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 14 of 21)

Retro Radio

World Radio Day

13/02/2024 / / 0 Comments

World Radio Day

13th February marks World Radio Day  🎶 play Radio Gaga by Queen 🎶

What is World Radio Day?

Declared by UNESCO in 2011 and then proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012, February 13th became World Radio Day. The objective of the day is simple, to celebrate the radio, as a public service, as a network and communication. February 13th was chosen to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Radio in 1946 (Wikipedia.org/World Radio Day). And as UNESCO states on their website ‘In an era marked by the dizzying speed of technological innovation, the radio beginning in its second century as dependable and widely utilize’ (UNESCO.org)

The History of the Radio

Canadian Reginald Fessenden is the pioneer of the radio and in December 1906, his voice was broadcasted.  The radio was crucial to the First World War and heavily relied upon. It wasn’t until the 1920s that radio resembled what it is today, filled with speakers and music. The 1950s saw a boom in radio broadcasting programmes (dramas to comedy), music and adverts.  it is considered the Golden Age.  One of the most famous programmes was the War of Worlds.  However, soon Radio would be competing with the world of television (Britannica/radio)

The radio was a huge revolution in the world of communication. News became instantly accessible. It changed consumer world with advertising. It transformed the world of music, making it the venture it is today. (university of Minnesota) 

The Radio and the Library

Interested in radio, you can browse our expansive library catalgoue till your hearts content.  This includes databases such as the wonderful world of Box of Broadcasts.   You can also browse the school of Creative Arts and Industries subject guides. Here you can find more of the impact of radio.

 

Interested in more United Nations Day, have a browse here

 

Photo Source Anmol Arora Unsplash 

 

Love heart sweets

Love Your Library

12/02/2024 / / 0 Comments

Love Your Library

Love Your Library 2024

It’s back! It’s that time of year again. The old cliché of chocolates, flowers, and books. We joke but it is Love Your Library Week. Hearts rejoice. This week we will be running our annual feedback drive. Every year around Valentine, we ask what do you love about the library? But also, what do you hate? And you can be honest. This is your library.

Love Your Library in the Libraries

Our libraries will be pretty in pink with their displays. There will be post-it notes, heart-shaped of course. And you can tell us what you love and what you hate.  There will be a display at each library campus. If that isn’t enough, we will also be handing out sweets. We will be running this all week so you have plenty of time to let us know. We love getting feedback, it helps us understand what we are doing right and what we need to improve. And we listen to all feedback. It can be anonymous.

 All Year Round

We should add that we appreciate feedback all year round. Each library has a comment box, and you can always contact us or give us a shout on social media. Let us know what you think about our library services.

Read previous posts on our library services and our previous feedback drives here.

librarians

Physiotherapy and Sports & Exercise Science Resources

02/02/2024 / / 0 Comments

Physiotherapy and Sports & Exercise Science Resources

Happy Friday everyone. We have promoted our Physiotherapy and Sports & Exercise Science Resources this week. You might have seen our book display at Sighthill Library Campus. Or our digital signage slides promoting different resources the past few days. Or even our social media posts. If not, don’t worry we have you covered with this article.  We will summarise this week and highlight all the Sports and Physiotherapy resources. If you have an interest in the sports sciences or are a student of either Applied Sciences or Health & Social Care, then we have you covered.

On Monday, we gave a shout-out to our physical book display and reading lists.

Research Databases

On Tuesday, we gave a shout-out to our research databases. Research Databases are a collection of online scholarly works that can be articles, case studies and periodicals. We have a database tab on LibrarySearch. There are 3 that we would like to highlight; Medline, PubMed and Sportdiscus:

  • Medline: covers a wide range of medical journal articles and references with a focus on biomedicine.
  • PudMed: developed by the National Library of Medicine in the USA. Thousands of articles and citations that range from biomed to life science.
  • SportDiscus: Provided by the Sport Information Resource Centre. It covers sport and fitness and related disciplines.

Journals:

Half way the week, it was about the journals. We have 4 journals to promote. We want to add that not all journals can be found in databases but you can either search them individually on librarysearch or on the journal tab. Like the research databases, they covered a wide range from fitness to medicine.

  • International Journal of Sport Medicine
  • Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
  • British Journal of Sport Medicine
  • Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise

Non-Research Databases:

Not only do we have research databases but we have non-research databases. And it was our non-research databases that took the spotlight.

  • Anatomy.Tv (Also known as Anatomy and Physiology Online): Here you will find over 20 interactive Modules, 3D anatomy and media-rich content.  Case studies and quizzes are available.
  • Sage Research Methods: Research essential. Provides information on writing research questions, how to do a literature review, research methods, collecting and analysing data and much more. It covers all research methods used in the social sciences.

Once again, you can find these all on LibrarySearch.

We hope you found this post insightful. Don’t forget to check out the libguides and previous posts on databases

lego
Source

Lego Day

28/01/2024 / / 1 Comment

Celebrating Lego Day

It’s world Lego day today. Lego is one of those toys that is ubiquitous with childhood. Anyone growing up in the West will know immediately what you mean when you mention it. It is the joy of Children everywhere, and the thing that drives most parents mad. Is there anything more painful to stand on!?!

In fact, people who have regularly experienced walking on hot coals and broken glass say Lego is by far the worst thing to walk on (source). Feeling brave? You always have a go at the Lego Firewalk. Personally, I’d rather walk on glass or coals!

History

It was in Denmark, at Ole Kirk Christiansen’s workshop where Lego was firstborn. In 1934 it became called Lego after the Danish phrase leg godt.  They were originally called Automatic Binding Bricks, but less originally they were based on the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks, already patented in the UK.

Over time Lego has grown to become the biggest toy company in the world and is not only used as toys but as movies, artworks and they even made an amusement park you can visit.

Mindfulness and Lego

Lego is no longer just for children; in fact, they have many Lego sets dedicated to adults. There is some fascinating research connected to mindfulness about how doing Lego can help our mental health. We actually keep a Lego set behind each Library Help Desk you can borrow for free. Why not check one out next time you visit…if the library staff aren’t already playing with them that is!

Learn More

We have a fascinating and diverse range of materials for you to read on Lego, from issues with Dentistry (teeth and Lego are a bad mix it seems!) to build your own Lego Robots. Check out Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.. Just type in the word “Lego” and start reading!

By Juliet Kinsey

Sources: Wikipedia

Study Skills

Welcome Edinburgh Napier International College

22/01/2024 / / 0 Comments

Welcome Edinburgh Napier International College

Welcome and welcome back everybody. Happy to have campuses back being busy.

We would like to give a very warm welcome to students from the International College at Edinburgh Napier. As things are getting started and getting settled, we would like to cover our library services on offer and what the library can do for you. We do recommend this induction that covers all computing and library services.

Finding information: reading lists, subject guides and subject librarians

You will have a reading list for each of your courses. It is through LibrarySearch that you will find these items. Please remember to log in at the top right corner as a university member.  We also have subject guides and research guides that have been created by your subject librarian. These guides are designed to help you find information and develop research skills. You can find them here. Additionally, you can contact your subject librarian for more information or arrange a 1: 1 appointment for extra guidance. On who your subject librarian is, please refer to our web pages.

Library Resources: Books, Databases and more

We have an extensive catalogue, and it is all available through library search. Here you will have access to all our online resources and be able to locate where our physical resources are. You will also find access to journals and databases. You can borrow up to 30 physical items. Books are 7-day loans but they renew automatically up to a 4 month period unless requested. If you are looking for something we don’t have, we have an inter-library loan service.

Libraries: Physical and Online

At the library, you will find plenty of study spaces: we have silent areas and areas for talking if you have group work. There are study rooms, PCs and macs, with printers and scanners. Each library has a relaxation space with games, colouring sheets and comfy sofas to relax. We have a wellbeing collection that focuses on shelf help. If you can’t make it campus, most of these resources are now available online.

Useful Information

And more information you can find on our library web pages or you can contact us either in person at the help desks or email (library@napier.ac.uk) or phone 0131 455 3500. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we are here to help. Good luck in the trimester.

You can also find more library information from previous articles 

Trimester Two

Merchiston Tower

04/01/2024 / / 0 Comments

Merchiston Tower

In the centre of Merchiston Tower, you will find Merchiston Tower.

Bang in the middle.

Have you ever wondered what’s inside? What’s its history? Wanted to peek inside?

Let us take you on a brief digital walk through the Tower in the blog post. But before we go any further, we would like to add that you can tour the Tower in person and see its 500 years of history in person for free. Email us at heritage@napier.ac.uk or library@napier.ac.uk. Please bear in mind that we need at least 24 hours’ notice. Group tours are available, but no more than 15 people can attend.

 

History of Merchiston Tower

Merchiston Tower has stood firm for over 500 years. Built in the middle of the 1400s, either by Andrew Napier or his son Sir Alexander Napier, both served as Provost of Edinburgh, and both moved in royal circles.

John Napier (Alexander’s grandson) was born in the Tower in 1550. Specifically, the University is named after John Napier. His inventions and contributions to Mathematics are longstanding, with his most known invention being logarithms. There is a lot of “myth, mystery, and intrigue” (John Napier napier.ac.uk) about the man, and you can read about him in a previous blog post on Edinburgh Napier University’s webpages.

The Tower remained in the Napier family until the beginning od the 1800s. It was then owned by the Merchiston Castle School, followed by Edinburgh Council. For a while, it was also a storage space for fire hoses during the Second World War. By the 1950s, the Tower was set for demolition. It was in ruined. However, in 1958, a new technical college was coming to Edinburgh. A college that needed a campus. Napier College was formed around the Tower, saving from it demolition and beginning a work of restoration. These restorations would uncover ceilings and stairwells that had been hidden for a century.

The hallway ceiling of the Tower now proudly displays the University’s crest and showcases the Tower’s timeline, a nod to the Napier family, Merchiston Castle School, and Edinburgh Council.

Napier Crest

Inside the Tower

Can’t wait to have look. Let’s go on a digital walkthrough. And while, we have lovely pictures, nothing compares in person.

The original great hall stands to the left as you enter. In this hall, you will find a stunning, decorative ceiling that was commemorated during the reign of Charles II, the decorations showcasing the Napier family’s loyalty to the crown. The massive fireplace is thought to be original to the Tower. The north and south windows are original, while, the east window dates from the 17th century. During the restoration in the 1950s, a staircase in the thick walls was found.

The once hidden staircase leads to the Boardroom that now stretches across the third and fourth floors. The fourth floor would  have been a loft area, home to servants but it has now been opened up to make the room fell bigger, and to properly showcase.

The magnificent Prestongrange Ceiling, it dates from 1581. A rare example of a Scottish Renaissance painted ceiling, it was from Prestongrange House to Merchiston Tower in 1964 for preservation purposes. The ceiling is filled with art, featuring many motifs from folk plays. Truly Unique!

 

 

 

Prestongrange ceiling

 

Merchiston Tower and John Napier

In 1550, John Napier was born in the tower house. Over 400 years later, the Tower was saved from demolition and restoration work began for a new college to be named after John Napier. Now, it stands proud in the middle of our biggest campus, home to two of our schools; School of Arts and Creative Industries and School of Computing, Engineering & Built Environment.

 

Doors Open Day

On the 28th of September, we opened up the Tower to the public to celebrate Doors Open Day. Our second year running, we were delighted to welcome over 180 visitors.

 

 

If you are interested in visiting Merchiston Tower in person, please get in touch by emailing heritage@napier.ac.uk or library@napier.ac.uk. Tours are free but are dependent on staff and room availability so will require booking in advance.

Please note that – due to the steep and uneven medieval staircases – the Tower is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible.

For more information about the University’s Heritage Collections, have a look at our website.

Read more about the Heritage Collections

 

References

 

Merchiston Tower Edinburgh

The Napier Estate Past and Present

UK Disability History Month

Disability History Month 2023

11/12/2023 / / 0 Comments

Disability History Month 2023

Disability History Month 2023 UK runs from 16th November to 16th December. We are going to reflect on how the library and the university can support it. If you want to find out more about Disability History Month, you can find more on their website. 

Library Resources:

At the library, we aim to:

  • Provide equal opportunity and access to services and collections.
  • Take a positive and flexible approach to promoting the full integration of everyone into all aspects of our activities.
  • Work with Student Wellbeing and Inclusion and other departments as required to identify the best way to meet students’ specific needs.
  • Be open and receptive to feedback and welcome comments on our service.

You can find how the library can support you on our webpages or you can check out the wellbeing collection. We have created a tab to raise Disability History Month. You’ll find resources in this list that reflect on disability history, films and documentaries about disability, and the lived experience of people with disabilities.

You’ll also find relevant items in this LibGuide under Neurodiversity and Mental Wellbeing.

If you need more support or have feedback on our services, please let us know at library@napier.ac.uk

University Support

Additionally, the University offers a range of support. Edinburgh Napier University prides itself on its ethos of offering equal access to University life. Equal access is a vital part of every student experience, and our team of Disability Inclusion staff are here to make sure it happens for you. You can read more on the university portal to see how the university can support, from assistive technology to improved experience.

For staff at Napier, you can read more about on the staff intranet.

You can read our previous post on International Day of Persons with Disability 

Photo source UK Disability History Month

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Dyslexia Awareness Week

02/11/2023 / / 0 Comments

Dyslexia Awareness Week

 

1-7 November 2023

 

This week marks Dyslexia Awareness Week in Scotland, raising awareness and understanding. Dyslexia and how people experience or deal with it are unique to them. And Dyslexia Awareness Week is shinning light on the diversity of experiences.

Dyslexia is extremely common, NHS.uk estimates that 1 in 10 people living in the UK experience some form of dyslexia but it can often go without diagnosis.  With how common it can be and the varied experiences, it is important, we raise awareness.

What is Dyslexia?

According to NHS.UK, Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty which causes problems with reading, writing and spelling. It has nothing to do with intelligence. And it is lifelong. People with dyslexia might confuse letters, have trouble understanding written information, and read slower. These are just a small amount of people with Dyslexia can struggle with.

Support with Dyslexia

Dyslexia Scotland is a fairly new organisation but they have plenty of resources to help, support and guide. They are currently carrying out a survey this week for people living with dyslexia in Scotland and the impact it has. You can find out more about it here

If you are struggling with Dyslexia at University, we have helpful books as part of our wellbeing collection. Or you can contact the Wellbeing, Support and Inclusion team to see what support is available at the university.

You can read previous posts for guidance on our blog

If you have any suggestions on what the library can do to help, let us know by emailing library@napier.ac.uk

War Poets Collections
The War Poets collection at Craiglockhart campus. Copy of the Hydra magazine.

Special Collections: Sassoon poem returns

27/10/2023 / / 0 Comments

Special Collections: Sassoon poem returns

An original Siegfried Sassoon poem returns to our special collections.

Last month, an original poem written by Siegfried Sassoon was donated to the War Poets Collections based at Edinburgh Napier University Craiglockhart Campus. It was written at that location, more than 100 years ago. Titled Glory of Women, it was given to fellow patient and poet Wilfred Owen in 1917. Since then the poem has gone through different owners but has now returned to Craiglockhart through the kind donation of Scottish Playwright Stewart Conn.

Our curator, Laura Cooijmans-Keizer, said of the poem “Glory of Women” is a poignant poem that demonstrates the conflicting pressures faced by men fighting in the trenches. The idealised expectations of glory and heroism that women at home, both in Britain and Germany, projected onto soldiers was often in direct competition with war’s stark, and often decidedly unheroic realities. The kind donation of this important manuscript poem by Siegfried Sassoon will offer a unique opportunity for it to be studied, appreciated, and debated at the place where it was first composed.”

We want to thank Stewart again for his generous donation.

Special Collections

It’s a significant addition to a collection that comprises more than 800 items. It is a permanent exhibition based at Craiglockhart campus. The collections gives ‘an insight into the personal and social experiences of war through the words, memories, voices and objects that the officers, medical staff and relatives left behind’. You can find out more information at the War Poet Collections and enquire about visiting.

You can read more of what our amazing Special Collections team are up to

Read more about the donation here

Read about previous War Poets Collections Posts 

By Maya Green

 

Merchiston book stock

Better World Books

23/10/2023 / / 0 Comments

Better World Books

Do you ever wonder what happens to our books? Where do they go? What do we do to them?  *Mysterious music plays*. Well today, we are going to answer those questions. We are partnered with Better World Books. And we are proud of it.

Who are they?

They are an online American bookseller, and their books are usually donated from libraries and book drives.  They are ‘a for-profit socially minded business that collects and sells books online with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives around the world’. It started at Notre Dame University in Indiana, US by former college students selling their old textbooks. It now has over 300 employees, working with over 1800 universities and colleges and 3000 library systems. They even have a warehouse at Dunfermline.

Why Better World Books?

The idea of Better World Books is we donate the books that we will no longer use and they will sell them. Profits from these sales go to Literacy funds. But what if the books don’t sell? It is very simple, they are either donated to literacy programmes, recycled or used for animal bedding.

Millions of books simply go to landfills and but through this, they make sure that doesn’t happen. So far they have donated over 35 million books, and raised over £28 million for literacy and libraries funds. As well as reuse or recycle over 450 million books. We are part of this scheme and proud to be.

This is why we chose them because our books never go to waste and they help great causes.

You can read more about them on their website

And you can read more about behind the scenes at the library here.

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Telephone: 0131 455 3500

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