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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Stuggart Library by Tobias Fischer

Librarians and libraries

28/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Librarians and libraries

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

Public Libraries

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

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

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

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

Edinburgh Libraries

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

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

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

E.Pastor Alventosa

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

Interested about studying at other libraries, we have SCONUL

Photo by Tobias Fischer 

Comedy festival show

Edinburgh Napier at the Fringe

20/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh Napier at the Fringe

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

 

The Fringe Show

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

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

Fringe Show Research

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

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

By Matthew Ferrie

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

Photo by Chad Stembridge Unsplash 

International cat day cat Bon Bon

International Cat Day

08/08/2024 / / 1 Comment

International Cat Day

After the last few years of remote working and with staff working more from home now, meeting their feline companions during online meetings has been so much fun. Little furry faces and tails have often popped up mid-way through a very important discussion. Many of our staff have loved being able to spend more time with their creatures of choice and I know I love having a friendly work buddy to hang out with at home during the workday,

So that’s why to celebrate this year’s International cat day we think it would be nice to introduce you all to some of our furry friends.

Librarians and their cats

First up meet Aila. Alia is almost 17 years young and can be seen here enjoying the lovely sunshine. Aila’s human is Carol.

International cat day cat aila

Next up is Maxie. Maxie is 6ish but doesn’t think age matters. Quite right Maxie. Maxie’s hobbies include chasing birds, eating cheese and meowing very loudly all day long! Maxie’s human is Judy,

International cat day cat Maxie

Following Maxie we have Vivienne’s cats Smudge and Tigger. Smudge enjoys being petted and staring at the fridge until ham magically appears. Smudge also enjoys investigating places, especially the chimney. It’s good to be curious Smudge. Tigger is a little more timid and laid back. He enjoys pets…but only a little. Not too much mind. It’s good to hear about a cat with strong boundaries. We should all be more like Tigger.

International cat day cat Smudge International cat day Tigger

Now for two lookers, meet Lucy the British Blue at a stately 10 years young and Millie the ragdoll at a youthful 3. Both are gorgeous and both share a similar love for relaxing and comfy surfaces. Sounds like they know what they like. I have to say I too enjoy both these things. Their lucky human is Helen.

International cat day cat Lucy International cat day cat Millie

Tracey’s cat friend is the lovely Nell. Nell was rehomed when she was still a kitten and is now almost 4 years old. Both adored and spoiled she loves the outdoors and being social. She love’s to bring home pals to meet the family (and her food bowl). Who doesn’t love to host a dinner party Nell? Nice to hear about a socialising cat. Break those stereotypes Nell!

International cat day cat Nell

Now to meet Folie. Described by her human Peg as “a complete weirdo”. I’m sure Folie feels the same about her human. Her hobbies include hogging the remote and leg attacks.  It’s good to stay sharp Folie, you never know when you will be called to action. She also enjoys avoiding toddlers and maintaining a shocked expression. Folie sounds like my kind of cat.

cat Folie

This lovely kitty is Oscar. He’s our sport fanatic. Oscar loves nothing more than a bit of tennis, football or snooker. Anything with a ball keeps this kitty happy. Oscar is 13 and is the proud companion of our librarian Sarah.

Oscar the cat

Next up is my cat, Brindle. Brindle is part Siberian and a young at heart 15 years old. Brin Brin as she is known enjoys not being chased by small children and not having her tail pulled. Other hobbies include shouting at the magpies in the back garden as early in the morning as possible and snuggling with her favourite human (that’s me!).  She would also like it known that she enjoys playing fetch and will happily retrieve any items thrown her way. Sometimes, being wiser than her human she will retrieve important things at 3am as she is very goal orientated and is also aware that humans can be very forgetful and lose things. Thank you Brindle for being so thoughtful.

International cat day cat Brindle

Now we’ve saved someone very special for last. Nacho is Isabell’s special cat. Oh and I do mean special! Nacho isn’t any old cat…oh no! Nacho is a Polydactyl cat. She’s a cat with thumbs people…thumbs! Next step in evolution I say. A sure sign that cats are on their way to becoming our feline overlords. Not Nacho though. Nacho is a cutie. She is 8 years old but is a kitten at heart. she loves being cuddled like a baby over the shoulder and has a very sweet tooth.  She puts her thumbs to good use too, getting her treats out of the jar. Bravo and two thumbs up from this human for Nacho!

Nacho the cat Nacho the cat

So there you have it for International cat day. A selection of our feline companions, all of whom work tirelessly to support their hard-working humans in the Library. Want to know more about cats? Well of course you do! You can find lots of fascinating information on cats through Librarysearch.napier.co.uk

Not a fluffy animal person? We have you covered too. Check out our article on National Insect week instead.

And don’t worry all you “I’m more of a dog person” types. We will be back soon with some of our dog companions later in the month for International dog day!

Open Access

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024

07/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is coming.

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

General Information:  About the Book Festival

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

What’s on – Edinburgh International Book 2024…

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

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

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

Accessibility and Inclusion…

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

 

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

Library Recommendations…

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

 

By Rachel Downie

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

Photo by Jessica Ruscello Unsplash 

Academic Skills and Study Support

New Reading Lists Interface

05/08/2024 / / 0 Comments

New Reading Lists Interface

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

Making reading lists using Leganto

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

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

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

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

 

A look at the previous interface:

Old look at the reading list interface

 

And a look at the new interface:

New Reading list interface

 

 

 

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

 

 

Image of people with arms linked together looking away for blog post International Day of Friendship

International Day of Friendship

30/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

International Day of Friendship

July 30th

What’s it about?

International Day of Friendship reminds us of the importance of friends and the role they play in our lives. On a larger scale, it encourages us to acknowledge and foster friendships based on mutual understanding. Growing between individuals and communities, transcending race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality.

The day serves as an opportunity for people to reach out to their friends as well as make new ones. It asks us to engage in acts of kindness, promoting initiatives that contribute to social cohesion and understanding. It encourages people to bridge gaps, build connections, and promote a sense of empathy and compassion towards one another.

Its acceptance was a natural progression from the 1997 UN General Assembly’s agreement. Looking to embrace the Culture of Peace, and to work towards rejecting violence and preventing conflict, by promoting values and behaviours which encompassed this ethos.

The UN believes friendship can play a crucial role in promoting peace, harmony, and solidarity among people, leading to a more tolerant and inclusive society, and so it was decided in 2011 that July the 30th should be International Day of Friendship. An idea that was first suggested by Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho in Paraguay, in 1958.

Edinburgh Napier University’s International Friendship Club

At Edinburgh Napier University, through the Friendship Club, our students get the opportunity to meet and interact with other students studying at the University from all over the world. Hosted by the Visa and International Support team, the International Friendship Club carries out events throughout the academic year.

Sitcoms and Friendships

And of course, there have been sitcoms about friendships, following the trials and tribulations they face in life, work, and relationships.  Going on to “become a pop culture staple for their relatability and hilarious dynamics”. Some of the popular friendship-based sitcoms have been:

Friends

The Big Bang Theory

That 70’s show

Seinfield

New Girl

The Young Ones

How is the day celebrated?

The day is celebrated in various ways with events and activities taking place, including community gatherings, workshops, and awareness campaigns, all aimed at promoting friendship and cultural exchange.

How will you be celebrating friendship day?

Tell us your thought in the comments

By Mo Almas

Read more on our blog from Mo:

National paranormal day

Global Beatles Day

Image Source: Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash

Olympic rings in front of Eiffel Tower

Paris Summer Olympics 2024

25/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

Paris Summer Olympics 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Olympic Rings.

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

The Olympic Torch Relay.

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

Emblem for Paris 2024.

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

Mascots

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

Medals & Medal Events.

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

Events.

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

Women and the Olympics.

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

Enjoy!

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

Missed our post about the EUROs, have no fear.

By Sharon McMichael

Photo by Luca Dugaro Unsplash 

librarians

Exam Support Summer 2024

22/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

Exam Support Summer 2024

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

Exam Support

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

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

Exam Skills

In a previous post, we covered some exam skills.

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

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

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

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

Exam Stress

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

1. Timetable and prepare a study plan.

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

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

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

5. Remember self-care!

6. Schedule fun activities to reduce your stress.

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

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

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

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

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

 

Good luck everyone.

Bristol Seaside Make a splash this summer

Making a Splash this Summer

19/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

.Making a Splash this Summer

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

History of making a splash

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

Saltdean and Jubilee

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

Decline

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

Scottish survivors

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

Gourock Outdoor Pool

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

New Cumnock Pool

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

Stonehaven Lido

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

The Future of making a splash

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

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

 

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

 

By Vivienne Hamilton

Photo by Martyna Bober Unsplash 

Rain on the high street

St Swithin’s Day

15/07/2024 / / 0 Comments

.St Swithin’s Day

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

Who is St Swithin

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

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

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

St Swithin in Norway

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

The weather of St Swithin’s Day

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

The St. Swithun’s Day Rhyme:

St. Swithun’s day if thou dost rain, 

For forty days it will remain, 

St. Swithun’s day if thou be fair, 

For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.

 

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

Keep an eye on the weather.

Another fun Day of the Year: Bakewell Tart Day.

Photo by Sarah (Unsplash) 

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