New Journal titles

We now have electronic access to two new titles available from Bloomsbury Publishing and listed in Library Search:

The journal of Home Cultures is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the critical understanding of the domestic sphere, its artefacts, spaces and relations, across timeframes and cultures. 'Home' is a highly fluid and contested site of human existence that reflects and reifies identities and values. In this context Home Cultures explores the relationship between body and building, consumption, material culture, the meaning of home, moving cultures and social consequences of planning and architecture.

The Senses & Society journal provides a crucial forum for the exploration of this vital new area of inquiry. Peer-reviewed and international, it brings together ground-breaking work in the humanities and social sciences and incorporates cutting-edge developments in art, design, and architecture. Every volume contains something for and about each of the senses, both singly and in all sorts of novel configurations.

The Senses & Society Journal

Home Culture Journal





Merry Christmas!

                                                    Photo credit: @Doug88888

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a well deserved break! 

The library will close at midday on the 24th December and re-open on the weekend beginning the 3rd January, opening hours can be viewed on the library website:
 http://www.westminster.ac.uk/library-and-it/our-libraries/marylebone-library

All books issued now will be due back on the 5th January 2015.

If you want to get ahead ready for the new semester, why not book on to some of our upcoming library drop-in sessions.  They are short 30 minute sessions aimed at helping you make the most of our resources and improve your grades and tackle all your referencing needs.  Feel free to drop by or sign-up online here:
http://www.randrskills.signupsheet.com/

Digimap developments

                                      Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stewf/ 

There are a few new developments in the Digimap Service that should make life a lot easier for you.

 EDINA have been busy over the summer making improvements to the Data Download service and as a result you can now order OS MasterMap Topography Layer in formats ready for use in GIS or CAD software rather than having to convert the data first. We have also updated the Basket in Data Download to make it more obvious how you can do this. The data is available directly in DWG format for CAD software and File Geodatabase for ArcGIS and QGIS, see the following blog posts for more information:

• OS MasterMap now available in File Geodatabase format
• OS MasterMap now available in DWG format
• Data Download Basket Updates

Further help information for Digimap is avaialble here:

http://digimap.edina.ac.uk/webhelp/resources/index.html  

Help with locating architectural information in print journals

We have a wealth of information relating to architects and their projects and buildings, a lot of this information is held within our print collection of architectural related journals on the third floor of the library.  Unless you have been given a specific reference to where information has been published it can be difficult to trace this information via Library Search, as information in print journals that are not available electronically are not indexed.

I usually use and suggest the RIBA catalogue for tracing this type of content, as they do index their print journal collection.  You can then cross reference with the journal titles that we hold to find the relevant information.  I have created a short clip to demonstrate how you can use the RIBA catalogue to this effect:

Time for some re-growth and regeneration

The library has been going through a regenerative phase over the Summer and we can't wait to unveil it for you all to enjoy.  Thank you for bearing with us, it won't be long now...

Why don't you take the opportunity to improve your research skills by attending some of our sessions scheduled throughout semester one.  Topics include using Library Search to improve your marks, Referencing skills and a new addition delivered by our very knowledgeable Archive's team on using the Archive for architectural research. More details on sessions can be found here:
http://www.randrskills.signupsheet.com/

Supporting student group work

Most students understand the need for group work, some find it difficult to perform effectively within the small group setting.

Our Westminster Change Academy project aims to improve the student experience of group work.

We need your input and would very grateful if you would complete a short questionnaire, which should take no more than 5 minutes to complete by following the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1t7g6MMDbDrNkunVovk2j-t737z9os8YpNwvno9PwFrM/viewform

 Thank you for your time.

On behalf of the Westminster Change Academy 'Supporting Student Group Work' project team.

 If you have any questions, please contact the project leader, John Begg, at J.Begg1@westminster.ac.uk

New online resource for planning

I am pleased to announce that we now have online access to the Development Control Practice resource or DCP Online for short.

We currently take the print version of this in the library which is reference only, so I hope the enhanced access to online will be helpful for students accessing remotely.

To access it you just enter Development Control Practice in to Books journals and more search tab, click on the online access tab and then Go next to Miscellaneous E-journals.

About DCP

First set up in 1982, Development Control Practice is now the essential guide for all those involved in the planning process. A comprehensive reference for everyone from developers and planning consultants through to local authorities:

· Wide-ranging, with 37 chapters the guide offers a unique combination of legislation, policy statements, appeal and court decisions and best practice.

· Reliable, the information is based on 65 years of combined practical development control knowledge.

· Up to date, bi-monthly updates ensure that DCP is constantly relevant and dependable.

· Easy to use, all formats include a clear user guide and simple index system.

· Full colour illustrations and helpful diagrams.

Set things off with a bang in 2014!

                                                     http://www.flickr.com/photos/kibondo/


Happy New Year! to all returning staff and students.

I hope you all had a good break and are all set for the year ahead.  Why not start as you mean to go on and come along to one of our scheduled drop-in sessions in the library, we have a range of topics to help you get the most out of our resources:

Get better marks using Library Search
Referencing the right way
Market Research

Find out more details here on our event booking page:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/academic-liaison-team-marylebone-4685648539

All sessions are 30 minutes, so easy to pop in between other commitments.

Twitter competition

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettheath/

 

 

Twitter competition

Get yourself an early Christmas present by entering the @UniWestLib Twitter competition. During the last week of term follow @UniWestLib and retweet one of their competition tweets to be in with a chance of winning 1 of 2 £25 Amazon vouchers.  For more information see here: http://bit.ly/uniwestlibcomp



Architectus OER

                                                                               Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/psulibscollections/

Architectus provides a recognised Open Educational Resources (known as OERs) for teaching and learning purposes in Architecture and the Built Environment – including digital primary sourced drawings, concept designs, construction plans amongst other valuable digitised resources now available to the wider teaching and learning community under an open Creative Commons licensing model.

The resource is searchable in several ways – by Practice, project/building type, by date or asset category (incorporating the five stage RIBA plan of work).

You can read more about the resource from this blog http://architectus.bcu.ac.uk/blog

Try out the resource for yourself here http://architectus.bcu.ac.uk/practices

Make your own maps

A recent article in the independent talks about the future of map creation and a movement called "open-source mapping". With the advent of smartphones and GPS people are able to create personalised maps adding locations and social layering features.

The following sites have more information/applications to create your own maps:
Mapbox http://www.mapbox.com  
MapTales http://maptal.es/
CartoDB http://cartodb.com
Soundcities http://www.soundcities.com
Google Map Maker http://www.google.co.uk/mapmaker
Waze http://www.waze.com/

You can also use Digimap to create maps and extract ordnance survey data accessible via Library Search Watch this video for a basic introduction:

Summer opening hours

Coutesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominart/

Summer opening hours

Marylebone Library opening times
24/7 access will commence on September 23rd
Don't forget that you can access library resources 24/7 electronically via Library Search Have a fantastic summer, and please feel free to contact me if you have any queries regarding accessing information and resources.
Monday	9am - 5pm	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 8pm	9am - 8pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm	9am - 5pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm	11am - 5pm
Sunday	Closed	Closed

Come for a FREE lunch

Photo credit: courtesy of DavidHerrold @Flickr

 

Come along for a FREE lunch and give us your thoughts on Apps and the usefulness of technology for learning

The focus group will be held in the Marylebone Library Training room, food and refreshments will be provided in return for your thoughts and valuable feedback.  Please contact Emma Mires Richards with availability if interested e.miresrichards@westminster.ac.uk

We will be looking to run the focus group towards the end of March.

Semester 2 Drop-in sessions

               Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrellmillhouse/

 

Have you ever struggled to get access to an article from home, can't get to the full text?

Losing marks for incorrect referencing?

Trying to find images and film content but don't know where to start?

 

If you find yourself asking any of the above then why not come along to our drop-in sessions where we can help you access and use a wealth of resources to help you succeed and excel in your studies.

 

The sessions are all designed so that you can drop-in between 12pm and 3pm to get answers to your questions and see live demonstrations - you can stay for however little or long you need.  All sessions will take place in the Library Training Room in the North Area, 1st floor.

 

Access articles remotely

Tuesday 19^th Feb 12-3pm

Tuesday 26^th Feb 12-3pm

 

Referencing help with RefWorks

Wednesday 6^th March 12-3pm

Wednesday 13^th March 12-3pm

 

Access images and multimedia

Tuesday 19^th March 12-3pm

Tuesday 26^th March 12-3pm

Get a £20 Amazon voucher with Project DigitISE focus group

 Image credit: Visual Artist Frank Bonilla

 The University is undertaking some research into students' understanding of and attitudes to digital literacy skills, especially as they relate to employability.

In November 2012 Project DigitISE undertook a survey of students and a summary of findings can be found on the project blog: http://blog.westminster.ac.uk/jisc-employability

Now we are looking for second and third year students to take part in a focus group. We ask for up to two hours of your time and participants will each receive a £20 Amazon voucher. Focus groups take place 4pm to 6pm on

Wednesday 13^th February

Thursday 14^th February

Friday 15^th February

If you are interested in taking part, complete our registration form

Watch out soon for Get the Digital Edge, a day of workshops and seminars on March 21^st to help you improve your technological skills when job seeking.

Welcome back!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickwheeleroz 

Happy New Year!

Welcome back hope you all had a good Christmas break and are ready to start the Spring term.  We will be running some drop-in sessions in the library at the beginning of this semester aimed at helping you to get the best out of Library Search and its resources - it is also a great opportunity to get to know your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Feel free to come along to any of the sessions or even pre-book here http://bit.ly/X2LEMr

 Meet staff to help you get the most out of your library

Get tips on using resources to save time

Get help finding resources for your assignments

Visit your new library

 Wednesday 16^th Jan 11-3pm

Tuesday 22^nd Jan 11-3pm

Wednesday 30^th Jan 11-3pm

Tuesday 5^th Feb 11-3pm

We will also be advertising some new drop-in sessions for the remainder of semester 2, so please check in the library or this blog for more details coming soon.