Where is the SCIT software in Harrison Learning Centre?

There are 12 PCs in Harrison Learning Centre which have specialist computing software. These machines have the same software as those in MI building so that when MI is closed, or you are working late and need to access certain programs, you still have somewhere to come and work.

There are six machines on the ground floor and six machines on the third floor (the side with the books, not in the IT suite). Both PC clusters are labelled with SCIT/SEBE software.

Welcome to and Welcome back

A very warm welcome to new SCIT students starting at the University this week, and of course to returning students back from the Summer break. It’s a busy time of year for everyone so this is just a short post about the new “Skills for Learning” webpages on the Learning Centre’s website. This has been revised and updated over the Summer and is now a one-stop place for study skills advice and appointments, details of this semester’s InfoBites workshops, full information about the University’s referencing systems, and the EndNote support webpages. Harvard referencing has been updated to include an example list of different sources which will hopefully make the system easier to follow.

As always, your feedback on the Learning Centre website is welcomed. Please use the online form for comments and suggestions.

Summer updates

As it is the 1st of June and the sun is shining (for the moment at least), thought it was time for a few updates on Learning Centre activity over the Summer.

Learning Centres are still open throughout the Summer with extended opening in the evenings and on Saturdays at Harrison and Walsall. Check full details on the Learning Centre website. Our online chat service ASSIST will be on hand throughout the Summer, and outside of operating times you can submit a query via Ask a Librarian or email us direct.

If you are coming into Harrison Learning Centre, you will notice our new Information Point on the ground floor where a librarian will be available to help with any enquiries. There may be some movement of books or journals which are sent off for binding, so if you are after something specific, it may be advisable to telephone first to check availability. Any requests for EndNote training or anything from the InfoBites workshops can also be accommodated – just contact us with the details.

Have an enjoyable Summer break : )

New quiet study area

Photo from Flickr, uploaded by ewphoto

There have been a few changes at Harrison Learning Centre recently, and in response to student and staff feedback, the 3rd floor has now been designated as a quiet study area. All spaces, tables and study rooms are for individual study. Please note that this only applies to the book floor and not the IT suite.

We hope that this move will be welcomed and supported by students and staff. Your feedback is always valued so please comment here, fill in a comments form in the Learning Centre or submit comments online.

EThOS – UK theses to your desktop

The British Library new EThOS service is now up and running. EThOS is a freely available service that allows you to search for UK theses. The search is open to anyone to find a theses and if you wish make a request to view one, you will need to register with the site. The British Library will then deliver the the theses direct to your desktop.

This means that we will no longer be supplying theses through the inter-library loan service. For more information, please ask at Learning Centre helpdesks or email us.

Christmas opening hours

Check the LIS website for details of Christmas vacation opening hours at all Learning Centres. These include additional opening times for Harrison and Walsall Learning Centres.

Happy Holidays from SCIT Blog : )

InfoBites – bigger and better!

The new timetable of InfoBites workshops for this semester is now available on the Learning Centre infoskills website. Learning Centres are running a whole range of workshops this semester covering general introductions to Learning Centres, finding journal articles and reading lists, as well as our usual sessions on referencing, using EndNote and EndNote Web, making the most of the Internet, and research skills. All students are welcome to attend to any of the workshops. Look forward to seeing you there.

New subject pages

The subject web pages for computing and maths have been revised and updated and are hopefully, easier to use. They include a section for students and a section for staff and researchers. They contain all the relevant links and information to get you started finding resources for your subject. Why not try the new SCIT search to find quality information in computing and IT, or check out my delicious links for some of the best sites?

Feedback is welcome; comment here or drop me an email.

Off-campus access to ACM and IEEE Digital Libraries

It is now possible to access both the ACM and IEEE digital libraries off-campus thanks to a clever little thing called a proxy server. All you need to do is go to the Databases A-Z page and click on ACM or IEEE. A login box will appear and you will need to enter your IT account username and password as shown below:

Please comment here or contact me if you have any questions or problems using electronic resources.

University Harvard in EndNote Web

The University Harvard referencing style is now available in the list of styles in EndNote Web. This means that you can now format your references in the University style without needing to access the on-campus EndNote program.

For more information about EndNote and details of how to sign up for an EndNote Web account, please visit the EndNote pages of the Learning Centre website or contact me for details.