LIBRARY STUDENT NEWSLETTER
Issue 1
Library Student Newsletter
February 2015 HELPING YOU DISCOVER…
IN SHORT
Library increases student loan allowances Following feedback from our users the Library has increased the loan allowance for all Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. Undergraduates loan allocation has gone from 12 to 15 main stock loans, whilst Postgraduates have gone from 15 to 18 loans. Students have told us that at points in the year, especially around deadlines when you might be working on more than one assignment, the loan allocation hasn’t been enough. The Library also increased staff loan allowances last year. We have to look carefully at how the circulation of stock might be impacted by an increase to loan limits. However, with continued investment in physical and electronic books we are able to make the change, which we
hope will make a difference to our users.
Library Loan Allowances in summary:
eBooks and QR codes We have added labels to our shelves which will show when an eBook is available of a title you may be looking for. Scan the QR code on your phone and it will take you to the Library Catalogue record for the resource.
Undergraduate students: 15 main stock items Postgraduate students: 18 main stock items Staff: 20 main stock items Separate loan allowances are available for Audio Visual material, School Experience items and Media and IT Loans.
Text for Help Service If you’re experiencing noise in a silent area you can now text Library staff for assistance discreetly. The service is available Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm.
Please text: 02033897542
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Improving the discoverability of Library resources – the new Library Catalogue July 2014 saw the launch of a new discovery tool for library resources. This allowed Library Services to offer significant improvements in search functionality, keeping pace with the search solutions offered by other university libraries. For the first time it is possible to search our range of online subscription databases at article-level and those resources can now also be searched alongside print materials and eBooks, all from a single search box. An innovative partnership between two of our suppliers, Capita and EBSCO, allowed us to offer this new functionality while retaining the Library Catalogue interface that users were familiar with. The Library Catalogue offers a number of other new features designed to save time and make services more easily accessible. The introduction of single sign on means that customers can now use their Roehampton login to access both online library resources and their library account. A new Inter Library Loan request form has been incorporated into the Library Catalogue
and fines can be paid via the My Account area meaning that it is no longer necessary to go to a separate website to access these services. We believe that the new Library Catalogue represents a big step forward in the service we are able to offer and we will continue to build on that success over the coming months. A Library Catalogue User Group has been set up to gather feedback and inform decisions about future developments and we will be working closely with our suppliers to adapt the way the Library Catalogue works and to introduce new features to ensure it meets the needs of our customers.
Student Library Ambassador Scheme Library Services is piloting a Student Library Ambassador Scheme, which will run until the end of the academic year. The pilot involves undergraduate and postgraduate students from across the University (we have recruited ambassadors from nine out of ten departments so far) taking part in Library related activities. The ambassadors have been briefed and are working with their relevant Subject Librarian in developing this new role. They attend regular meetings with Subject Librarians and use a variety of online tools to network with each other. Activities will mainly include ordering books not currently in stock in the library, based on requests from fellow students. Their key role
is communicating with other students in their department about developments such as the new Library and the new Library Catalogue by acting as a feedback channel between Library Services and their department. The scheme will be evaluated over the summer but has already resulted in books being ordered and ideas for future development of the role. For further information please contact Julie Harrison from the Library Academic Liaison team on j.harrison@roehampton.ac.uk.
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CONTACTS
Follow us on Twitter For the latest news from Library Services follow us on Twitter @UR_Library
Virtual Librarian Live - putting you in touch with the Library in an instant
Library & IT Enquiries Library staff are available to help you with queries and are available at the Library & IT Enquiries Desk for face to face assistance. FAST FACTS
100% During the Autumn Term our monthly stats show that we were able to re-shelve returned Library books within 24 hours meeting our Service Level by 100%. FOR MORE INFORMATION Library Enquiries: 020 8392 3770 Automated Renewals: 020 8392 3250 IT Helpdesk: 020 8392 3737
In September the Library launched a new instant chat service called Virtual Librarian Live. Found on the Library homepage, Virtual Librarian Live allows students, staff and members of the public to be put in contact with Library staff members instantly. The simple to use chat interface works well on desktop PCs and Macs as well as mobiles and tablets. The service has proved really popular with users as they are normally able to get an instant resolution to the problem. Some of the feedback we’ve receive from users includes: “This is a great service, and much appreciated”. “Thanks you so much, this is a great service” “ahhh, thank you! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO” Since launching we’ve clocked nearly 200 chats, providing an immediate response to dozens of people. As well as the instant chat service the package includes a great frequently asked questions system. The easy to search FAQs are also available from the Library homepage and can now include pictures and videos along with text information. We also receive feedback on what people are looking for, allowing us to provide more information for ‘hot topics’. A voting system also shows how popular particular FAQs are, which will allow us to improve the quality of the information that we provide.
So if you need a quick answer to a question, Virtual Librarian Live is definitely the way to go.
Library Services News Page The Library has introduced a new Library Services News web page which will allow Library users to keep up to date with what is happening in the Library. From this page, users will be able to find out general information, such as:
Library news updates Reports of new Library Developments See what will be happening this month in the Library Check how we’re doing in reaching some of our targets by checking the results of our Service Level Agreements Provide us with feedback using the online feedback form www.roehampton.ac.uk/Library/
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Library Opening Hours Extended From September 2014 the Library has been open until midnight as standard during term time throughout the academic year in a pilot to extend opening within existing budgets. In addition, we continue the success of 24 hour opening for 12 weeks at peak times during the academic year. The Library will be open 24 hours again from:
Monday 9th March – Sunday 29th March, and Monday 13th April – Sunday 17th May The PC Suites are open throughout the year, even when the Library is closed. For details of the Library Opening Hours please check our web pages.
Campus enhancements and the new Library You will notice if you’re visiting the Library that right outside we currently have building work on the Digby Stuart College campus. This work is part of the University’s campus enhancement programme, which includes the development of new student accommodation. You may find that access routes to the Library are rerouted during the building work but the Library will remain open throughout. The £80 million masterplan includes the creation of a new state of the art Library. If you want to read more about the campus enhancements, including news of the new Library project you can check the dedicated web pages from the Roehampton homepage.
YOUR FEEDBACK COUNTS – TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
If you’d like to feedback on any aspect of Library Services fill in one of our suggestion cards or go to our web pages to fill in the online feedback form. www.roehampton.ac.uk/Library/
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