14/08/2026 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2026

Saturday 15th – Sunday 30th August 2026.

The Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival began as a biennial event in 1983 and became an annual event in 1997, and has now been running for over forty years. As one of the largest public celebrations of reading and the written word, there is always something for everyone.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which depends on gifts and donations from willing donors to achieve its goal of promoting reading and writing and encouraging an understanding of the wider world, bringing empathy, escapism, entertainment and joy to the masses no matter where they come from, their age, financial status or individual tastes.

Funding is not only required to support the Book Festival itself but also a wide variety of events within schools, hospitals, prisons, libraries and community centres all year round. The funding helps to secure these projects for now and for the future.

Where to find it and what to expect

Every year in August the Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place alongside the city’s Fringe Festival. This year the Book Festival runs from Saturday 15th – Sunday 30th August 2026.

The Book Festival is based at Edinburgh Futures Institute, close to Edinburgh’s Old Town, in what was formerly the Royal Infirmary Hospital building. The old and new architecture really captures the atmosphere of the Book Festival with something to suit everyone’s tastes and loads of cosy corners for reading. The main entrance to the building is just off Middle Meadow Walk at the junction with Porter’s Walk.

The Festival site is open daily from 09:30 – 23:00 and is free to enter. You can enjoy a selection of food and drinks and relax at the indoor café and Courtyard pop-ups. There are some green spaces nearby and cosy indoor nooks available for shelter just in case of inclement weather (it is Scotland after all!).

The famous Festival Bookshop, run by Waterstones, is in a spacious tent in the Courtyard. The bookshop is filled with titles from the authors in the events programme and lots more. The Bookshop also provides space for book signings by authors after their events. There are also other signing locations outside some of the venues hosting author events.

Events and Writers

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a unique event showcasing both new and well-known writers and celebrates all things literary, bringing together Scottish, British and international writers to inspire each other and the wider public with a series of wide-ranging events. Generating discussions and making them available to everyone is the focus of the Book Festival.

With 600 events taking place over the 16 days, you can explore the events listings to find out what is happening each day and to see ticket prices. Events take place at venues throughout the city with something to suit every age group and every genre. Tens of thousands of people come together every year to celebrate books, and the impact reading can have. The Book Festival is a place where stories come alive, people’s views can be heard, and new perspectives are discovered. It can inspire conversations and debates, helping us to understand the world around us and opening our minds to other cultures and new perspectives.

Discussion, performance and interactive events are now popular elements of the Festival, as well as the more traditional author talks, strengthening the Book Festival’s prominence as a dynamic conference which encourages people to ask questions and exchange views with writers and experts on various subjects, whether social, ethical or political, all the while remaining literary and cultural.

The format of events can vary from a typical interview with an author, Q&A session and book signing or a debate hosted by a chairperson where the audience are also invited to ask questions. More unusual events may involve enjoying food and drinks or a ramble through the city’s Old Town searching for favourite characters such as the Gruffalo. Events for children can vary in activity levels – some will be more energetic with singing and dancing; some will involve play time while others offer a chance to unwind with some quiet time listening to a storyteller. There is a packed programme of events this year with something to suit everyone – all ages and all genres. Colm Tóibín, Meera Syal, Ann Patchett, Matt Haig, Lorraine Kelly, Prue Leith, Alan Davies, Jacqueline Wilson and Liz Pichon are just a few of the famous faces who can be seen at this year’s Book Festival.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it in-person to your favourite events. Most of the events in larger venues are livestreamed and are available to watch both in-person and online, so you don’t need to miss anything! A variety of cameras are used to film live footage of both the stage and the audience so you can see the whole event online if you are unable to attend in-person.

So, explore the programme, find an event that interests you and get involved. You never know, you may even be lucky enough to see one of your favourite authors meandering around the Book Festival!

 

By Sharon McMichael

 

Why not read our article on world book day?

 

Reading lists

Reading Lists: Best Practice Tips for Academic Staff

12/08/2026 / / 0 Comments

Reading Lists: Best Practice Tips for Academic Staff

As the start of a new academic year approaches, we wanted to share some advice from the library for creating or updating reading lists! To support this, library staff will be running training sessions on the Leganto reading list platform in late August 2026. Dates, times, and booking information for these sessions are available in Libcal.

Effective reading lists are more than a collection of resources, as they can:

  • Help students manage their workload.
  • Provide a structured route through relevant literature.
  • Support student engagement with key concepts explored throughout a module.

Whether you are creating a brand-new list or reviewing an existing one, these simple tips will help you make the most of your reading lists.

Set Manageable Expectations

It can be tempting to include every potentially relevant resource that you’ve found, but a focused reading list will often provide a clearer and more manageable learning experience for students. As a rough guide, limiting a list to a maximum of 100 items will greatly improve its usability, particularly for users of accessibility tools such as screen readers.

Instead of providing an exhaustive list of resources, consider directing students to Library Search to start their own research. In this way, keeping your list to a realistic length will encourage readers to carry out their own searches and find further material.

Structure Resources around Learning

Even if it is a more manageable length, an unstructured list can initially be overwhelming. Our reading lists can be structured using sections and tags to help you arrange and prioritise the resources in your list.

Organising resources into sections – which can be based on weeks, units, or topics – will allow students to navigate easily to relevant resources as they work through the module content. Within these sections, using tags to mark resources as ‘Essential’ or ‘Recommended’ will make your list more user-friendly, by helping students to identify the key resources at each stage of their learning.

Think beyond Books

One of the most common misconceptions about Reading Lists is that they are only for books. In fact, our Reading Lists can contain more than fifty different resource types, including journal articles, videos, maps, transcripts, or podcasts.

Including a variety of formats – such as links to Box of Broadcasts, sound recordings, or YouTube videos – not only makes your reading list more engaging, but can also help to make the list more accessible.

Review and Refresh

It is good practice to review your list yearly to check on any updated editions, add emerging research, and review the list’s structure and tags. As academic publishing can change quickly, access to the most up-to-date resources and perspectives is important for students.

The reading list tool embedded in your module will roll over when Moodle refreshes*, so you can continue to work with the previous year’s list. Conducting an annual review of any reading lists linked to your ongoing modules will ensure they remain relevant, accurate, and aligned with your learning outcomes.

* Please note, one exception to this automatic roll over is cross-listed modules (those with an XL code). For these, please contact your subject librarian to assist with the rollover of your reading list.

Work with the Library

Remember, the library is available to you at every stage of the reading list process. Library staff can:

  • Check and update links to ensure resources are accessible.
  • Purchase recommended materials where appropriate. You can add resources not currently available via the library to your list, and we will investigate whether purchase is possible.
  • Advise on alternative options when electronic formats are unavailable or we cannot supply sufficient licences for access.
  • Where possible, support digitisation requests through the Digital Extracts Service to make a book chapter or journal article available online through the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA).

To ensure that library staff have time to investigate purchase or alternative access options if needed, please submit any reading lists for review four weeks before the start of trimester.

Not just for Teaching

Lastly, you can also use reading lists to organise resources outside of teaching for your modules. All staff and students have access to the reading lists platform, called Leganto. You can use this platform to create a journal club, set up a tutor reading group or even just to organise your own personal list of resources – and you don’t have to worry about this list being too long!

For example, get inspired by this list of suggested Summer Reading from the library, or take a moment to explore our Wellbeing Collection list.

Find Out More

For even more information on reading lists, please go to our Reading Lists LibGuide, which provides instructions and guidance for every step of the process. Or, as mentioned at the start of this post, you can attend one our upcoming workshops found on Libcal.

Finally, if you need any further support or have any questions about this topic, remember the library is here to help!

By Anna Langdon

Books

Book Lovers Day

09/08/2026 / / 0 Comments

Book Lovers Day

 

Calling all book lovers! Today is National Book Lovers Day – the perfect opportunity to embrace your love of literature and immerse yourself in a good book. This could be a new book you purchased or borrowed from the library recently, an old favourite which you have read many times, or even a book recommended by a family member or friend that you have not started reading yet that you have been keen to start for a while. The possibilities are endless! National Book Lovers Day also encourages and promotes all forms of reading, whether it is a hardback, paperback, e-book, or audiobook.

 

History of Book Lovers Day…

 

National Book Lovers Day is recognised as an unofficial holiday, so much about its origins, such as its official creator or founder and when it began, is unknown. It primarily emerged among local communities that enjoyed reading and wanted to widely promote this love of books and literature across other communities and regions. This national day is now widely recognised and celebrated across the globe.

 

Health Benefits of Books…

 

The annual ‘State of the Nation’ study conducted by The Reading Agency found that just over 50% of UK adults would describe themselves as regular readers, with the most notable rise being among demographic groups in their 20s and 30s. This is not only good news for bookshops, booksellers and libraries – it can also improve the well-being of individuals and communities on a national level as studies have shown that making reading a regular activity is linked to cognitive benefits such as lower stress levels, a more enhanced vocabulary, higher empathy and improved focus and concentration.

Since stress is one of the biggest killers regarding how it increases your risk of a heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, this means that reading regularly can not only have cognitive benefits but also physical health benefits as well. Reading is also very good for your mental health. According to statistics compiled in a report written in 2025 by The Reading Agency, more than half of individuals who read regularly were more likely to express that they were generally happy and in good spirits. Just over half of the participants who read regularly also reported better sleep and greater ease in relaxing and ‘switch off’. Participants in this study who read regularly were also 32% less likely to report feeling depressed or anxious.

 

How our Libraries can help…

 

Did you know that, in addition to academic textbooks, journals, and articles, we also have fiction books in our library stock? If you are a student or staff member, or have an external or SCONUL Access membership with us, and need a break from academic texts, we have a variety of fiction that covers various themes and genres, all of which can be found in our LibrarySearch catalogue. They can also be accessed and requested through LibrarySearch as well if you have the required borrowing and access privileges.

When requesting a book from us, you can select your preferred campus to pick it up from – we will then send the requested item to your chosen campus library for pickup. We also have a wide range of seating areas and relaxation spaces in all three of our campus library which you can use whilst reading any of our or your own books. Our libraries are devoted to providing quiet, accessible spaces for patrons, and if you need a peaceful place to read, you have come to the right place!

 

Much of our fictional texts can be found in our Wellbeing Collection. This collection has been specially curated with books and resources that cover a variety of themes and topics, including relationships, mental health, neurodiversity, digital well-being, and university life. Texts can be either fiction or non-fiction as well.

By Rachel Downie

 

world cat day

World Cat Day

08/08/2026 / / 0 Comments

World Cat Day

 

Gather round all cat lovers and feline enthusiasts! Today is World Cat Day, which takes place on the 8th of August every year. This year, World Cat Day falls on a Saturday (shall we call it Cat-tur-day?) and was established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), one of the largest animal welfare charities globally. Their fundamental objectives when launching this international day were to promote cat welfare, responsible ownership, and the protection of felines, as well as to celebrate their species overall. This very much remains their primary focus to this day. A large number of cat shelters also organise and run special adoption events or alternatively campaigns to raise awareness of cat protection and care on the 8th of August every year.

 

Some fun facts about felines…

 

  • There are approximately 600 million cats worldwide. This includes pets, feral cats and strays.
  • Having a cat neutered and spayed helps reduce the number of homeless cats and improves their overall health.
  • The longest living cat lived until the age of 38! Born on the 3rd of August 1967, Creme Puff exceeded the average lifespan of an indoor domesticated cat (12-18 years) before eventually passing away in the year 2005.
  • Following on from the previous fact, Creme Puff’s owner, Jake Perry, also owned a cat called Rex who exceeded the average feline lifespan, living to the age of 34! Rex held the record for the longest living cat prior to Creme Puff.
  • We share the same emotional regions of the brain as cats, so, cognitively, humans may be more like cats than we think!
  • The average cat has 18 toes, distributed between its front and hind paws. However, most cats have a condition called polydactylism, which causes them to be born with extra toes.
  • Cats, on average, sleep for a maximum of 15 hours a day, which takes up an estimated 70% of their lifespan in total!
  • In Ancient Egypt, cat owners would shave their eyebrows off as a ritual of mourning when their cat passed away. Cats, like humans, were also mummified after death and buried in tombs with their owners.

 

How you can support the cause…

 

There are many ways in which you can make a positive difference for our feline friends, whether it is from home, digitally or out in the local community.

 

  • Spreading the Word: Probably one of the easiest ways to support the cause – you can share any posts, pictures, stories or factual information on your social media channels to promote awareness regarding cat protection, care and advocacy.
  • Donate or Raise Money: You can make a one-off or regular donation to cat shelters and charity organisations, or provide any used items you are clearing out, such as towels or blankets. If time and resources allow, you can even organise a fundraising event or activity within your local community.
  • Treat your Feline Friend: Give your own cat some spoiling this International Cat Day! Treat them to a grooming session, a new toy or even some cuddles on your lap.
  • Volunteering: If you have a bit of spare time and perhaps want to send some of that around cats, you can volunteer to help out at a local cat shelter or rescue group, which could involve tasks such as bathing, feeding and socialising the cats there.

By Rachel Downie

 

Photo by Raoul Droog Unsplash

 

Have more of an animal read

« Older posts

Contact Us

Email: library@napier.ac.uk

Telephone: 0131 455 3500

Bluesky: @ENULibrary

Instagram: @ENU_Library​

 

© 2026 The Library Blog

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑