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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Wellbeing space

Wellbeing for Freshers

18/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

At the Wellbeing for Freshers:

Your first year at university…

It’s Freshers Week and while you settle in, taking care of your wellbeing is important.

It’s your first week at university? Excited? Inspired? Lost? Terrified? An overwhelming flurry of all these emotions and more? Overwhelmed may be the best way to describe how you are feeling currently. As many freshers will feel in the first few weeks of university life.

Wellbeing for Freshers: Support services and resources…

Whatever it is you may be going through, Edinburgh Napier University has a wide range of well-being and support services to assist you. Whether it be with the transition into university life, personal life or your studies. Our Wellbeing and Inclusion team are here to help. Providing a variety of support services and resources to aid you with getting the most out of your university experience. Point you in the right direction, listen and provide advice when needed. Ultimately help you to feel supported, safe and confident in your potential. At the campus libraries also offer a range of well-being resources and relaxation spaces to encourage our student community to take breaks and opportunities to wind down throughout their studies and prioritise their health and well-being.

Our study and relaxation spaces…

So, what can the library offer you regarding health and well-being support? Firstly, each campus offers a range of different study spaces and rooms which

are tailored to the needs of our student community and regular patrons. Whether you need a group-friendly study space with specific learning technology to collaborate or simply a quiet space to study where distractions and noise are kept at bay, our campus library have many which are all available to book through Resource Booker. For students with young children, we also have our family study room at Merchiston campus library which is equipped with a small table and chair set, toyboxes and child-sized bean bags to keep your little ones occupied while you are working away. Study rooms can be booked for up to one two-hour slot per day and can be booked up to 14 days in advance. Group study rooms must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment or clashes. Find out more about our group study spaces on Group Study Rooms (napier.ac.uk).

 

Need a break? All three of our campus libraries have a relaxation space with comfy, colourful couches, plants, jigsaw puzzles, colouring sheets, and craft materials to allow you the opportunity to wind down and de-stress whilst channelling some inner creativity. All of our relaxation spaces are also located next to the windows of each campus library to let in some natural light. You can find out more about where each relaxation space can be found in each campus library by visiting Relaxation Spaces (napier.ac.uk). We have an online relaxation space here right on our blog.

Our Libguide and Wellbeing Resources…

If you do end up taking a well-deserved break in one of our three campus relaxation spaces, you will also see that each of them hosts our well-being book stands and displays with resources covering a variety of topics and issues. From stories and real-life accounts of recovery and resilience to advice and discussions about settling into university and other life matters, we very likely will have a book on our well-being book display that you knew (or did not even know) that you were looking for!

All the books displayed are part of our Wellbeing Collection. Here, you will find books which cover subject areas and issues such as addiction, health, mental well-being, neurodiversity, body image, race, sleep, family & relationships,

environment and of course, university life itself. We are open to suggestions for new books to add to our Wellbeing displays, and even though we cannot always guarantee that every suggestion can be purchased, each one will be significantly considered. Email library@napier.ac.uk with any ideas or for more information.

 

You can find out more about our Wellbeing Collection, our wellbeing resources and additional support services in our LibGuide.

 

Book Recommendations from our collection…

 

Below are some well-being resources which may be useful to both new and returning students this year.

 

 

By Rachel Downie.

wellbeing

Wellbeing in the Library

15/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Wellbeing in the Library

Wellbeing Book Collection

Here in the library, we have our Wellbeing Collection, which aims to provide resources to support you. We have print books which you can borrow, and ebooks to guide you through any difficult or challenging times you may experience whilst at university. This specially selected collection of items is all about providing access to information which may help you settle into university life or help you navigate difficult times throughout your course. Our collection covers various topics such as mental health, personal development and achievement, anxiety and exam stress.

All information regarding the Wellbeing collection can be found on the LibGuide webpages. There is information about which books we have on a range of topics from neurodiversity to sexuality. There is also a list of contact details for support within the university and from outside organisations.

You may have been recommended a book by a member of the Counselling and Mental Health team or the Disability and Inclusion team, or you may have come across a book yourself which you would like to read. If the book you want is not available at your home campus, then use our Click and Collect service to have the book sent there for collection.

If you would like to suggest a title for the Wellbeing Collection you can contact us at library@napier.ac.uk and your suggestion will be considered.

Relaxation spaces

Libraries can boost wellbeing by providing physical spaces for relaxation. You’ll find a relaxation space where you can take time out from your studies at each of our campus libraries. We have supplied colouring sheets, non-academic books, origami paper and jigsaws to help you relax and de-stress.

Virtual Relaxation Space

Not on campus but feel you need to take some time out from studies? Check out our Virtual Relaxation Space for tips and resources which can help you. There’s music for relaxing and sleeping and tips on stress management and meditation to name just a few of the resources available for you to use away from university.

Study Spaces

In order to support specific needs all campus libraries offer quiet and silent study spaces and there are study rooms which can be booked through Resource Booker.

Box of Broadcasts

The Box of Broadcasts database gives you access to all sorts of programmes. Use it find programmes on the topic you want, whether it’s mental health, healthy eating or any other personal issue.

Slow tv programmes are great for unwinding to. They are uninterrupted broadcasts of real time events without narration – the perfect de-stress. We can suggest the following:

A Slow Odyssey: A Turtle’s Journey

All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride

All Aboard! The Canal Trip

We can also recommend the Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore series.

Use Library Search to find Box of Broadcasts:

  1. Select the Databases tab:
  2. Select the letter B:
  3. Scroll down to Box of Broadcasts and click the title to get straight through to the website.

Search for programmes and create your own playlists. Click on the Guide icon and you can choose to record programmes which have not yet been broadcast. You will receive a notification when they are ready to view.

Any questions?

The library has lots of resources to help with your wellbeing and if you have any questions regarding any of them, please ask at the helpdesks and library staff will be happy to assist you.

By Vivienne Hamilton

We also have the virtual relaxation space available through the blog

Referencing libraries

LibGuides and Referencing

13/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

LibGuides and Referencing

What are LibGuides? Simply LibGuides are beloved by librarians. All 22 of them. A crucial tool in helping you through your studies. They are designed to “help you find out more about the resources and support available from the library”.

They can be divided into two features:

  1. Subject Guides
  2. Research Guides

LibGuides: Subject Guides

Subject Guides are designed by our team of specialist subject librarians who have handpicked key resources such as databases, readings and more. You will find a guide for each subject area available at Edinburgh Napier.  Subject librarians constantly update these guides to help you get the most relevant and useful information available for your topic.

Your subject librarian is available to go through these guides with you.

LibGuides: Research Guides

Our Research Guides are outlines that help you develop research and digital skills, including writing, referencing, data collection, and much more.

LibGuide: Referencing

One of our most popular guides is our reference guide. Referencing is a must-skill in academia. You will expect to be able to reference all your sources in academic work. Referencing helps us avoid plagiarism, shows that read sources, be able to back up arguments. We have two guides, one for reference management software which are tools to help you. And a guide on APA 7th Style.

Please remember if you are stuck, you can contact your subject librarian or programme leader.

Our Reference Management guide goes over Endnote and Mendeley. Both are software that collect references and PDFS of papers, organises references and automatically outputs a bibliography. Our guide breaks down which one might be better suited to you. And how you can install and use it.

Additionally, we have a deep dive into APA 7th referencing. This guide details how citations work. Always double-check which referencing style you are expected to use for your course and if you are unsure, please speak to your programme leader.

Wellbeing

We can’t end this post without mentioning our Wellbeing Collection. We also have our Wellbeing Collection featured on our LibGuides. University life can be stressful. The collection covers a range of topics and guided self-help approaches to make University life a little bit easier.

We will leave you to enjoy the world of LibGuides and Referencing

A bit stuck on assignments, have a look at Academic Skills. 

Secondhand september lamp

Second Hand September

13/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Second Hand September

Whether you have just started at university or you are returning, being away from home means fending for yourself and budgeting, which is a great reason to embrace Second Hand September (SHS). Buying food and paying bills will be the priority, along with perhaps a bus pass to get you to your campus. By cutting out online and high street clothes shopping for the month, you will not only be saving money but reducing waste and environmental impacts. Started in 2019 by Oxfam, SHS attempts to promote sustainable fashion, reduce the environmental impact of clothing production and aims to change consumer behaviour to support second-hand markets as a key part of the solution to the fashion industry’s waste problem. It also supports circular fashion encouraging re-purposing and repairing clothes to extend their life and reduce waste, which in turn will reduce the environmental impact of the industry. To be involved, all you need to do is avoid buying brand new clothes during September, and if you do need to make a purchase, buy second hand instead.

How to get involved:

Shop second-hand: Visit charity shops and online marketplaces. Many charities now have online shops.

Repair and re-use: Learn how to repair damaged clothing rather than throwing items out.

Donate: If you have any unwanted items donate them to a charity shop.

Clothing swap: Organise or attend a clothing swap.

Raise awareness: Share tips and purchases on social media.

 

Although SHS is aimed at cutting waste and improving sustainability in the fashion industry, the principles can be applied to all items we purchase.

More ways to have an impact on sustainability and reduce environmental impacts:

Charity shops don’t just sell clothes. If you need items for your student accommodation, you may be able to find them in a charity shop. Merchiston campus is conveniently situated for several charity shops in Morningside, but there are many shops all over the city. As well as clothes you will be able to find crockery (mis-matched is very on trend), glassware, books to read and board games to play in your spare time and small furniture items all at reasonable prices.

Sites such as Gumtree offer all sorts of free items which may be just what you are looking for or are suitable for upcycling.

 

Learn how to:

Edinburgh Libraries have many books on sewing and upcycling which you can borrow to learn how to do repairs and repurpose items. Membership is free and borrowing books is both sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Repair Cafe Edinburgh offers advice and help from volunteers. Booking a slot is recommended and can be done through repaircafeedinburgh@gmail.com

Edinburgh Tool Library has thousands of tools which can be borrowed to carry out your upcycling and repairs.

You Tube has lots of videos on how to mend clothes and upcycle household items.

 

Other benefits of taking part:

You will learn new skills.

You may get to know like-minded people and make new friends.

Initiatives are mostly staffed by volunteers. Shopping in a charity shop or attending a repair class might make you try volunteering yourself and will make a valuable addition to your CV.

Making purchases in charity shops also benefits their fundraising efforts.

 

Edinburgh Napier Campus Libraries

Borrowing books from our libraries is of course sustainable and cuts environmental impacts. Throughout the summer we have been withdrawing stock which is no longer relevant or contains out of date information. Our withdrawn stock is packed up and sent to Better World Books who divert books from landfill and sell them on second hand at affordable prices or donate them to non-profit organisations. As part of their commitment to environmental sustainability they never throw away a book. They recycle any book for which they cannot find a proper home – that is why they have gained B corp certification which is awarded to companies which achieve high standards of social and environmental performance.

You may also find using ebooks convenient. These can be found using our catalogue Library Search and as they are in electronic format they have little environmental impact. Most of the articles we have access to are available electronically too, so using these resources reduces waste from our libraries.

Give Second Hand September a try and you may find you get the second hand bug!

 

By Vivienne Hamilton

 

Photo by Sabiha Kutucu Kaya

 

 

Get cosy with some Autumn posts

 

Opening Hours: Termtime

12/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Opening Hours: Termtime

Standard Opening Hours

Craiglockhart Library & Sighthill LRC Library /LRC Open Helpdesk Staff Available
Monday – Friday 8am – 9pm 8.45am – 4.45pm*
Saturday – Sunday 9am – 5pm Unstaffed*
Merchiston Library Zones 1 – 4 Zone 5
(Books)		 Helpdesk Staff Available
Monday – Friday 24 hours 8am – 9pm 8.45am – 4.45pm*
Saturday – Sunday 24 hours 9am – 5pm Unstaffed*

Merchiston Group Study Rooms: Please note that Rooms 3, 4, 9 and 10 will be closed from 9pm to 9am. Find availability and book using Resource Booker.

*Outwith these hours Library support will be provided by the NorMAN out of hours service, in this case you’ll receive a response from e59.servicedesk@normanmanagedservices.ac.uk.

exam support

Inter library loans

12/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Interlibrary loans

As a student or staff member at Edinburgh Napier, you can use our catalogue, Library Search, which provides access to thousands of books and articles. You can also use Google Scholar to search for articles which are free to access. Occasionally, you will be able to find book chapters and theses there too. Sometimes, even with these resources, it’s still not possible to get access to the item you need. That’s where our inter library loan (ILL) service comes in – all you have to do is fill out the appropriate form and the ILL team will check it and process it.

The ILL form can be found on the Library Search main page simply by clicking on the Interlibrary Loans tab

Inter Library Loan

First choose the correct form from the selection:

Inter Library Loan fees

It’s essential to select the correct form for either a book/book chapter request or an article request, as the two forms require different information. In both cases please provide as much information as possible. Choose the pickup location that suits you best and then submit the request. The request will show in our library management system, and the ILL team will check and process it and let you know if the item

  • is available in Edinburgh Napier stock
  • Is available using Google Scholar
  • if we are requesting the item from one of our partners.

Inter Library Loan Process

The team will use the JISC Library Hub Discover tool to determine which partner institution to request the item from. In the case of articles, the tool lets us see which years our partners are holding a journal for. If they hold the required year we will send the request to them, and they will then let us know if they can supply the item or not. There may be embargoes and they will be unable to do so. Our main partner was the British Librar,y but following a cyber-attack in 2023, they have been unable to supply and we are now sourcing from other universities and institutions such as the Royal Society of Medicine. Requests are processed all year round apart from during the festive break around Christmas and New Year.

Article and book chapter requests are supplied electronically and can be supplied very quickly. Books take much longer to be supplied and it can take as long as 3 weeks for a book to arrive with us. Books will be sent to the campus selected on the request form and you will receive an email notification that the book is available for collection. Please note that inter-library loans must be collected from the Library Helpdesk during staffed hours Monday-Friday, 8.45-16.45 and please bring your student/staff card.

There is no charge for ILL requests; however, Edinburgh Napier University Library is charged for items that are lost or damaged by our borrowers. We pass on this charge, plus any administrative costs, to the borrower.

Books can also be recalled by the external lending library who can ask us to return an ILL before its due date. If this happens, the ILL team will send an email to your university email account asking you to return it as soon as possible. You can return books at any point before their due date to library helpdesks during staffed hours, and it may be possible to ask the partner to extend the loan. We allow a maximum of 3 renewals.

So far this year we have requested over 500 items from our partners, and we have found many others for our users which were freely available. It’s been quite a busy year for inter library loans and we hope to continue providing this service to assist with your studies. If you have any questions you can contact us at ill@napier.ac.uk and if you are sure of which items you would like to access, feel free to place your requests.

 

By Vivienne Hamilton

Cyber attack on the british library

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wellbeing area support craiglockhart library

Study Skills, Wellbeing and Inclusion

11/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Study Skills, Wellbeing and Inclusion

Studying effectively, wellbeing and inclusion are three things that tend to go hand in hand when it comes to students’ progression and getting the best out of their experience as a university student. A big part of our role as a university institution is to provide our student community with the necessary tools, resources, and support. All tailored to meet all three of these needs throughout each phase of their university journey. We at the Edinburgh Napier libraries also love to see our student community and patrons thrive. Thrive in academic terms, in their career progression and in their own personal lives and development. Read on to see some of the resources, services we have available at the library to support you. Getting you through your studies in terms of study skills development, inclusion and accessibility, and personal wellbeing.

 

Study Skills…

In terms of books and resources, our research collection has an abundance of material. All of which can help you develop new study skills or enhance your current skillset as well. Our Research Collection resources and materials can be found in all three of our campus libraries. Within these collections there are most specific titles on literature searching and research. These are, of course, tailored to subjects within all Edinburgh Napier schools. We also have books and study guides on conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses, as well as referencing. And how to write a great dissertation or research paper. All available resources can be found and requested through LibrarySearch. You may even find one or even a couple more books you didn’t even realise you needed! All books can be checked out at our self-service kiosks and will automatically renew for up to four months, unless requested by another user. You will be notified if this is the case and will have seven days to return the book from when you are notified via email.

Study Skills: LibGuides

Our LibGuide is also a very useful webpage of ours regarding advice and tips on how to develop your study skills. There is even a page where you can measure your research performance as well! Each school also has a specific page created and written by our subject librarians with links to useful and relevant databases and websites for each course. You can find an A-Z list of all the relevant databases which we are subscribed to here as well, such as CINAHL, British Standards Online, EBSCO and many, many more.

There are also pages on literature reviewing, critical thinking and referencing – all of which are some of the fundamental study skills you will need throughout your university career. A section on the use and effective utilisation of reference management systems has also been added should students wish to use ones such as EndNote or Mendeley.

If you have read through our Libguide and still feel that you need a bit of extra support with developing your study skillset, you can email library@napier.ac.uk and we can put you in touch with one of our subject librarians, and most often one that is also specialised in the field and subject of which you are studying. They can arrange a one-to-one appointment with you in person or through a Teams call if needed. Our Libcal also consistently advertises any related tutorials and workshops we have regarding specific study skills such as literature searching, referencing and even getting the most out of using the library for your research.

Wellbeing…

As well as your studies, our libraries also try to support the well-being of our student community as much as we can. As we are aware, there can be stressful periods, particularly when it comes to exam season and looming assignment deadlines. It is important to take regular breaks when you can . Our campus libraries  have relaxation spaces to unwind. These corners usually consist of a few comfortable couches in a section of the library with plenty of natural lighting. We also have our  Wellbeing Collection where the contents and resources available within this collection can be viewed online and physical. Topics covered include mental health, neurodiversity, sleep, body image and university life. Our library staff have also curated displays of physical books and resources from our Wellbeing Collection in each campus library.

 

<p>We always welcome suggestions for our Wellbeing Collection – if you have any that spring to mind, do email library@napier.ac.uk and we will carefully consider all suggestions for our displays and catalogue. Links and contact details for various helplines and support services both within and external to the university are also listed in the Wellbeing Collection page of our Libguide.

 

Inclusion…

Accessibility and inclusion are very important to us at Edinburgh Napier libraries and are two of our most fundamental values. We aim to support the individual needs of all of our patrons by providing equal and equitable access to our resources, collections and services. We frequently collaborate with the Student Wellbeing and Inclusion team. And other relevant departments to help us help you in the best possible way.  Also, we always welcome any feedback, suggestions and comments that come our way regarding the service we provide at the library.

Some examples of accessibility tools we have are…

  • Read Aloud Functionality for E-Resources.
  • Keyboard navigation.
  • A Helperbird browser extension which allows users to change text size, colour and spacing as well as adjust colour contrast.
  • Height-adjustable desks.
  • Accessible toilets.
  • Ergonomic Equipment such as mice and keyboards.
  • Laptop riser stands.
  • Noise-Cancelling headphones.

 

More information on our Accessibility and Inclusion webpage.

 

By Rachel Downie

More Study Skills Posts

Library Search

10/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Library Search

During your time at Napier, you’ll find that by far one of the most important tools to help in your studies is our university Library Search.

Library Search is the search engine you can use to browse the library catalogue here at Napier. This includes giving you information about the location of physical books on our library shelves, as well as links to read e-books or online journal articles available through the databases the university has access to. Please keep in mind that some of our more specialised databases, such as EBSCO are not included in library search results; those ones will have to be searched separately.
You can also use Library Search to request books or to check your library account if you want to see the return date for any of your books.

Accessing Library Search

You can get to Library Search through the tile on your student app, and each of our campus libraries has computers set up as designated catalogue machines that are set to only be able to access Library Search.

From the homepage of Library Search, you’ll also find helpful links for information about the library; you might have even found this blog through the link under the social media header.
Above the search bar, you’ll see there are some other library-related links, such as one for our interlibrary loan service, but you’ll learn more about these in other blog posts.

Firstly, before looking for something on Library Search its best to make sure you’re signed in, which you can do by pressing Sign In on the top right, then selecting University Member from the pop-up.

Library Search Sign In

This is important because many online resources, such as e-books or journal articles, require you to be signed in to access them, and you also have to be signed in if you see a physical book you’d like to request.

Once you’re signed in, you can also click your name from the top right and select Library Card to see your library account listing the books you have on loan.
You can also select the pin icon in the top right corner to look at your favourites.

Library Search Results

Through Library Search, you can browse through our library catalogue, searching by title or author, with options to filter results based on format (such as physical books or online articles), campus library, author, and subject matter. This can be useful as some searches can bring back an overwhelming number of results (you can see in my screenshot below that I got back over 2000 results!), and it can help to use filters to make your search more specific.

Library Search results

When you click on one of the search results, you’ll be taken to an information page about resource. Here is an example of what the information page looks like for a physical book:

library search results

 

This gives you the basic information you would need on where to find the book in the library, how many copies are available, and the option to request that the book be held in reserve for you.

Library Search Requests

As you can see under “Location Items” you’ll be told which of our campus libraries the book is being held at, if it is part of the main book stock or a different collection (such as the research collection) and the call number for the book which you can use to find the book on the shelf. Books are organised on the shelves in order of call number and within that call number are in alphabetical order based on the three letters at the end.

Selecting Request under Get It will give you the option to have the book be set aside for you to collect at one of our libraries.  You can also select for the book to be sent to whichever of our libraries is most convenient for you to get to. Please note that books will only be set aside for one week.

You can also use the links under Send To to make links that lead to this library record. This can be helpful if, for example, you’re helping another student with their work and you’re trying to direct them to a helpful source they can use. You’re even given options to make the link in different formats

You can also press the red pin icon next to the spanner to pin the record to your favourites bar, just in case there is a record you need to keep coming back to.

When looking at an online record instead of seeing the shelf information or an option to reserve the material, instead you’ll see the different links you can use to access the material. Your university account grants you permission to read this material, so make sure you are signed in to your account on Library Search.

You’ll also be able to search further in this journal to see if they’ll be other articles relevant to your research.

Library Search results ebook

Library Search Issues

If you’re having issues accessing a link through library search, such as if the link is broken, then you can report the issue by clicking on the red spanner icon at the top of the record. Fill out some quick information about the issue you are having.  And a member of the library team will investigate and get back to you.

This was intended to be a short introduction to Library Search, but as you can see, it went a bit long just because there’s so much to talk about!

Library Search might seem a bit daunting at first. But as you use it, you’ll find yourself getting familiar quickly.
Remember that if you have any questions at all, the library staff are more than happy to lend a hand.

By Matthew Ferrie

Laptops

Laptops

09/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

Laptops

Laptops Laptops Laptops!

Library loans are not exclusive to books; we’ve got laptops too.

Laptops have become a crucial part of student life, from taking notes in class to writing up assignments. And there is nothing worse when yours goes kaput.

 

Lapsafe laptops

At each library campus, along with the Jack Kilbly Centre and Bainfield Student Accommodation, you can find a Lapsafe locker. They are like a self-service laptop vending machine. These laptops are available to all Edinburgh Napier Students, you do need your student card, in physical or digital format to borrow and return.

You can check laptop availability through the my Napier dashboard before you make the trek to campus.

Additionally, you can find out if laptops are available at the LAPSafe. If you see blue lights, then you are good to go.

Tap your card and follow the on-screen instructions.

 

Laptops are available to loan for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, we can’t extend the loan period; they need to be returned within two weeks. If you still need a laptop, you can borrow one as soon as you return the other. Please be aware that the laptop loans are subject to terms and conditions.

Please don’t save any work to the laptop; copies of work should also be backed up. If anything happens to the laptop, we can’t recover unsaved files.

 

Long-Term Laptops

We understand that two weeks isn’t enough. That is why there are long-term laptops that are available through the Digital Access Scheme. You can find out more on their webpages as well as any contact information for enquiries. These laptops are for each academic year and renewed for each year you return to study.

 

Still figuring things out at Napier, our geography of campuses post might do the trick

National Read a Book Day

National Read a Book Day

06/09/2025 / / 0 Comments

National Read a Book Day

 

If there is anything us library workers love to promote consistently, is a love of reading. Whether it is a book, eBook, journal, article – you name it, we will always make a point of advertising the benefits of reading. As well as what resources we have to offer. Therefore, National Read a Book Day provides us with a great opportunity to promote both our resources at the library, how to access them (and how accessible they are), and the benefits of reading for literary and personal development, academic progression and overall wellbeing. Although it has unclear origins, National Read a Book Day is widely observed annually throughout the UK on the 6th of September by book lovers, advocates for reading and, of course, us library workers.

 

National Read a Book Day itself primarily encourages the celebration of reading as a simple pleasure and leisurely activity that has many benefits. Did you know that reading for at least thirty minutes a day is thought to potentially increase your life expectancy? This is due to the cognitive enhancement that reading can provide, including better memory, attention to detail and a reduction in stress levels. Stress is a major contributor to the development of heart disease, cancer and stroke, which are all leading causes of earlier fatality. Therefore, reading can potentially act as a preventative measure against stress progressing to a stage where your risk of developing these conditions and illnesses significantly increases.

Reading as a Pastime

 

Many individuals would say that reading is their favourite pastime and recreational activity for relaxation; however, some individuals feel that reading can seem like a chore at times. If you are a student and have been doing a lot of heavy reading and studying for exams and upcoming assignments, that can most definitely be the case, especially if you feel your head has never left a textbook in weeks! The last thing you probably want to do after or during the midst of this is pick up a book. Nevertheless, finding the right book, or even just a fun, light and heartwarming read can feel like a bit of leisure during stressful periods like this. Even if it’s just for a short period of time a day – on your lunch break, just before going to sleep, or even on your daily commute to make it go by a little faster. Audiobooks are also a great way to get lost in a good story on the move – whether you are on the train, bus, or even a walk.

Our Library Catalogue

Although a majority of the stock we hold at our campus libraries consists of academic resources and textbooks, we do have some lighter and more leisurely reads available to borrow and request at Sighthill, Merchiston and Craiglockhart campus. If you happen to be passing by one of our campus libraries and come across a book that interests you on one of our shelves (or displays, we love a display), you can use your student card to take it out on loan at one of our self-service kiosks.

Alternatively, if you have a specific book in mind, you can check if we have it on LibrarySearch and put in a request for it to be kept on our hold shelves for you to collect later on. We will keep it on hold for you for up to seven days. If we do not have the book which you are looking for, you can submit an Inter Library Loan request form, and we can check if another library has it in stock, then request it from them to lend to you through us. Books borrowed from our own campus libraries can automatically renew for up to four months unless requested by another patron and there are no other copies available to meet this request. When it is requested, you will be notified via email and will have seven days to return the book from when this email is sent to you.

 

Here are some recommendations from us at the library for National Read a Book Day…

  • The Comfort Book, Haig, Matt, 1975- author. 2022. Available at Sighthill Library Wellbeing Collection.
  • The salt path, Winn, Raynor, author. 2019. Available at Sighthill Library Wellbeing Collection.
  • The perks of being a wallflower. Chbosky, Stephen author. 2012. Available at Merchiston Library Wellbeing Collection.

 

By Rachel Downie

Photo credit goes to Polina Tankilevitch at Pexels.

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