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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Christmastime Edinburgh

Christmastime in the City of Edinburgh

14/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Christmastime in the City of Edinburgh

 

 

 

It’s that time of year again where Edinburgh City Centre becomes a bustling hive of activity as well as a glorious winter wonderland. With it’s yearly Christmas markets, festive food and drink stalls, live outdoor events and the dazzling light trails being showcased within the Castle of Light and Botanic Gardens, the City of Edinburgh an ideal place to spend to get into the festive spirits and make wonderful Christmas memories with family, friends and partners. Read on if we have sparked your curiosity regarding what EdWinterFest has to offer this year!

 

Edinburgh’s Famous Christmas Markets…

 

Edinburgh’s world-renowned Christmas Markets are back this year! Stalls ran by various independent retailers and artists will have now filled the east side of Princes Street Gardens, as well as many festive food and drink stalls, fairground rides and of course, the iconic big wheel will be lit up and running for the occasion! A wide range of items and gifts are sold yearly at Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets including woolly scarves, hats, gloves, bags as well as hand-crafted jewellery, ornaments, toys and various other miscellany. Hungry, or have a thirst that needs quenched? The food and drink stalls also serve a variety of hearty options including mac and cheese, haggis, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and loaded fries, as well as mulled wines and ciders, hot drinks including hot chocolates, and soft drinks. Room for dessert? Some of the stalls also giant stuffed cookies, waffles, pancakes and warm churros as well.

 

The west side of Princes Street Gardens also hosts the yearly Santas Stories event – a magical experience for both children and their parents to meet Santa and have the magic of Christmas brought to life with stories of the North Pole as well as other festive tales. This event takes place inside a small cabin, with warm blankets and hot chocolates also provided! All sessions last for up to 20 minutes in total. The Starflyer ride is also close by and located in the west side of Princes Street Gardens, making this end of the Christmas markets very family-focused and orientated.

 

Christmas Lights and Light Trails…

 

One of the most magical parts of Christmas is indeed when the Christmas lights come on all throughout different cities and local towns – including the City of Edinburgh! Victoria Street in particular is famous for it’s dazzling Christmas lights and the picturesque way they look against the charming, architecturally unique cobblestone buildings. It provides the perfect scenic background for festive photos and strolling through shops whilst doing your Christmas shopping. Edinburgh also hosts dazzling light trails in both the Royal Botanical Gardens and Edinburgh Castle with illuminated and colourful walkways which also provide scenic backgrounds for photos or simply walking through to take in the festive magic. Festive music is played and food is also provided at the Royal Botanical Gardens Christmas lights trail.

 

The Torchlight Procession…

 

The festivities do not end after Christmas Day! Hogmanay approaches not long after and as part of this, the City of Edinburgh hosts both a Torchlight Procession on the 29th of December and Street Party on the 31st just before the New Year kicks in! The Torchlight Procession is a family-friendly event which takes place annually on the 29th of December where at least 15,000 torches are lit and carried through the streets of Edinburgh. It is also a charitable event as the torches are carried in aid of national and local charities such as Social Bite and One City Trust. Street theatre and fire performers also fill the streets of Edinburgh as well, ultimately establishing a carnival-like atmosphere.

 

The City of Edinburgh certainly knows how to celebrate Christmas and get everyone in the festive spirit!

 

By Rachel Downie

It’s festive time at the library blog

 

John Napier bronze bust at Merchsiton.

History of Napier

09/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

History of Napier

Ever wonder how the name Napier in Edinburgh Napier University? Ever wonder about the old tower on Merchiston Campus? Or the statue placed by the tower? Well, wonder no more.  We are going to look at the History of Napier.

John Napier

John Napier, eighth Laird of Merchiston, was born in Merchiston Tower in Edinburgh in 1550. He died in Merchiston Tower in 1617, the very tower that stands in the centre of Merchiston Campus.

John Napier is most ‘famous for his contributions to the world of Mathematics. His invention of logarithms decoded previously unexplored complexities within mathematics and inspired contemporaries, as well as future generations, to pursue and realise their own academic achievements in many fields of scientific inquiry. His later introduction of a series of calculating devices ensured mathematics was applied to common use and enabled the development of entrepreneurialism’ (Napier.ac.uk/ourHistory)

Today, logarithms are an internal part of Science, Engineering and Computing.

Napier’s dedication to the Protestant Faith is well-documented and it is suggested by some historians that he considered his book Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St John as his finest work.  It is his interpretation of the Protestant Christian Bible’s Book Revelation.  A time of change in Scotland including the dethronement of Mary, Queen of Scots and the coronation of James VI.

John Napier also had a number of other inventions including Machines of War and Archimedes Screw (one of the earliest hydraulic machines) and Common Salts.

John Napier died in 1617, nearly 350 years later, Edinburgh Napier University began it’s journey.

Edinburgh Napier University

Our foundations go all the way back to the 16th century. But in the last five decades has seen us grow into a globally renowned institution. Opened our doors as Napier Technical College in 1964, welcoming 800 students. To now, home to over 19500 students from over 140 countries. In 1992, Napier is officially inaugurated as a University. Lord James Douglas Hamilton and Principal William Turmeau unveil the new University sign at Merchiston.

In 2024, Edinburgh Napier wins the 2024 Higher Educational Institution of the Year.

At Edinburgh Napier University, we believe in the importance of making a difference. While we’ve risen in rankings and grown in scope over the years, we’ve stayed true to our heritage as an applied technical institution. For our students and researchers, this means that learning and discovery don’t just take place in the lab or the classroom, it happen in the real world.

We’ve come a long way from 1550.

A timetable of Edinburgh Napier University.

Read about our Heritage

 

Christmas authors

Christmas Authors

06/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Christmas Authors

 

The festive season is upon us! Christmas markets are bustling as the Christmas shopping rush begins. Christmas lights are filling the streets of Edinburgh City Centre, and many of us are getting ready. And also very excited for the festive season and holidays to commence. The lead-up to Christmas time and the festive holiday season evokes thoughts and excitement for many things and special moments. Moments of festive foods and treats, Christmas decorations put up throughout the city streets, Christmas movies, as well as Christmas shows at the theatre and pantomime, and of course, time with our loved ones.

Nevertheless, the commencing weeks of December also often consist of assignment deadlines and exams for much of our student and staff community. It can be easy to forget during this stressful and overwhelming time. In this blog post, to possibly encourage some of you to rekindle a love of reading again. We are going to list some famous and popular Christmas authors and their works. Some of which you may be tempted to read in front of the fireplace with a hot drink this year!

 

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) …

 

Charles Dickens is a 19th-century novelist and journalist who is also the author of many famous works. His works include Oliver Twist (1838) and Great Expectations (1861). One of his most famous and popular novels is also A Christmas Carol, which tells the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge. A penny-pinching and bitter businessman who believes Christmas to be like every other day of the year, even saying he “despises Christmas.” One evening, the spirit of an old business partner of his, named Jacob Marley, pays Scrooge a visit to warn him of the need to change his ways. And that he will be visited by three different spirits during the night: the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

Each spirit takes him on a journey through various scenes from Scrooge’s childhood, when he was a young, adolescent man, a present-day Christmas party hosted by his nephew Fred and then a Christmas dinner hosted at his employee Bob Cratchett’s house. Lastly, he is shown his future by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come – all these journeys through the past, present and future end up having a significant influence on Scrooge and essentially encourage him to reflect and change his ways, as well as his perception of Christmas overall.

 

The first edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published in the year 1843 on the 19th of December by Chapman & Hall in London. It ended up being a sell-out story by Christmas Eve, and since then, thirteen other editions have been published. It can be viewed as a reflection and essentially a reminder of the most important and valuable aspects of Christmas: festive magnanimity, kindness, celebration and time with our loved ones.

 

Chris Van Allsburg…

 

Chris Van Allsburg is the author of the award-winning The Polar Express novel – another Christmas classic which won the reputable Caldecott Medal in the year 1986 not long after it was published on the 28th of October 1985. It has gone on to become a well-loved Christmas movie, as well as being adapted into various stage productions during the festive season.

It tells the story of a young boy who boards a train at night, which takes him to the North Pole, where he meets Santa, who then offers him any Christmas present of his choice. He chooses a bell from one of the reindeer harnesses, but on his journey back home, he loses the bell. Nevertheless, he finds it underneath the Christmas tree on Christmas morning – only he and his younger sister can hear it ring in their household, though. Their parents cannot, as they are deemed not to fully believe in the magic of Christmas.

 

Hidden messages in books can often be subject to interpretation. One of the most famous, well-known quotes from this book is “seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” This can be interpreted as a hidden message regarding how the magic and essentially the joy of Christmas becomes ‘real’ to those who truly believe in it – and who actively try to make it magical for themselves and others around them.

 

Jenny Colgan…

 

Jenny Colgan is a Scottish author who has written books ranging from genres such as science fiction and romantic comedy. She is also the author of many Christmas-themed books and stories. These include An Island Christmas, The Christmas Surprise, The Secret Christmas Library and The Christmas Bookshop series.

All of these Christmassy reads are very light-hearted and equally heart-warming, with The Christmas Bookshop being one of her most popular festive novels. It tells the story of two estranged sisters who reunite to work together in running an old bookshop over the Christmas period. The Secret Christmas Library features two antiquarian book hunters on the search for a rare book held within a library inside a huge, archaic castle. With a hint of both romance and mystery as well as much festive spirit, this also makes an ideal Christmas read for the holiday season!

 

Recommendations…

 

At Edinburgh Napier University libraries, we have A Christmas Carol available to read as an eBook for our student community and staff. This eBook can be accessed via our LibrarySearch catalogue. Check out our other Christmas reads and also DVDs including Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in our catalogue as well.

 

All other books mentioned in this blog article can be found in and borrowed.

 

By Rachel Downie

We love Christmas here at the library blog. Get in the festive spirit with us.

 

 

 

Krampusnacht image of Krampus beside a xmas tree. ai generated

Krampusnacht

05/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

Krampusnacht

If you just can’t get enough of Halloween, then Krampusnacht may be for you! It’s celebrated on 5th December. Taking place the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas (the patron saint of children). Krampus is very different to Saint Nicholas – he’s a devil like creature compared with the saintly Nicholas. Krampusnacht is celebrated in Alpine regions of countries such as Germany and Austria, also throughout central European countries. Due to it taking place at night and the creepy costumes worn Krampusnacht mirrors the scary vibes of Halloween.

Background

Krampus is said to be the son of Hel, the Norse god of the underworld, and he may have originally been part of a pagan winter solstice ritual to drive out the spirits of winter. Farmers believed that he protected their cattle in winter as they thought that evil spirits made their animals sick. He is now depicted as a horned devil and derives his name from the German word Krampen, which means claw. Horned devils were often in medieval plays, and in the 12th century, the Catholic Church tried to ban Krampus celebrations due to his resemblance to the devil. The celebration survived and evolved into the modern era and is often an organised event in town squares or at festive markets.

How is Krampusnacht celebrated

While the Christmas season is a time of festivity and joy, Krampusnacht is a darker tradition that involves scary costumes, chasing children and prodding people with sticks during the Krampuslauf or Krampusrun. For this, adults dress up in fur costumes, masks and giant horns and wear cow bells as they chase people through streets. They run and jump menacingly, gently prodding spectators with bunches of twigs or sticks as they pass by, creating a lively but creepy atmosphere.

Krampus is the very opposite of Saint Nicholas. It is said he punishes children for being bad, whereas Saint Nicholas rewards children for being good. On the night, children leave a boot outside their bedroom, and they will get a reward for being good or a rod for being naughty.

Modern developments

Whether due to social media or an increased interest in their ancestral homelands, in recent years Krampusnacht has also become a popular celebration in parts of the United States. Some cities, such as Seattle, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, hold Krampus parades. These parades often signify the beginning of the Christmas season.

Box of Broadcasts

Krampus has now entered popular culture far beyond its European roots and you may want to participate yourself, so why not settle down to watch a Krampus movie such as Krampus, A Christmas Horror Story starring Adam Scott and Toni Collete, or Tv show episodes of Grimm, American Da,d and this episode of the UK series Inside No.9 called The Devil of Christmas.

These are available using  Box of Broadcasts. It is an online service that allows you to stream and access a treasure trove of audiovisual content for free if you are a member of Edinburgh Napier University. It includes broadcast TV shows and radio programs, plus you can make playlists and edit videos.

Here are instructions on how to access Box of Broadcasts:

  1. Sign into Library Search.
  2. Select the Databases tab.
  3. Click on the letter B.
  4. Scroll down to Box of Broadcasts and click on the title.
  5. You can now use the Search function to look for programmes you would like to watch or for subjects you are interested in.
  6. Click on Guide to see the list of upcoming programmes, which you can request simply by selecting the request programme function underneath each listed programme. When the programme is ready to watch you will receive an email in your student or staff email inbox.
  7. The My BOB section gives access to your requested programmes and allows the creation of playlists.

We would like to wish all our German, Austrian and Central European staff and students a happy Krampusnacht!

Don’t forget: You can use Library Search to find books and articles on folklore, celebrations, heritage and events.

By Vivienne Hamilton

Read more on the blog with articles like: World Television Day

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

03/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

 

Within the UK alone, approximately 16.8 million individuals were recorded as having a disability in a research briefing published on the House of Commons Library webpages. This makes up a quarter of the UK population. This is also a 41% increase from the number of persons reporting a disability within the last decade.  Anyone can, at any point in time, develop and be diagnosed with a disability. A disability is recognised under the Equality Act 2010 as being a physical or mental impairment which has a prolonged and substantially negative impact on their ability to carry out regular tasks and day-to-day activities.

 

Living with a disability can come with many challenges and hardships. And can have a profound effect on the physical and mental well-being. International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes place annually on the 3rd of December. And is a UN-led, global observance and advocacy of the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace and society. As well as a promotion of their achievements and contributions worldwide.

 

The Equality Act 2010…

 

The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN.  Since served as an important reminder to government bodies, organisations and public institutions to regularly evaluate and enhance their policies and practices to promote inclusion and accessibility. As well as ensuring that their rights are respected and that they are not discriminated against. This is also something which the Equality Act 2010 adheres to, particularly in workplace practices and employment law. It ensures that everyone, regardless of disability and other protected characteristics, has legal protections in the workplace. This makes it unlawful for someone else or their overall employer to discriminate against them. It also ensures that employers put accommodations in place to meet the needs of employees regarded as having a disability or disabling condition.

 

Not every disability is visible, and not every disability presents the same way. The Sunflower Lanyard scheme was launched in the UK in 2016 to help those with hidden disabilities voluntarily indicate that they may require assistance at work, on transport, in public places, and in shops. It also encourages others to be mindful.

The sunflower lanyard scheme has achieved great success, to the point that it has been implemented across many airlines globally and in the UK, as well as in the NHS and other public services. Many private organisations have implemented the scheme as well. Overall, it has allowed for patrons with hidden disabilities and conditions to easily access support and help from the outset of the journey, trip or experience.

 

How can our libraries support

 

Accessibility and inclusion are very important to us at our Edinburgh Napier campus libraries. We aim to support patrons with disabilities or disabling conditions as much as we can and create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment and service for all. In terms of e-resource accessibility, we have a variety of tools and digital features, including:

  • Our Read-Aloud Functionality. This allows patrons to listen to online resources being read aloud to them. They can also adjust the speed, tone and pitch of the voiceover to suit their own individual preferences and needs. The Edge browser feature allows for PDFs to be read aloud as well.
  • The HelperBird Extension. This browser extension allows patrons to choose between a range of text colours, sizes and spacings, as well as the option to add overlays and innovative ruler overlay technology. Colour contrasts can also be edited.
  • Reader View Browser Extension. This helps to enhance intelligibility in different webpages as well as clearing sidebars, adverts and menus – anything which can be deemed to be distracting.

 

You can find more information about our accessibility tools in our Eresource Accessibility Tools My Napier webpage.

 

By Rachel Downie

Photo by Julius Carmine

Image for blog post The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources

The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources Part One

01/12/2025 / / 0 Comments

The 12 Days of Festive Library Resources Part One

Part one

To celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the Festive holiday break we thought we’d share some of our best resources.

Below is a list of some of our best:

Day One: Librarysearch

We have to start with our trusty Library Catalogue, LibrarySearch. Found at Librarysearch.napier.ac.uk.

This is a great place to start. Remember to sign in first before you start your search.

You will find information on everything the library has available and information on how to access it. Read our guide on how to get started with LibrarySearch.

Day Two: Box of Broadcasts

On the second day of Christmas, my library gave to me

BoB (Box of Broadcasts) is an innovative shared online off-air TV and radio recording service for UK higher and further education institutions. It contains over a million items including an archive of all BBC TV and radio content dating from 2007.
BoB enables all staff and students in subscribing institutions to choose and record any scheduled broadcast programme from 60+ TV and radio channels. You can also edit programs into clips, create playlists, embed clips into Moodle, share items via social media and generate reference citations.

Please note that our BoB licence is for educational purposes only, and only for use within the UK.

Box of Broadcasts is a truly fantastic database.

Visit learning on screen and use your university login to start watching.

Day Three: LibKey Nomad

This amazing tool will help you get full-text access to books and articles! You can add it as a browser extension or go to their website. It’s so good it even works on Amazon! It will tell you all the possible sources for the literature you are looking for and where to get them. Check out our Libkey guide here and watch the video below.

Day 4: Wellness

Here in the Library, we believe that looking after your physical and emotional health is just as important as your studies. So we created the Wellbeing Collection. University life can be challenging, even at the best of times. We’ve gathered together these resources in the hope that they help you feel happy, healthy and comfortable at Edinburgh Napier. Our collection covers a range of topics and includes guided self-help approaches to supporting mental health, personal development and achievement. You’ll find stories of resilience and recovery, discussions of family matters, and practical tools to help with the everyday realities of University life, such as finance and exam stress. If you have any suggestions, you can email library@napier.ac.uk

Day 5: DigiMap

Digimap is an online map and data delivery service. Digimap offers a number of data collections, including Ordnance Survey, historical, geological, LiDAR and marine maps and spatial data. You can create or interrogate a map online by selecting an appropriate base map, adding annotations and customising the content, use measurement and query tools to learn more about any study area. Download the raw spatial data in a wide range of formats for use in local GIS, CAD or image processing software.

Read more about Digimap in our blog post “Introducing DigiMap”

Check out their DigiMap help guides on YouTube

Day 6: Databases

We provide 190 databases covering every imaginable subject, from engineering to art. We have you covered. You can find them all on LibrarySearch . If you need a bit of help on how to navigate, we have subject-specific Libguides to help you get a more tailored research experience.

Check in with the Blog next week for Part Two!

By Juliet Kinsey and Maya Green

Image of Scottish flag. A History of St Andrew's Day

A History of St Andrew’s Day

30/11/2025 / / 0 Comments

A History of St Andrew’s Day

Today is St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s patron saint’s day! Although November 30 isn’t a national holiday, celebrations are held across Scotland with events like ceilidhs and fun runs.

The History of St. Andrew’s Day

St. Andrew was born around 5 AD in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. He became a fisherman, like his brother, who later became St. Peter. Initially, Andrew followed St. John the Baptist, but he later joined Jesus as one of the twelve apostles. Tradition holds that he travelled widely, preaching in places like Scythia, Thrace, the Black Sea, and along the Dnieper River, reaching as far as Kyiv and Novgorod. His legacy made him a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania, Russia, and Scotland.

A 4th-century account describes Andrew’s crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, or saltire, which he requested, feeling unworthy of a traditional cross. Patras, Greece, claims his crucifixion took place there. St. Jerome noted that Emperor Constantius II moved Andrew’s relics from Patras to Constantinople in 357 AD. Later, the relics went to Amalfi, Italy, in 1208, and his head reached Rome in the 15th century. In 1964, Pope Paul VI returned Andrew’s head to Patras as a goodwill gesture.

In Scotland, the town of St. Andrews, located in Fife, is connected to legends about Andrew. One legend says Andrew came there to build a church that attracted pilgrims from across Britain. Another tale suggests a bishop named St. Rule brought Andrew’s relics from Patras to this town.

St. Andrew as Patron Saint of Scotland

Legends also surround how Andrew became Scotland’s patron saint. A 16th-century text recounts that Oengus II, King of the Picts, vowed to make Andrew the patron saint after seeing him in a vision before a battle against the Angles. Andrew appeared in a vision, and a saltire-shaped cloud in the sky became a sign of victory for Oengus’s outnumbered forces. Following their win, the Picts chose to venerate St. Andrew.

Scotland’s Flag

Scotland’s flag, the Saltire, displays a white cross on a blue background, which may symbolize the clouds against the sky in Oengus’s vision. This design has represented Scotland for centuries. In 1385, the Parliament of Scotland declared that all Scottish and French soldiers should wear the Saltire as a sign when fighting the English. Today, Scotland continues to honour St. Andrew and remembers him every November 30.

By Vivienne Hamilton

Read more Posts by Vivienne such as: The Bridges of Scotland

librarians

Your subject librarians

27/11/2025 / / 0 Comments

ubject librarianYour Subject Librarians

Here at the library, we try our best to provide students with the support they need during their studies. Alongside information Assistants who provide support at our library helpdesks, we also have a team of specialised Subject Librarians. They have specialised knowledge in the different schools and subjects at Napier, and they are prepared to give you more in-depth support. As they aren’t an immediately visible team, it can be easy for students to not realise the amount of work that the Subject Librarians do for the university. And it ranges from managing our catalogue of books, writing the LibGuides, or hosting training sessions related to library and research matters.
For that reason, we’d just like to take a moment to quickly explain who our subject librarians are. And go over some of the ways they help you study.

Who is your subject librarian?

We have five Subject Librarians here at Napier, one for each of our schools. And you can usually find them at their respective campus libraries. A list of our Subject Librarians (along with their contact details) is on the MyNapier library help page.
At our Sighthill campus library, we have Catriona Robertson as the Subject Librarian for the School of Applied Sciences (as well as the Department of Learning and Teaching), and Dawn Adams for the School of Health and Social Care.
At Merchiston, we have Joyce Templeton at the School of Computing, Engineering & Built Environment, and Sarah Jeffcot with the School of Arts and Creative Industries.
And at Craiglockhart, we have Keith Walker for the Business School, which includes our law degree courses.

What is a subject librarian?

You can contact our Subject Librarian team using the details above. Or you can arrange a  1:1 appointment. These 1-on-1 sessions are great if you have any research concerns. For example, if you’re unsure about how to use some of the more specialised and complicated databases, then you can get in touch with the Subject Librarian for your school and get the guidance you need.
The Subject Librarians can also advise you on understanding different referencing styles, a skill that is especially helpful during assessment season!

However, the 1-on-1 sessions are not the only way that the Subject Librarians support your research. The first line of support is our  LibGuides, a collection of in-depth guides that walk you through different aspects of research. These guides are tailored to each of our schools and various aspects of research (such as reference management or literature reviews), so you can get the exact help you need. If you ever find yourself with a question about how to go about your research, then be sure to go have a look at the appropriate LibGuide page before contacting the Subject Librarian, because they may have already written up a guide that answers your exact question!

Subject Librarian and Reading Lists

Alongside handling your questions directly, the Subject Librarians also support your learning by working with university academics and the library’s Resource Acquisitions team to help manage the catalogue of books we have available.
Each Subject Librarian is responsible for helping oversee the library collection for their respective schools. When your lecturers put together the reading lists for your course, the Subject Librarians help manage them. And make sure the reading material is easily available to you, either physical or online via Library Search.
Before we start a new trimester, the lecturers review their reading list. And if they feel books are needed for the upcoming trimester, they will inform the Subject Librarians. Who, in turn, will see where we get access to the book. This way, the Subject Librarians are also doing a great deal of admin work to support you.

We hope that this brief overview has helped you to better understand the role of our Subject Librarians.  And the roles they play to support your learning.
And we hope that those of you who feel you need extra support in your studies.

We have loads of library support posts to help with upcoming deadlines.

By Matthew Ferrie

 

A.I. Library Tools: What do you think?

24/11/2025 / / 0 Comments

A.I. Library Tools: What do you think?

Library Futures: Academic staff input on Library AI Tools

We are seeking your feedback to help shape future decision-making around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in literature searching at Edinburgh Napier University. Some Library subscription databases are beginning to integrate AI tools, and this development raises important questions for learning, teaching, and research.

These AI tools offer potential advantages around saving time and improving discovery, along with disadvantages including a lack of transparency, bias, reliance on unreliable secondary summaries, and environmental impact.

We would like to consult with academic staff to learn:

  • Do AI-assisted searches or summaries offer advantages for your subject area or your students?
  • How do you evaluate the issues for your subject area or your students?

We’ll ask you to briefly trial one example Library search tool and give your feedback.

We’ll also ask your wider opinions on the value of different types of AI literature search tools in your learning, teaching and research.

This will allow the University to make informed decisions going forward.

Note: Not all tool additions and changes in Library subscription databases are optional, meaning control is limited. We will aim to map tools and provide education and awareness raising for the academic community.

Please complete the survey below.
It should take under 15 minutes, and all answers are anonymous.

Complete the survey

Join the mailing list
If you would like to be involved in further consultation or receive updates about Library tools and AI, please leave your email address in the form below.
Register now

Find out more

Find out more about artificial intelligence and literature searching on our LibGuide, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Literature Searching.

Photo courtesy of Gratisography

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers image of person supporting a student

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers

24/11/2025 / / 0 Comments

Caring and Studying: How Edinburgh Napier University Supports Student Carers

Balancing caring responsibilities with university life isn’t easy — and Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) recognises that. Whether you’re a young carer, an unpaid adult carer studying part-time, or a care-experienced student who needs extra support navigating higher education. Napier has a range of dedicated services, bursaries and staff who can help you get to, and stay in, your studies. Below, we break down what’s available, how to access help, and some practical tips for student carers making the campus work for them.

What support is offered

Edinburgh Napier’s webpages for care-experienced students, student carers and estranged students explains the tailored help available before and during study, from admissions support and evidence gathering for funding applications to named advisers who can guide you through practical barriers to participation. This is where to start if you want a single point of contact and personalised advice.

The university’s Wellbeing & Inclusion services (My Napier) provide mental health and disability support that dovetails with carer-specific help — for example, reasonable adjustments, exam or assessment concessions, and onward referrals for counselling or disability inclusion support. If caring duties affect attendance, coursework or placement availability, the Student Adviser and Disability Inclusion teams can work with you and your tutors to put supportive arrangements in place.

Financial support & bursaries

Money is often the biggest worry for student carers. ENU runs a dedicated Care-Experienced Bursary (a small one-off payment currently advertised at around £1,000) and offers help from the Student Funding team when you need documentation to evidence care experience or caring responsibilities for external funding bodies. These funds don’t replace statutory carer benefits, but they can help with immediate study costs like transport, equipment or laptop repairs. Make contact with the Student Funding or Awards team early — they can advise on eligibility and help you apply.

There is also national support that student carers may be eligible for (e.g., Social Security Scotland carer payments, Young Carer Grant etc.), and Napier staff can signpost you to that advice. Check out Scotland’s Hub for Success, which supports carers to get in, stay in or return to education.

Practical adjustments and day-to-day support

Napier’s support is practical: named Student Advisers can help with attendance concerns, timetable clashes, negotiating extensions, or organising placement alternatives if your caring role prevents you from undertaking a placement at short notice. The Disability Inclusion team can arrange adjustments such as flexible deadlines, alternative assessment arrangements or assistive technology access. The accommodation and campus teams can also advise on housing or privacy needs if you’re balancing care and study from halls or a private tenancy.

The university’s careers and employability services collaborate with Wellbeing & Inclusion to support students who disclose caring responsibilities — offering help with CVs, part-time job searches, and realistic career planning that reflects your caring role and timetable.

How to access support

  1. Reveal your circumstances early — contact the “care experienced / student carers” entry point on Napier’s site or email the Student Funding / Student Adviser teams. Early disclosure helps staff put measures in place before problems escalate.

  2. Get documentation in order — the Student Funding team can help gather evidence of care experience or caring responsibilities needed for bursaries or partner funding.

  3. Ask for reasonable adjustments — talk to Disability Inclusion or your course team about deadlines, extensions, or placement alternatives.

  4. Look into national entitlements — Napier advisers can signpost to Social Security Scotland and carer organisations for statutory benefits and grants.

Tips from student carers

  • Keep a short, dated log of caring hours and major incidents — this often helps with funding applications or negotiating adjustments.

  • Build a small “emergency plan” with your course team (who to call, how to postpone assessment if an unexpected caring crisis occurs).

  • Use the university’s mental health and counselling services proactively — juggling caring and study is emotionally draining and getting early support helps you stay on track.

Useful links & contacts

By Juliet Kinsey

Read more about student support on our blog in our article on Wider University Support

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