Library
News
September 2015
Autumn edition
The Library’s satisfaction rate in the 2015 National Student Survey
was 91 per cent! Thank you all!
W
elcome to the Autumn
edition of the Library
newsletter.
I am delighted to report that we have
achieved our highest ever satisfaction
rating in this year’s National Student
Survey, with a score of 91%. We
remain committed to continuing to work
closely with our users, via the Student
Reps scheme, Library Consultative
Group, regular meetings with the USSU
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Education Officers and occasional
focus groups, in order to ensure
that the collections and services we
provide meet the diverse needs of our
community.
We’ve been very busy this summer
and you can find out more about what
we’ve been up to in this edition of the
newsletter. Make sure you visit the new
quiet study area on the second floor,
which has been refurbished and now
provides additional seating and training
facilities as well as 8 gender-neutral
toilets. We’ve extended our opening
hours this year, so you can spend even
more time in the new study areas. And
do familiarise yourselves with our new
approach to book renewals and Library
fines which we hope will make it easier
for you to keep track of your borrowing.
We will continue to work with our
student Library Ambassadors over the
coming year to ensure that we are able
to maintain a pleasant and conducive
study environment or all our users. Do
please help us achieve this by observing
the Library Code of Conduct
www.sussex.ac.uk/library/info and
showing consideration to other Library
users. We’d be happy to receive your
feedback via Twitter @sussexlibrary,
Facebook /sussexlibrary
or our instant messaging service
www.sussex.
ac.uk/library/
contact/askus
Kitty Inglis,
Librarian
Library introduces new user-friendly book
renewal system
Following feedback from recent
Library surveys, we have been
consulting widely within the University
about the future of Library fines.
The introduction of the new library
management system this summer
has presented us with an opportunity
to change the way we manage our
stock, so that users can get hold of
the items they need as quickly as
possible whilst not leaving others
with fines for books which are not
immediately required.
We are delighted to announce that
from the start of the new academic
year on 1 August 2015, you need
not worry about renewing your Main
Collection items to avoid incurring
fines. From this date onward, you will
only be charged if you fail to return
items which have been recalled or
continue to hold items after your
University membership expires. In
either case, an email will be sent to
your registered account giving you
notice of the amended due date.
If one of your items is recalled,
please ensure you return it within a
week, even if the due date has been
brought forward. Please check your
registered email regularly to make
sure none of the items you hold has
been recalled - prompt return will
enable you to avoid incurring any
charges.
There are a couple of exceptions to this
change. Core Collection books, which
can be borrowed for 24 hours, can be
renewed once but must be returned
to the Library by the due date to avoid
incurring penalty charges. This applies
even where the due date falls on the
weekend. Interlibrary loans are another
instance where the existing arrangement
will continue.
Regardless of the upcoming changes,
we continue to encourage you to bring
back your items once you have finished
with them to make them instantly
available to other users.
Brand new facilities on the Second floor
The Second floor summer refurbishment project will finish during the autumn
term, offering exciting new facilities for students.
The area formerly used by Special Collections, now located at The Keep, is being
renovated to provide a high-quality, flexible study environment to the growing
number of students. The Second floor will hold additional Silent and Quiet study
spaces and eight new gender-neutral toilets in line with the increased occupancy.
We are also pleased to announce that the study space will include state-of-theart video pods which can be used to record high-quality, personal, video-based
CVs, presentations and other communications to support career development,
teaching and training. The two bookable self-service media recording booths are
fully automated, allowing users to produce recordings to match their needs.
We hope the new facilities will help to support your studies by providing a
convenient and inspiring contemporary workspace.
Library News
Library regulations
at a glance
Clear bottles of
Food and drink
water are allowed may only be
in the Library
consumed in
the Café and
vending area
Phones may
only be used
in designated
stairwells
Electronic
devices must
be kept on silent
Library News
Careers and Employability Centre
New online resources
The Library has added a number of new
online resources during the summer,
covering a wide range of subject areas.
These include:
•
American Consumer Culture,
which provides a unique insight into the
American consumer boom of the mid20th Century.
•
British Online Archives, giving
access to a number of primary source
collections on the history of the Atlantic
world.
•
Drama Online, providing access
to more than 1200 plays, as well as
contextual and critical background
material.
•
History Vault World War II,
which includes records of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, the War Department
Operations Division, U.S. Navy Action
and Operational Reports, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Map Room Files,
Records of the Office of War Information
and Papers of the War Refugee Board,
amongst others.
•
Newspaper Archives, including
the archives of the Washington Post,
Wall Street Journal and the LA Times
•
The Literary Encyclopedia, which
publishes biographies of major and
minor writers, scholarly descriptions of
their works and a variety of descriptive
and critical essays on literary, cultural
and historical matters.
•
Sustainable Organization
Library, containing case studies and
papers from more than 800 books and
journals published by the independent
sustainability publisher, Greenleaf
Publishing, as well as a number of
partner organizations.
•
American Periodicals Online,
which features over 1,500 periodicals
spanning nearly 200 years from
colonial times to the advent of American
involvement in World War II.
We have also acquired a variety of
ebook subject collections from various
publishers and are now providing
access to the backfiles of a number of
Nature titles, as well as titles in the arts
and humanities from Taylor and Francis,
and backfiles from Sage.
Everything you do at university counts! There are so many
ways to have fun, enrich your student life and do something
you care about. Whatever stage you are at in exploring your
future, the Careers and Employability Centre can help. We
are located on the Ground floor of the Library and provide
information, advice and help with applications for students,
researchers and graduates.
We advertise over 5000 vacancies a year on our website
including part time student jobs, placements, internships,
volunteering opportunities and graduate jobs. The University
aims to employ students where possible and our website is
the best place to find jobs on campus.
We run hundreds of events each term ‒ whether you want
to enhance your skills, meet employers, write a CV or find
a job, we have something for you. This term’s events will
include the launch of our exclusive leadership training
scheme, Learning to Lead, and our annual Careers Fair at
the Amex stadium where you can meet over one hundred
graduate employers in one place. We also offer workshops
and tutorials to help you improve your study skills.
Resources to improve your study skills are available at
www.sussex.ac.uk/s3
To find out more about what we offer, book appointments,
find jobs and look at our full schedule of events, log into
CareerHub at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers
Extended Library opening hours
Smoking is
only allowed
beyond the
Library steps
Over the academic year 2015-16, the Library will open for
an extra 378 hours.
Use of e-cigarettes
and smoking
is not permitted
in the Library
We offer three types of study spaces.
Be considerate to others and choose
the space which best suits your
needs.
We also have a number of Study
Rooms which you can book online.
During University vacations, the Library remains open
until 8pm on weekdays and 12pm-7pm on Saturday and
Sunday afternoons. Vacation opening times have been
extended to provide support for students, such as taught
postgraduates, who have submission deadlines during the
holidays.
Special Collections at The Keep
The Keep will be celebrating its second anniversary this autumn. Since we opened
in November 2013, over 5000 researchers have visited us to use original archives
and rare books. Many more students and members of the public have also visited as
part of teaching groups and our wider activity and lecture programme.
From the beginning of term, University staff and students who are registered users
of the Eduroam service will be able to use the wireless access connection whilst at
The Keep. We will also be opening up recently acquired collections for researchers
to access, including the personal papers of Trix Kipling, the sister of the author
Rudyard Kipling, and the extensive collection of the British writer, poet, artist and
political activist Anna Mendelssohn. An event to celebrate the completion of the
extensive project to catalogue Mendlessohn’s papers will be taking place in October.
More information on collections and events taking place at The Keep are available
via our website at www.thekeep.info
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The Library’s collaboration with SAGE Publications
has gone from strength to strength. The UG Scholars
continue to investigate the reading and research habits of
undergraduate students and have been sharing their findings
via their blog, as well as speaking at SAGE and attending
The London Digital Student Meet-Up. To round off another
successful year they attended the Times Higher Education
Leadership and Management Awards 2015.
During University term times, the Library now opens at
10am on Sunday and remains open until 8pm on Friday.
On Saturdays, we are open 10am-7pm. The Information
Hub is staffed 8.45am-8pm on weekdays and 12pm-7pm
at weekends.
Study spaces
Silent study silent individual study
Quiet study quiet individual study
Group study quiet group work
SAGE Scholars
Find out more about the UG Scholars at
blogs.sussex.ac.uk/sagestudents. This year they are
exploring digital literacy - watch out for opportunities to
contribute by completing their survey or joining in an event.
The Research Hive Scholars are doctoral researchers also
supported by a bursary from SAGE. Last year they ran
many events for researchers, the most popular being their
Doctoral Discussions series which brought together Sussex
researchers to share experiences and tips on subjects from
how to survive your first conference to what really happens
in a viva. The new Scholars for 2015/16 are preparing for a
busy year supporting both new and current researchers –
visit their blog at sussexresearchhive.wordpress.com to
find out more.
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Library News
You said, we did!
We are continually striving to improve
our services and we take all feedback
very seriously. In response to comments
we have received, we have been
making improvements in the following
areas:
Increased computer access via the
Laptop Loan Scheme
You can borrow a Chromebook for up to
six hours with your Library card, which
creates additional mobile workspaces
and means you can travel lightly.
The self-service locker is located on the
Ground floor behind the Info Hub.
ID cards
Reduced
administration fees
The administration processing fees
for lost books have been reduced £15 for one book, £20 for two books
and £25 for three or more books.
You will also be charged for a
replacement copy, which you cannot
provide yourself. Treat your books
with care!
Suggestions
We welcome all your comments and
suggestions. Fill in a form at the
Info Hub or contact us through our
webpage
www.sussex.ac.uk/library
Access to the Library
Hassle-free access
The cardless entry kiosk near the
entrance provides out of hours access
to the Library if you have lost your card
and quicker access during staffed hours.
Additional study spaces and toilets
Following the summer refurbishment
project, the Second floor now holds
additional study spaces with
state-of-the-art video recording pods
and additional toilets for productive and
pleasant study sessions.
The main entrance to the Library may
be unsuitable for users with mobility
problems. An alternative entrance
is located at the north end of the
building near IDS, which allows entry
to the Ground floor via a phone link.
Please contact Library Membership
to arrange alternative access.
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Lis ssex
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T 01273 678487
E [email protected]
Term time hours
Minimising noise and disruption
Approachable and friendly Student
Library Ambassadors in green T-shirts
help to ensure that the Library remains a
conducive study environment with
minimal noise and disruption.
They can also help you with any
queries.
Improved range of resources
We work closely with academic schools
to compile reading lists and identify new
research areas. We are constantly
improving our resources to cater for all
areas of study at the University.
Please remember to bring your
University ID card with you to enter
the Library. Only five cardless visits
are allowed per year.
24 hour opening:
10am Sunday-8pm Friday
Saturday opening:
10am-7pm
For vacation and bank holidays,
please check the Library webpage.
Contact details
liblists.sussex.ac.uk
Sussex in the 60s
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10/12/2014 12:37:29
University of Sussex Library
Brighton
BN1 9QL, UK
T +44 (0)1273 678163
E [email protected]
www.sussex.ac.uk/library
Follow us:
www.facebook.com/sussexlibrary
www.twitter.com/sussexlibrary
www.instagram.com/sussexlibrary
Please show consideration to
others and follow the Library
Guidelines at all times.
The Library has a zero tolerance
approach towards abuse to staff
or others and will follow up on all
reports of offensive behaviour.
See you soon!
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