Knowing that it was going to be perhaps more important than ever this term, we’ve been working hard over the summer to create a new set of online guides for a number of aspects of University Library and Collections information.
Continue reading “Let us guide you”
Last week the Faculty Librarians presented 3 webinars via Zoom on trial e-resources, one for library staff and a further two for staff and students across all 4 faculties. The aim of the session was twofold: firstly to promote the vast number of resources we currently have on a temporary basis. And secondly, to use this as the first step in delivering a range of webinars across the coming months on other topics. Considering this was our first foray into webinar hosting there was a decent attendance and the feedback received was very encouraging. We also learned a fair bit about the do’s and don’ts of presenting a session like this via Zoom! Continue reading “From “webinarghghgh!” to “webinaaaaaah…””
It’s been 12 months since the launch of the Durham University Library and Collections blog. And I think we can all agree, a lot has happened in those 12 months… Continue reading “A year of blogging”
Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve all had to adapt to a rapid change in working circumstances. With our physical Library and Collections sites closed, the support we offer for our users has shifted firmly online. In previous blog posts we have looked at the realities of working and learning from home, and how we’ve introduced services such as the virtual enquiry desk to help our users remotely.
Looking further ahead, we are now planning as to how we can continue to offer some of the other training and support we regularly provide, but now in an online environment. As a Faculty Librarian, a large part of my role is user education and support. This can be support for 1-2-1 queries, and it can be delivering sessions to cohorts of students related to particular topics, disciplines or resources. As we are currently unable to see our users face-to-face – and it may be some time before classrooms/lecture theatres can be used to see groups en masse – it’s important to plan for alternative delivery methods. Continue reading “Working on webinars”
As a librarian with two teenage kids, I usually go to work for a bit of peace and quiet in a considerably less-stressful environment. But, the current situation we all find ourselves in means that compromises must be made, and limited at-home workspaces must be shared. Or so you’d think. Continue reading “A Faculty Librarian working from home”
In addition to the hundreds of databases, thousands of eBooks and millions of journal articles we provide remote online access to via our subject pages and Discover interface we also have a number of eResources on trial at any one time.
Members of Durham University can see what resources we have and gain access to them via:
https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/password/trials/
Given the situation we currently find ourselves in, it is perhaps unsurprising that we have more trials currently available to us than usual. And we need YOUR help to assess if they are worth considering gaining permanent access to. You can offer feedback on any of our trials here Continue reading “Resources on Trial”
Last Friday – Valentine’s Day – Durham University Library and Collections welcomed a class of 35 year 10 pupils (and 3 teachers) from Southmoor Academy in Sunderland. The pupils were there to learn about who we are and what we do, as well as sampling a little of what life at university is like when it comes to finding and using resources.
This was my first experience of accompanying a group of this age. As the Faculty Librarian for the Business School I work with undergraduates, postgraduates and staff. But not schoolkids. I have two teenagers of my own. I come to work to get away from them…!
The library has had a staff running group for a couple of years now, meeting a couple of times a week to head out and remind themselves just how flat Durham isn’t. It’s a good way to get a bit of exercise in an encouraging environment whilst having a bit of a natter.
In addition to the regular biweekly jaunts, the group has turned out en masse in 2019 to conquer the Sunderland City 5k and Durham 5/10k. So, what better way to celebrate the upcoming festive period than with the 2nd Annual Library Christmas Cracker Relay!
Christmas has arrived! Well, actually it hasn’t – there’s still 3 more weeks to go. But you’d never know that, given the number of Christmas trees that have sprung up over the last few days. From where I am sat in the Bill Bryson Library shared office I can count seven that have appeared on the desks of various colleagues in the last few days! SEVEN!
Encouraging new students to visit the library during induction week can be a tricky business. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in a week where they are not only having the academic aspect of their next 3 or 4 years mapped out to them, are being invited to join team, clubs and societies and indulge in half price pizzas and 2-for-1 “quaddy voddies”, new students might find that ‘pop into the library to have a look around and to pick a pencil and a book-shaped eraser’ slips quite far down their agenda.
Although we’re not strictly competing for attention with University Cheese Society or “slammer’s night” at the local champagne bar, it is important to get students into the library early on in their university lives so that we can:
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