The Library Blog

Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.

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Forest

International Forest Day 2025

21/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Forest Day 2025

Today is International Forest Day 2025. Learn about the wellbeing and healing effect our forests can have for us.

You may not have heard the phrase shinrin-yoku. However the concept behind it has long been recognised for its health benefits and contribution to disease prevention. The Japanese expression means “taking in the forest atmosphere”  –  or forest bathing to give it a more poetic translation. Physiological experiments in forest bathing measure central nervous and autonomic nervous activity. Allowing the five senses to immerse oneself in the forest experience has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on stress responses.

Given the importance of forests for the well-being of our bodies and of the planet, it’s concerning that we annually lose 10 million hectares of forest to deforestation and 70 million to fires. Protecting our forests is crucial, and to that end, the United Nations has declared the 21st of March an annual International Day of Forests

Forests and Health 2025

The theme of this year’s celebration is “forests and food” to reflect the fact that more than five billion people rely on forests and forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods. In some countries, forests and trees provide around 20% of income for rural households.

Here in Scotland, we are forest-impoverished. According to Global Forest Watch, just over 3% of our land is covered in forests, in contrast to other European countries. Ireland, for example, has 7.3% tree cover, Poland 13%, Germany 16% and Sweden has a whopping 36%.

Edinburgh’s forests 2025

In Edinburgh, though, we’re lucky enough to be close to several beautiful green spaces, if not ancient woodlands.  If you pine (no pun intended) for an immersive forest experience, you don’t even need to leave the city centre. Why not head out to  Colinton Dell via the Water of Leith, the Hermitage of Braid nature reserve, or  Corstorphine Hill, the most westerly of Edinburgh’s seven hills.

If you fancy going a bit further afield, why not visit Roslin Glen, Cardrona Forest near Peebles, or Butterdean Wood near Tranent which is being restored to native woodland.

While you’re there – stop, look around, smell the wood, listen to the call of the green woodpecker. And bathe in all that intoxicating fresh air. And may your visit be filled with shinrin-yoku.

By Lesley McRobb

Photo by Lukasz Szmigel 

Read more about well-being and nature on a previous post

Cherry Blossom for Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox 2025

20/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

Spring Equinox 2025

Also known as the ‘vernal equinox’ (from the Latin root ‘ver’ meaning spring; related is the French word for green ‘vert’), the Spring Equinox falls on the 20th of March every year. Astronomically, it is the half-way point of the earth around the sun, commonly celebrated in different cultures as the beginning of Spring. At this time of year, the amount of daylight experienced in the northern and southern hemispheres is the same.

Spring equinox

The spring equinox marked the beginning of the new year in ancient Persia, connected to their religion of Zoroastrianism. To this day, Iran, as well as many other Central Asian countries, celebrate the festival of Nowruz (meaning ‘New Day’ in Farsi) annually, where it is a time for family reunions, feasting and song. There are also rituals specific to the holiday: famously, Charshanbeh Suri (‘Scarlet Wednesday’) includes jumping over fire, fortune telling, and a form of trick-or-treating known as ‘spoon-banging’.

In poetry, countless poets have marked the coming of spring in myriad ways – the days grow longer, with more sunshine and better weather (for the most part anyway – here’s looking at you, Scotland). Frank O’Hara memorialised springtime in Paris – ‘it is Spring the ice has melted, the Ricard is being poured, we are all happy and young and toothless’. Even rain feels different, refreshing, emphasising the sense of a new start – in Kenneth Rexroth’s words, ‘a good rain knows its season, it comes at the edge of Spring’.

Leonard Cohen’s ‘Probably Spring’ offers a set of images for the season: ‘It is the passion of our Lord. It is the ladder through her hair. It is a lovely field which you cannot find in the city’.

So heed Mr Cohen’s advice. Take a walk when the sun is out, smell the freshly cut grass, admire the blossoming flora, and lean into the sense of hope that permeates the season.

Spring in Glasgow

By Kieran Curran – photos taken by the author in Queen’s Park, Glasgow in the spring of 2024

Photo by Arno Smit

Coworking Collective (L)

Co-Working Collective

19/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

Co-Working Collective

Our co-working collective is back.

Well done on making it this far. By now you’re no doubt up to your neck in work: all those pesky assignments, all that reading and note-taking, the class discussions, the late-nighters. It can be hard to stay organised and keep on top of it all. The Library is here to help you with all that.

We’re excited to bring back our Co-Working Collective, following on from our successful introduction last semester.

Working together has been shown to beat procrastination, help you stay motivated, work on individual goals, increase time efficiency and become more productive. “To summarise, this is a supportive space where people come together to get some work done”

We’ll be meeting every Wednesday, starting today between 2pm and 4pm in Study Room 7, Merchiston Library, and we’d love you to join us. You can also join on teams.

There is no need to book, just come along. All we ask you to do is bring some work materials and a commitment to spend the two hours with like-minded people who want to work quietly in a supported environment.

The sessions are open to all, regardless of which campus you’re based in or what level of study you’re at. If you’ve any questions, email us library@napier.ac.uk or disabilityinclusion@napier.ac.uk, and let the library be your study buddy.

More information on the library calendar. 

By Lesley McRobb

Read our previous posts on study skills. 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

Neurodiversity celebration week 2025

17/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

This week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a week dedicated to celebrating those with neurological differences and challenging the negative stigmas associated with these differences. It’s a week all about celebrating what makes us different from each other and trying to better understand the unique view we all have of the world.

Neurodiversity

You might have heard the terms Neurodiversity or Neurodivergent before, these are umbrella terms used for a variety of neurological differences that impact how different people process information and communicate with the wider world. Just some examples of neurological differences are:

  • Autism
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Dyslexia
  • Tourette’s Syndrome
  • Dyscalculia
  • Dyspraxia

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Neurodiversity Celebration Week was founded in 2018 by Siena Castellon. She is an activist who has Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia. Siena’s hope when founding Neurodiversity Celebration Week was to challenge the negative stereotypes associated with neurological differences. And bring awareness to the strengths that can come from these differences. On the Neurodiversity Celebration Week website there are sections for different neurological differences, giving a brief overview of the differences between each one, with quotes from neurodiverse individuals and some examples of the positive effects of each difference.

Here at Edinburgh Napier we’re celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week by hosting an online drop-in session where students can attend to learn more about neurodiversity and hear about the different ways that the university can provide support to neurodiverse students. This session will be held on Wednesday the 19th from 2:30 PM to 4PM.

If you’re a neurodiverse student or member of staff, you can contact our Wellbeing and Inclusion Team to see how the university can support you during your studies. Information about how to contact the Wellbeing and Inclusion Team can be found on MyNapier.
Furthermore, our libraries here at Napier each have a Wellbeing Collection. A collection that offers advice and support related to neurological differences, gender, sexuality, health issues, and personal development. We also have our virtual bookshelf on the library blog.

By Matthew Ferrie

Image source Neurodiversity Celebration Week

St Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day

17/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

St. Patrick’s Day

The 17th of March marks the Feast of St. Patrick. A day traditionally dedicated to celebrating the Christian Saint Patrick. But which has grown and developed into a celebration of Irish heritage and culture as a whole.

Saint Patrick

Although many specifics of his life have been lost to history or are up for debate, St. Patrick is traditionally remembered as a Christian missionary and priest. He is seen as having brought Christianity to Ireland. Converting much of the population from traditional paganism. This is commonly remembered as the story of St. Patrick having driven snakes from Ireland, an allegory for paganism. Tradition says that St. Patrick passed away on the 17th of March, leading to that day being a day of national celebration in Ireland.

Celebrations

These celebrations typically take the form of public parades with traditional Irish music and the wearing of green clothing. More recently, there has also been a tradition of famous landmarks being lit up with green lights. This includes the  Colosseum in Rome or the Empire State Building in New York. In Ireland itself, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are used to emphasise and celebrate the Irish language. The two weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s Day are a festival dedicated to promoting Irish language use.


St. Patrick’s Day has become rather infamous for its revelry. With the day practically being synonymous with sessions of heavy drinking. There is actually a historical basis for this. St. Patrick’s Day falls during the period of Lent, a Christian observance in the lead up to Easter where Christians refrain from a particular luxury for 40 days. With alcohol being a common choice. Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day was seen as a day exempt from Lent restrictions. So that many choose to use it as a chance to indulge as much as they could before going back to fasting.

The Irish Diaspora and the significance of the day

The mass migration of Irish people during the 19th century has led the spreading of St. Patrick’s Day traditions worldwide. It is one of the most celebrated national holidays around the globe, with the celebration actually being more popular amongst the Irish diaspora than the population of Ireland itself.  Ireland did not even have St. Patrick’s Day parades until the 20th century. A major reason for this is that many celebrations of Irish pride were banned in Ireland until the early 20th century. Meaning that members of the diaspora living overseas were the only ones able to carry out these celebrations and saw the day as a chance to remember where they came from.

So if you’re out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th (or have already gotten your celebrations out the way over the weekend!). Try to remember that the day is more than just a chance to party, but is a celebration of Irish tradition.

 

By Matthew Ferrie

Photo by Erika SZ

Read about the Lughnasa Celtic Harvest

Dog Sleeping on world sleep Day

World Sleep Day

14/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Sleep Day

Wakey, wakey! It’s World Sleep Day.

I trust you had a good night’s sleep and are feeling bright and perky. No? Well, maybe you’re one of the 14 million UK adults who suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders, or one of the 48% of the population who engage in high risk behaviour when you can’t sleep? These statistics from The Sleep Charity are concerning.

Sleep is the most effective, cheapest and portable therapeutic treatment. It repairs your immune system, helps you think clearly, regulates weight and blood pressure, and helps stave off a range of diseases from heart issues to diabetes. It’s vital for mental health too. It manages emotional well-being, keeps worry, anxiety and depression at bay. Sleep is one of the vital keys to keeping fit and healthy. The Dalai Lama puts it simply: “sleep is the best meditation”.

To sleep or not to sleep?

It’s had its critics, sleep. Novelist Virginia Woolf described it as “that deplorable curtailment of the joy of life.” Rapper Tupac Shakur declared that “the only time I have problems is when I sleep”.  And Shakespeare’s Scottish king lamented that “good things of the day begin to droop and drowse, whiles night’s black agent to their preys do rouse.” (Macbeth, III, II, 45). Well, no disrespect to big Mac, but maybe if he’d enjoyed a good kip, he’d have woken up in a better mood and not felt so, well, murderous.

I am a champion sleeper, and sleep is my refuge when life gets hard or I feel low. But too much sleep is just as bad as too little. As with all things in life, balance is needed.

cat sleeping on world sleep day

Photo source Kate Stone Matheson

World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day is held on the Friday before the spring vernal equinox of each year. This year it’s the 14th of March, and the theme is “Make Sleep Health a Priority.” If you’re struggling to make sleep a priority, help is available from Sleep Action

 

and The National Sleep Helpline

And the NHS Inform has compiled a self-help guide: Sleep problems and insomnia self-help guide | NHS inform

Here at Edinburgh Napier, we have a range of resources to support you. Sign in to LibrarySearch to find the Sleep Well Kit, Sleep, and Sleep: a very short introduction among many others.

Let’s leave the last word to peace activist Mahatma Gandhi: “Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”

Read more on how to take care of yourself by reading our article on self-care books in 2025

Or why not check out our Virtual Relaxation Space!

By Lesley McRobb

Photo source Connor Home

behind the scenes

Healthcare Sciences Week: Healthcare Resources in the Library

10/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

Healthcare Sciences Week: Healthcare Resources in the Library

 

It is Healthcare Sciences Week, we thought it would be fitting to look at the healthcare resources available in the library. It comes not long after National Careers Week. This to annually commend the work of those in healthcare science professions. And also to promote and raise awareness of career opportunities that exist within the healthcare industry and within healthcare sciences. This annual week-long campaign occurs every year to remind us of the significance of science and modern technologies in healthcare today. And how it can help to vastly change patients’ lives for the better. This is primarily through the fundamental role healthcare science plays. A role means that disease and illness are accurately diagnosed, effectively treated and prevented within the overall population.

We have a fundamental and vast range of healthcare resources in our libraries. This includes a variety of nursing and healthcare books and textbooks, eBooks and E-resources, databases and websites with a wide range of healthcare science resources to choose from. These can all be found on our LibGuide and on LibrarySearch.

Books and eBooks Resources…

If you are a student at Edinburgh Napier University, you will have access to a wide variety of print books and textbooks tailored to your specific course and school. School of Health and Social Care students will most often find relevant resources in our Sighthill campus library as this is where your school is primarily based. All our available resources can be found through LibrarySearch, as mentioned above. Or do pop in to our Sighthill campus library and have a browse through our shelves – you might even find a book or two that you did not even realise you needed! Our library staff at the LRC 2 helpdesk are more than happy to help you with finding any resources you are looking for as well. There is more information about how to find and borrow books in our Finding and Borrowing Books webpage on My Napier.

Can’t find a physical copy of the book you are looking for? Or is every copy of that book on loan? Not to worry – some of the books and textbooks we have available in our campus libraries, there are print and electronic copies of certain texts available. Digitised versions of certain textbooks and books can be found and accessed through LibrarySearch, so do keep an eye out for any text under a book search result which reads ‘Available Online.’

Resource Recommendation

Some popular recommendations with print copies and online access can be found below.

Foundations of Nursing Practice: Fundamentals of Holistic Care, Brooker, Christine, editor.; Waugh, Anne, editor. 2nd edition.; 2013. Available at Sighthill Campus and Online.

 

The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures, Lister, Sara E., editor.; Hofland, Justine, editor.; Grafton, Hayley, editor.; Wilson, Catherine, editor.; Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, associated with work. Tenth edition, Student edition. Available at Sighthill Campus.

 

An introduction to medicinal chemistry, Patrick, Graham L., author. Sixth edition.; 2017. Available at Sighthill Campus.

 

Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. Parahoo, Kader, author. Third edition.; 2014. Available at Sighthill Campus and Online.

Healthcare Reading Lists…

For every Health and Social Care module, there is a set reading list.

All texts listed on reading lists will be relevant to the specific module you are taking. And often have a range of both print and electronic resources. Reading lists will be extremely helpful to you when you start to conduct research for your assignments and prepare for exams. Each module has its own page on Moodle. It is there where the set reading list can be found. As well as the code and name of the module so you can search for reading lists. Although reading lists will give you a variety of relevant resources to consult for your course, you will often still be expected to conduct some independent research.

If you have any questions relating to reading lists or are having any trouble accessing print and electronic resources, feel free to drop our library team an email by contacting library@napier.ac.uk.

 

Journals and Databases…

 

As with our books, we also have a range of print and electronic journals which have content relevant to aspects health and social care and applied sciences. The majority of these journals that we have subscriptions to, however, are now online and fully digitised. Journals are usually very plausible sources to consult when conducting research for a report or essay, as they are usually of a very high quality with lots of relevant, up-to-date and evidence-based information. There is a specific tab for searching for journal articles in LibrarySearch, but journals can also be found and accessed through other platforms and search engines such as Google Scholar, specific publisher websites and of course, a range of high-quality databases which Napier subscribes to, which are tailored towards those studying healthcare sciences.

 

Databases are search engines which are often brimming with a variety of digital and e-resources. They are extremely efficient when it comes to searching for journal articles. Because it allows you to do so in a less time-consuming way. Our Libguide provides an A-Z list of Databases</strong>. If you are a School of Health and Social Care student, please see below the top five databases to consult for your specific course and subject area.

  • CINAHL – This is actually noted as one of our most frequently used databases and has a vast range of full-text nursing and allied health j

ournals.

  • MEDLINE
  • PubMed
  • Web of Science
  • MA Healthcare Complete

 

Further Support and Assistance…

 

Still feeling stuck? Our library services at Napier offer online and in-person training sessions on literature and database searching as well as help with referencing and guidance on how to utilise reference management software. You can find recordings and upcoming tutorials in our LibGuide and Library Calendar.

By Rachel Downie

We have a wide range of databases at the Library, read about them here 

International Womens Day Street Art saying Girl Power

International Women’s Day

08/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Women’s Day

Today marks International Women’s Day.  March marks Women’s History Month.  Proclaimed by the United Nations in 1977 as an international day of awareness. Often linked to celebrate “labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe”(UN.org). Since then, it has been recognised worldwide.

History of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on the 8th of March each year and has been celebrated on this day for over 100 years. Why this day?

Vladimir Lenin selected the 8th of March to celebrate women’s role in the Russian Revolution in 1917. With promotion from the United Nations in the 1970s, it became a globalised date.

There has been speculation that the date goes back further to a protest led by women garment workers in New York City in 1857. But historians speculate. March is also the month of Women’s history. This was to link to International Women’s Day.

Celebrations of International Women’s Day

The aim is to celebrate women’s achievements, promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and raise awareness about discrimination.

The date was recognised by the United Nations in 1977.        And since the late 1990s, there has been a theme for each year. This year, it is:

For all Women and Girls: Rights.Equality.Empowerment.

The UN writes, “This year’s theme calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.” (UN.org)

Additionally, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It is considered to be one of the most progressive documents for women’s rights.

 

You can read our previous post on inspiring women from Scotland here.

Photo by Ariele Bonte

exam support

World Book Day 2025

06/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

World Book Day 2025

Today marks World Book Day, and as a library blog, we couldn’t resist.

Introduction: Reading, the Joys and its Benefits…

When you are a student, nearly every day feels like World Book Day – with all the reading, you are set for tutorials and assignments. All the academic textbooks you find yourself skimming through relentlessly. And all the resource searching and navigating you will inevitably do as assignments start piling up and exams are looming.

Do you remember the last time you picked up a book to read for leisurely purposes? It has probably been a while!  And you likely feel very fatigued at the thought of even looking at another piece of text.

Regardless, World Book Day comes around every year on the first Thursday of March to promote the concept of reading for leisure.  We at Napier’s library services would like to promote this international day and love of reading as a universal concept for all. As reading truly brings so many benefits.

About World Book Day…

World Book Day falls on Thursday, the 6th of March this year – the first Thursday of the month. World Book Day itself is an annual charity event which was established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to actively promote and encourage a love of reading within communities across the globe. It is also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book. This is because this international day also acknowledges the significance of publishing. As well as copyright in the literary world and the roles that they both play in providing universal access to a variety of texts, but with protections in place for the original works of authorship regarding the rights of authors to decide how others use and utilise their work.

More about the Benefits of Books (and reading them) …

A wealth of evidence suggests that reading for leisurely purposes can aid with personal development and progression as well as academic success. Fun fact: Studies have found that individuals who read for at least thirty minutes a day live longer than those who do not. Considering the significant cognitive and emotional benefits that reading can have. Ranging from bringing comfort to helping stimulate one’s imagination.  It can essentially help to improve and enhance an individual’s health and well-being. Reading books can also expand one’s horizons and often help individuals to develop a more open-minded outlook on different matters. Thus helping those who read to develop interpersonal relationships and social connections with others with more ease. And if reading happens to be a shared hobby within one’s own social connections and community, all the better, especially if all of you enjoy similar genres and texts!

Book clubs are usually a great incentive for getting into or back into reading if you haven’t picked up a book for leisure in a while. It is also a great way to meet new people in your local community. There are also many wonderful bookshops located in the city of Edinburgh including Blackwells, Golden Hare Books and Topping & Company Booksellers in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is also coming up in the summer. Running from the 9th to the 24th of August this year, the Edinburgh Festival is a distinctive event that takes place in the heart of Edinburgh every year.  Many famous authors, writers and thinkers come from across the world to host a varied programme of workshops and talks to audiences that have often also come from all across the globe.

Our Wellbeing Collection…

We at the library feel that World Book Day provides us with the perfect opportunity to promote our Wellbeing Collection. Not only do we have a range of resources providing advice and guidance on managing stress and finances. But also on adjusting to university life.  We also have some fictional and autobiographical texts available, which often tell inspiring stories of strength in periods of adversity and hardship, recovery and overcoming challenges in life. Our Wellbeing Collection stands and shelves are often located near our relaxation spaces. Spaces that are equipped with comfortable seating and couches. So, if you need to take a break from the textbooks and academic texts, why not pick up a book from our wellbeing collection stands or shelves and take a seat? We have a few recommendations from this collection, which can be found below.

· The Salt Path, Winn, Raynor, author, 2019, The salt path – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at Sighthill Campus Library. ·

The Perks of being a Wallflower, Chbosky. Stephen, 2012, The perks of being a wallflower – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at Merchiston Campus Library.

· Into the Forest: How Trees can help you find Health and Happiness, Li, Qing, 1970, Into the forest: how trees can help you find health and happiness – Edinburgh Napier University – Available at All Napier Campus Libraries.

 

You can also find general recommended reads from our library staff in our recent blog post: Books that Shaped you

By Rachel Downie

Pancakes

Pancake Day 2025

04/03/2025 / / 0 Comments

Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday

For something that has developed into a light-hearted indulgence, Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday to give it its proper name) has very sombre origins. The word “shrive” means to confess one’s sins to a priest and receive absolution, and Shrove Tuesday marks the day before the start of Lent, a Christian (Catholic) period of prayer, self-denial (fasting) and almsgiving that leads up to Easter.

History of Pancake Day

The eating of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday can be traced back to the 1430s. A bell would be rung in the local church to call the faithful to confession. This became known as the Pancake Bell and is still rung today in some communities.

Why pancakes? Well, Lent lasts for 40 days, and so making pancakes was a way of using up eggs and fat before fasting. But there’s a symbolic reason as well as a practical one. To make pancakes you need four ingredients, and these represented four points of significance for Anglo-Saxon Christians. Eggs symbolise creation, flour the staff of life, salt wholesomeness and milk purity.

Across the UK, pancake races are a fun way to celebrate this ancient tradition. The object of the race is to get to the finishing line first while carrying a frying pan with a cooked pancake and flipping it as you run. Wearing fancy dress is optional. Legend has it that the tradition started in Olney in Buckinghamshire when one faithful woman heard the shriving bell as she was making pancakes and rushed to church still clutching her frying pan. They take pancake-tossing very seriously in Olney: The Olney Pancake Race 2025 | Tickets Dates & Venues – CarniFest.com

Shrove Tuesday is a moveable feast, always falling 47 days before Easter Sunday. This means the date varies from year to year, but this year it falls on the 4th of March.

I enjoy my pancakes plain with just a squeeze of lemon juice on top, but sugar, syrup and fruit are popular garnishes too. However you enjoy yours, just remember that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, when the fun stops and the penance begins!

By Lesley McRobb

Photo by Mae Mu

Enjoy another tasty reading with our post on National Bakewell Tart Day

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