bucksBiblio
Library Newsletter Issue 2 : SPRING 2010
W
elcome to the second issue of bucksBiblio, Library Services’ biannual newsletter. In this issue: • We say goodbye to Ann Badhams after 19 years at Bucks • A look at the Newsletter team • A week in the life of the Acquisitions Librarians • Inter-library loans • Our regular resource review • Lots of useful information about the library services Read on for bucksBiblio …
S
ince our first issue in December the Library has joined the Student Experience directorate. This emphasises our commitment to delivering student-focused services that complement and extend the learning experience at Bucks. By popular demand we have moved our silent study area to the 4th floor in the Gateway Library. You may have seen the notice below Our libraries have been opening until 3am on specific days as a pilot to extend opening hours. If you have any comments or feedback on this pilot, please e-mail hwlib@bucks.ac.uk
With summer approaching we recall the snow that turned Bucks into a shelter for the stranded (above). Distant memories!
W
e are pleased to welcome Graham (right) as our new Library Assistant, and the following students as Service Assistants: Jack, Nicola, Yiming, Johana, Russell, Agnieszka, Damian, Tom, Andrea, Vera, Jason and Rhiannon. They have already been doing excellent work re-shelving and tidying the stock. Look out for them in their purple tops (Johana, below left). “I really enjoyed the first bucksBiblio and found it informative and accessible, an excellent way of introducing the new library buildings. The pictures were a very good way to see who's who in the Learning Resources team as well as the libraries themselves. The drawings lent extra interest and I will look forward to the next edition. I was pleased to find the newsletter on Issuu, a fun way of presenting the document.” (Ruth Gunstone, Director of Student Experience) As part of our commitment to supporting inclusive learning, we have been working with Pam Owen in Equality and Diversity to make our newsletter more accessible to students with visual impairments and dyslexia.
Farewell to Ann Badhams
O
n 18 May the library service bids a fond farewell to Ann Badhams after 19 years. She has been instrumental in our development, most recently as LRC Relocation Manager overseeing a complex moving and merging process (Issue 1, p. 2). Highly skilled at making best use of available space, Ann has ensured that our facilities have adapted to changes in working styles and resources. She has also taken an active interest in training and developing people. Here are a few highlights of her career: Sep 2009 – May 2010 Mar 2009 – Aug 2009 Nov 2004 1999 Aug 1990 1967 – 1990 1971
Librarian, Uxbridge Nursing Library, Bucks New University LRC Relocation Liaison Manager for Bucks New University Appointed as Learning Resources Manager CIPD Certificate in Training Practice from Thames Valley University Joins Buckinghamshire University College as Librarian in Charge London Borough of Hillingdon, Children’s Librarian / Branch Librarian National Student Award in Hospital & Welfare Libraries Studies, Ealing College
A
s a children’s librarian for Hillingdon she ran holiday activities in parks, an old cow shed, and a narrow boat. In her own time Ann has pursued a keen interest in the natural world through the Hertfordshire & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Staff Association walking group. In her own words On one of her more challenging tasks: “Rearranging the Kingshill Library after the library’s closure for asbestos removal; the electrical sockets were in different places to before. So, the entire library had to be rearranged over a weekend and fully operational on the Monday.” How do you intend spending your retirement? “4 children and 2 grandchildren will keep me busy. I will spend more time in the garden and plan to start bee-keeping.” What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time? “Walking, reading, gardening and listening to jazz or classical music.”
Introducing the bucksBiblio team
I
n our regular roles we are mild-mannered Librarians and Senior Library Assistants but now and again our alter egos surface and embrace the heady world of journalism. Left to right: Sam Piker: Senior Library Assistant, our expert on Microsoft Publisher, photographer, and writer. Loves: Mountains Hates: Celebrity news Catherine Williams: Acquisitions Librarian and our editor -in-chief. She keeps us in line and write articles too. Loves: Colin Firth Hates: Brussels Sprouts Fran Jenner: Senior Library Assistant (Journals), roving photographer and writer. Loves: Lying in bed Hates: McDonalds Roland Scales: Subject & Research Librarian, wicked caricaturist and cartoonist. Loves: J.S. Bach Hates: Volleyball
A Week in the Life of the Acquisitions Librarians
W
e are the Acquisitions Librarians, Belinda Roker and Catherine Williams and we have been sharing this role since 2003. Acquisitions is the process of acquiring or purchasing information. We are involved in all aspects from selection to ordering, paying for and making resources available. We work closely with the Librarians as well as the University Finance and Procurement departments and the numerous book, database and e-book suppliers and subscription agents. No two weeks are the same in acquisitions but here is a snapshot of what we get up to… Monday (Belinda) – Started by setting up a trial to a new database. Contacted Dawson Books to discuss how we can move to online ordering to streamline our book ordering process. Met with one of the Subject Librarians to advise on book budget. Finished off by unpacking boxes of new books, receiving them on our library management system, accessioning them and paying invoices. Tuesday (Belinda) – Started morning by answering a student query about accessing databases. Then sent authorized invoices to Finance and continued unpacking more boxes of new books. I also had an hour’s session as back-up to the service desk. Wednesday (Catherine) – Always start my working week by checking e-mails and catching up on any developments in acquisitions. Sent some authorized invoices to Finance. I attended a briefing for Student Experience directorate, then had a busy hour at the service desk booking group study rooms and handling enquiries. A library team meeting, then finished off the afternoon by chairing the library newsletter group meeting. Thursday (Catherine) – Spent the day at Uxbridge campus library sharing service desk duty; a busy and enjoyable day helping nursing students use the self-issue machine, with photocopying and accessing databases and e-journals. Friday (Catherine) – Contacted Pam Owen in Equality and Diversity for advice on improving accessibility to our Library newsletter. An hour’s session as back-up to the service desk assistant, then spent the rest of the morning unpacking more new books and preparing them for cataloguing. Overall a varied and enjoyable working week.
Above: Acquisitions Librarians Catherine & Belinda Below: Inter Library Loan and Inter-site Article Request forms.
Inter-Library Loans
C
o-operative access has always been key to the success of supporting University library users and their varied information needs. Here at Bucks the library operates an invaluable inter-library loan service which has already seen the successful completion of more than 360 requests from staff and students in the period September 2009 to March 2010. The inter-library loan service is open to final year undergraduates, masters students and researchers or academic employees. Inter-library loan request forms and frequently asked questions are available in the Library tab on Blackboard. The library sources key journal articles and books from the British Library’s document supply centre, the Nursing Union of Library Journals and the British Medical Association. It also operates an inter-site service whereby students can request journal articles held at the other Bucks campus library. A small charge is made to cover the cost of photocopying. So if you can’t get hold of a book or journal article from the libraries at Bucks and the information is not freely available on the internet, why not try an inter-library loan ?
Resource Review: What’s Hot (books) Roger Beebe and Jason Middleton, eds. (2007) Medium cool: music videos from soundies to cellphones. Durham, NC; London: Duke University Press. From Spike Jones in black and white to Busta Rhymes on your mobile phone, this collection of essays charts and analyses the rise of the music video through time and space. (Roland Scales) Colin Beckley (2005) The red herring and the power of logic. Eastbourne: Antony Rowe. Using logic to find validity and truth (always with a small t) helps to make informed decisions based on sound arguments. Colin Beckley shows how to do this in an easy, light and entertaining way. This book is particularly applicable now as we try to make sense of what the politicians tell us before the looming elections. (Elik Borrill, Subject & Research Librarian)
A little bit of fun ‌ can you guess where this picture (left) was taken in the Gateway Library ? E-mail suggestions to biblio@bucks.ac.uk The answer to the mystery pic from Issue 1 (right) is ... the Rolling Stack. This publication can be provided in an alternative format: Contact: biblio@bucks.ac.uk