In addition to our large number of hard copy library books on study skills we also now have many e-books on the subject available on our Dawsonera database. These include the following titles:

Biggam, J. – Succeeding with your Master’s dissertation (2008)
Creme, P. – Writing at University (2008)
Denscombe, M. – The good research guide (2007)
Gilbert, G. – From postgraduate to social scientist (2006)
Jamieson, C. – Managing dyslexia at University (2007)
Levin, P. – Conquer study stress (2007)
Levin, P. – Write great essays! (2004)
Neville, C. – How to improve your assignment results (2008)
Powell, S. – Returning to study for a research degree (2008)
Race, P. – How to get a good degree (2008)
Rugg, G. – The stress-free guide to studying at University (2008)
Rumsey, S. – How to find information (2008)
Talbot, C. – Studying at a distance (2007)

Access to Dawsonera is through Portia in the usual way.  The full Dawsonera login procedure is shown on the Login Help Sheet link under Dawsonera  link on the Electronic Resources page.  Please see your Subject Librarian if you have any queries.

From this week until the 17th December the Learning Resource Centre will be open until midnight (Monday to Thursday). This will mean that you will be able to work in the library or the computer rooms up until this time. Do remember though, the library issue counter will close at 9.45pm if you need to take any items home.

Project MUSE® has recently acquired the journal, Music, Sound and the Moving Image.  This is the first international scholarly journal to study the interaction between music and sound with the entirety of moving image media – film, television, music video, advertising, computer games, mixed-media installation, digital art, live cinema et al.  Back issues are available from the first issue, Vol.1, No.1 Spring, 2007. 

Take a look at the current Table of Contents:
Vol.3, No.1, Spring, 2009

Access to the full-text of all of the above is available through Portia in the usual way.

Enquiries to the Library HelpDesk are showing that students are having problems accessing our Electronic Resources following the introduction of Shibboleth, the new authentication system.  Please use the Login Help Sheet links under each of the relevant databases on the Electronic Resources page in Portia.  Printed copies of these sheets are also available in the Library.

Do you want to improve your search results from JSTOR?

For a brief overview of searching JSTOR then try this link: Searching JSTOR

For more comprehensive training materials go to this link JSTOR where you can find recorded webinars (online classes) and power point presentations.  Whether you are a recent or experienced user you’re bound to learn something new and any skills you develop can be applied to your search strategies with other electronic databases.

As always, please come and see your Subject Librarian if you need any assistance.

Please note that most of the Musical Theatre library resources have now been transferred to the campus library at Bognor, in order for them to be more accessible to the students who are taught there.  Please ask the library staff if you have any problems locating the books, CDs or scores.

Welcome back to all our students for the start of the new semester. 

You will notice a few changes have taken place in the Library over the summer.  The most noticeable physical change is on the ground floor, where the IT HelpDesk has moved outside of the main Open Access IT room (G11) to the area previously occupied by the photocopiers and Reprints.  The ground floor photocopiers are now adjacent to the Otter Gallery and Reprints are on the 1st floor.  The new IT HelpDesk covers both IT and Media Centre queries. 

IT HelpDesk

The Pay2Printmachine where you can credit your printer and photocopy account is now on the corridor wall to the left as you come into the LRC (opposite the Equipment Loan lockers).

On the technical side, access to our Electronic Resources has changed to Shibboleth.  As each database provider operates Shibboleth in a different way, you may have difficulty logging into some databases which require selections to be made from drop-down menus.  The Librarians have provided guidance for each database with HelpSheets available in the Library.

Keep checking back on the blog for more changes and information throughout the semester.

We now have a large number of ABRSM books for a wide variety of instruments at different grades.  These include sight-reading tests, new pieces and scales & arpeggios.  They can all be found in the Oversize section of the Library on the first floor.  Use the catalogue to identify the exact number or ask for help from the Music Subject Librarian. If the grade or instrument you need is not in stock, then ask the Librarian about getting it in.

We now have some new Jamey Aebersold Jazz books in stock:

Wayne Shorter Jazz Classics
Classic Songs from the Blue Note Jazz Era
Billy Strayhorn Lush Life
Autumn Leaves
The Brecker Brothers

All of these are in the main Library collection at 781.65 AEB.  Look out for more titles coming in soon.

The Library will be open all through the summer, so for those who live nearby do come and use the facilities.  This is especially useful for students entering their final year and wanting to get together a few dissertation ideas.  I will also be here all summer so take advantage and let me show you all those electronic resources you’ve been avoiding in your first 2 years. If you’re not able to come in person, then contact me for help over the ‘phone or by email.

If you’ve already tried these resources without much success, then let me show you some techniques that should improve your results.  Remember that an ability to research using electronic resources is a valuable skill that will stand you in good stead in your future careers.

The summer is also a good time to use up your 2nd year entitlement of inter-library loans which lasts until 31st August.