Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Thursday 18^th May 2023 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! From their website: “The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.” 

Library staff are committed to offering accessible digital resources to those who need them. When we purchase books and other resources, our preference is to buy electronic versions. However, this isn’t always possible due to licence or publishing restrictions. We have access to some additional free services for qualifying users – please get in touch to discuss how we can help you.  

Our email address is librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk, please contact us any time, for any reason. We’re happy to answer any questions: if we can’t help, we’ll find out who can!

RNIB Bookshare 

RNIB Bookshare is a database of electronic resources offered by the Royal National Institute of the Blind. Their collection includes more than a million books and is completely free to use! All books can be downloaded in various formats and are compatible with screen readers and other assistive software. More information can be found on the RNIB Bookshare website. 

To request an account, please ask your disability advisor to contact Library staff – this is so that we can make sure you meet RNIB Bookshare’s eligibility criteria. Library staff will create an account on your behalf then send you an email with the login details. Your account can be used until you leave the University. 

Requests to publishers 

Library staff can request free accessible materials directly from publishers. To do this, we must meet one of the following criteria: 

• at least one print copy of the title in stock, or 
• have electronic access to the title (but for disability-related reasons the student would benefit from a different file type or format), or 
• the student will own a personal copy and can provide proof of purchase which will be sent to the publisher 

This isn’t always successful, or very quick, but we are more than happy to make requests. If you need access to a specific item, please email us at librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk with the title, author’s name, year/edition, and the format you require (eg. PDF, EPUB, or even a print copy). All enquiries are strictly confidential: we don’t share your details with publishers, and we’ll never share your personal information without your consent.  

Personal scans 

If you need access to a work available only in physical format, library staff can scan items on your behalf. These are only for personal use and must not be shared with anyone else. To make requests, please email librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk with book/article details. We will get back to you if we have any questions, then email the scan to you. 

Reading lists 

The library works closely with teaching staff to provide digital reading lists for each course. These are hosted in a web-based software package called Leganto. Leganto is compatible with screen readers and has options to change contrast, font size, and pop-up duration. It is also possible to export your entire reading list into an accessible file.  

When essential materials are only available in physical format, teaching staff can request digital scans. These must comply with copyright law, so are usually less than 10% of the total work (more information on copyright can be found on our website). These scans can be accessed directly from Leganto and can be read using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). 

E-resource providers 

Many of our e-resource providers and databases offer features to help with accessibility. For example, VLEBooks offers a Readaloud feature, allowing you to use text-to-speech from any browser. A list of accessibility statements from providers can be found on our website. 

Direct support 

Library staff can also offer one to one support, either in-person or as an online session, at a time that suits you. We can help with a wide range of queries; including how best to use our catalogue, Primo, help with referencing, how to find resources for your assignments, or anything else! 

We can make referrals to other support services if you want them (such as Assistive Technology).  

Physical accessibility  

We can offer a gentle introduction to the library, either for individuals or small groups. We recognise that our users may be neurodiverse, so these can be held at quiet times to minimise distractions. Staff can help with navigating physical spaces and finding an area that works for you, locating and borrowing books, and more. We also offer a book fetching service for our users – let us know if you’d like to access this. 

We hope this information is useful. Our email address is librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk. Again, please do get in touch with us any time, for any reason. We’re happy to receive feedback and answer any questions: if we don’t immediately have answers, we’ll investigate and get back to you as soon as possible! 

Did you know…? How to return books in TSDRL

Did you know the quickest and easiest way to return library books is at the Returns Room through the self-return machines? You will find the Returns Room on the Ground Floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library, to the right of the main entrance.

_{Photo by Library staff}

It’s as simple as placing the books through the slot one by one. They are removed from your borrowing record as soon as they have passed through. You don’t even need to use your ID card to return books this way.

You will also find an external slot on the right-hand side of the entrance to the Library. This is only available when the library is closed so you don’t need to wait for us to open to return your books! You will need your ID card to be able to use this.

Don’t forget to take your receipt as proof of your returned items.

Heavy Demand books can be returned in the Heavy Demand Area on Floor 1 (using the self-issue/returns machine), or at the Returns Room.

If you are returning books to the Taylor or Medical libraries, please take them to a member of staff at the issue desk. If you are returning them out-of-hours, please use the boxes provided.

If you have any problems with book returns, please speak to any member of staff, or email library@abdn.ac.uk.

Would you like help with referencing?

It’s not too early to start thinking about your referencing. Once you have researched and begun writing your dissertation or project you must remember to correctly acknowledge the sources of any information which you refer to. This allows readers to trace the original material while also ensuring that you avoid potentially committing plagiarism.  

To help you with your referencing, Library staff have prepared several online guides with useful examples. We have a generic guide on Referencing and Citing as well as other guides on specific referencing styles or subject areas:  

• Harvard  
• Vancouver  
• Business students  
• Education students 
• Law students  
• Music students  

Please be sure to look at the referencing guidance which has been provided by your department. You can read advice on avoiding plagiarism on the Student Learning Service’s website and you can check in MyAberdeen for materials on academic writing and avoiding plagiarism. 

We also have access to a really useful book by Colin Neville called Complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism which goes over topics from why you need to reference, where, the different referencing styles, plagiarism and how to express your own ideas in an assignment. 
Cite them right: the essential referencing guide by Richard Pears is another great resource, available to access online or in print from Floor 4 at shelfmark 808.027 PEA in The Sir Duncan Rice Library.

There are many different software solutions that will help you manage your references. RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management service that is free for all University of Aberdeen students and staff to use. See the library website for guidance on using RefWorks, and referencing in general.

Using reference management software allows you to import references from online databases and other sources. There are writing tools that work with the software, for example RefWorks includes a Reference Citation Manager plugin which allows you to automatically generate references from your RefWorks account while you write in Word.

We run occasional Information Skills Workshops for postgrads covering the main features of RefWorks and how to get started. Workshops for taught postgraduate students will be happening later in May. Check the course booking system for these and other workshops soon. Details will also appear on the Library website.

Library staff can also advise on using RefWorks.  Email library@abdn.ac.uk with any questions you may have or come and speak to us in the library. During term time, you can also ask for one-to-one help in an online support session.

The Sir Duncan Rice Library: 24-hour opening and Floor 5 silent study before and during Exams

The Sir Duncan Rice Library will open at 11.00 on Sunday 23 April, and stay open continuously until 22.00 on Friday 12 May 2023.

Over this period, it is important that you are aware of the following:

• Swipe access only after 22.00 – please ensure you have your ID card, as access will not be permitted without it.
• The PCs require a nightly shutdown (lasting about ten minutes) and reboot for essential maintenance. This will happen at 04.00, and you will be given an option to delay this for 2 hours.
• Essential cleaning of the building will be carried out overnight between 02.00 and 06.00, which may result in some disruption.
• Look after yourselves and your belongings – take breaks, but do not leave your personal belongings unattended.
• Take care if leaving the library in the early hours – travel with friends if possible.

Please respect the building and your fellow library users:

1. Hot and cold drinks in covered containers can be consumed in the library.
2. Cold food can be consumed in the same locations – but not if it is has a strong smell or is noisy! (Remember – no hot food allowed apart from the café area on the ground floor).
3. Tidy up after yourself – use the bins which are available on each of the floors.
4. Keep talk to the group study areas to allow others to study.
5. Please go to the stairwells to make/take phone calls

Please note that during this period, the whole of Floor 5 in The Sir Duncan Rice Library will once again operate as a Silent Study area.

Students are required to observe the following rules on Floor 5:

• No discussions, conversations, or phone/video calls
• No noisy food
• No loud music from headphones
• Please go to the stairwells to make/take phone calls or hold conversations.

In addition to the Floor 5 Silent Study Space, our designated Silent Study rooms on Floors 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the south side of the building will operate as normal. The Silent Study room on Floor 6 (Room 624) is the only Silent Study room in the building where electronic devices are not allowed.

Elsewhere in the building, we encourage all users to keep noise and conversations to a minimum. Library staff will be readily available throughout the Library to promote an environment conducive to study.

If you require space for group discussion and collaborative working, have you considered booking a space across our different libraries? See our website for further details.

Please report any problems to security staff on duty – in person (Information Centre,
Floor 1, TSDRL) or by phone (01224 273330).

Also check out the opening hours for our other two Library sites, as Taylor and Medical will not be open 24/7 during these dates.

Where to go for help in The Sir Duncan Rice Library

A comfortable study and learning environment for all
The Library is here to support your study and research by providing a range of study spaces to suit your individual needs. Members of staff can be contacted at any point, in person or via email/telephone, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries about the Library’s facilities and services.

Finding the information you want – using the resources
Find books and journals in print and electronic format, museum objects, theses, images, exam papers and more just by using Primo, the Library’s discovery tool. If you would like help using the different functions within Primo, speak to a member of staff in the Subject and Enquiry Team, at the Information Centre on Floor 1 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library. Subject and Enquiry team staff can also be found on Floors 5 and 6 of the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Please contact us at library@abdn.ac.uk.

If you have a subject-specific question, need help constructing a search strategy or using one of our specialist databases, speak to the Information Consultant for your discipline. A detailed list can be found here.

Borrowing enquiries, fines, using the Heavy Demand section, collecting reserved items
Speak to staff at the Information Centre on Floor 1 if you need help placing requests on books or collecting reserved items. Staff on Floor 1 can also advise on Inter-Library Loans and access to your borrower record. The Heavy Demand section is on the west wall of the building, next to the Information Centre. It contains books that are heavily used, a DVD collection, study spaces, self-service kiosks for borrowing and returning. It also contains MFDs for copying, printing, and scanning. Staff on Floor 1 can provide advice on how the Heavy Demand section works.

Copying/printing
Speak to any member of staff on floors 1, 5 and 6 if you need help using the MFDs. Also, there are detailed guides on the notice boards behind the MFDs to help you understand the functions of scanning, printing and photocopying. These guides are available from the University’s Toolkit, found here. Remember to top up your printing budget! For information on paying for printing, click here.

IT-related queries
Our IT service desk is the first point of contact for issues relating to connectivity, printing, username & password problems, remote access and more. The service desk is located on Floor 1 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library. You can also email servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk or call 01224 -273636 (this number also connects you to the Out-of-Hours service). Calls can also be logged through MyIT, a self-service facility for reporting problems.

Printing and binding your dissertation
The University’s binding service is on 23 St. Machar Drive. Services include colour and black & white printing, soft and hard binding, lamination, large format poster printing and more.
Tel: 01224 – 272578
Email: printshop@abdn.ac.uk

Materials from our Information skills workshops http://finditfastlibraryworkshops.pbworks.com/w/page/86602816/Home

RefWorks
See our RefWorks Library guides at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php#R
(Navigate to our Library guides section on the Library website and select ‘A-Z’, then click on ‘R’ and scroll down to ‘RefWorks’)

For Research Postgraduates and staff, further instruction on how to use RefWorks’ advanced features is provided in our Literature Searching Essential Skills workshop series. These run 3 times a year. To search for and book these sessions, please see the course booking website. Alternatively, speak to one of the Information Consultants.

Further help & support

Library guides on how to use Primo
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php#P

Information skills workshops
www.abdn.ac.uk/coursebooking

Library guides online
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php

Primo
https://abdn.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1

Inter-Library Loan service
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/interlibrary-loans-182.php

Email your Library enquiries to:
library@abdn.ac.uk

Telephone your Library enquiries to:
01224 – 273330

InfoLinks Library blog
https://aberdeenunilib.wordpress.com

Library on Twitter
https://twitter.com/aberdeenunilib

Remember that we are here to help!

Welcome to the Library

It has been exciting to see our new and returning students in the Library after the winter break. Library staff are here to help you make the most of our resources and services, whether you are based on, or off, campus. Please get in touch with any queries you may have.

For general or subject-related enquiries, contact us on library@abdn.ac.uk, or please do enquire in person: Library staff will be available at set times at the Information Centre on Floor 1, or on Floors 5 & 6 of the Sir Duncan Rice Library.

If you wish to contact the Information Consultant for your discipline, please check our website for their contact details.

Library Resources

When searching for books on your Reading List, or other resources, please use the Library’s discovery tool, Primo. Primo provides information about our printed resources, and is also the recommended access route to our extensive e-resources, digital collections and databases.

Our comprehensive Library guides offer detailed answers to any questions you may have about our resources. If you haven’t used Primo before, you may find the following guides helpful:

Primo Quick Guide
Primo: How to do a simple search successfully  
Primo: How to do an advanced search successfully
Accessing e-resources 

Please do contact Library staff if you are having trouble accessing or finding your resources. We are happy to help.

IT Issues

If you have any problems with your device or accessing information, please contact the IT Service Desk.

Visiting the Library

Please note that there is now a webpage on our site where you can see the current occupancy of the Sir Duncan Rice library and the Taylor library. Before you visit any of our Library sites please view our Library Opening hours.

Please follow us on our social media channels to keep up with news from the Library. Once again, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all our students and wish you all a happy new year.

24 Hour Opening in The Sir Duncan Rice Library

In the lead up to the fast-approaching exam period, The Sir Duncan Rice Library will be extending its opening hours to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are only a few days until this goes into effect, and we want to let you know just now so that you can properly plan your revision.

The Sir Duncan Rice Library will open at 11.00 on Sunday 20 November and stay open continuously until 22.00 on Friday 16 December, 2022.

Over this period, it is important that you are aware of the following:

• Swipe access only after 22.00 – please ensure you have your ID card as access after 22.00 will not be permitted without it.
• The PCs require a nightly shutdown (lasting about ten minutes) and reboot for essential maintenance. You will be given an option to delay this for two hours.
• Essential cleaning of the building will be carried out overnight between 02.00 and 06.00, which may result in some disruption.
• Look after yourselves and your belongings – take breaks, but do not leave your personal belongings unattended.
• Take care if leaving the Library in the early hours – travel with friends if possible.

Please respect the building and your fellow library users:

1. Hot and cold drinks in covered containers can be consumed in the library.
2. Hot food is only allowed in the café area on the ground floor.
3. Only cold food can be consumed on the upper floors – please no noisy food or food with a strong smell.
4. Tidy up after yourself – use the bins and sanitary wipes which are available on each of the floors.
5. Keep talk to the group study areas to allow others to study.

Please report any problems to security staff on duty – in person (Information Centre,
Floor 1, TSDRL) or by phone (01224 273330).

Please remember to check the opening hours for our other two Library sites, as Taylor and Medical will not be open 24/7 during these dates.

If you have any feedback or suggestions, contact us at library@abdn.ac.uk.

A reminder that Floor 5 in the Sir Duncan Rice Library will operate as a “silent” floor between Monday 21 November and Friday 16 December. For more information please see our previous blog post.

Silent Study: Floor 5 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library 21 November-16 December

Our returning students may recall that pre-pandemic, the Library responded to feedback for more quiet study space in the lead-up to and during exams by designating the whole of Floor 5 in The Sir Duncan Rice Library a Silent Study Space. 

During the 2022 exam period, Floor 5 of the Sir Duncan Rice Library will once again operate as a “silent” floor, from Monday 21 November until Friday 16 December 2022.

We ask that users observe the following rules on Floor 5:

• No discussions, conversations or group study
• No phone calls
• Go to the stairwells to make or take phone calls, or hold conversations

We realise that noise travels through the building, so we will also provide free earplugs to anyone who wants them. These will be available for collection from the Welcome Desk, on the Ground Floor of the Library.

In addition to the Floor 5 Silent Study Space, our designated Silent Study rooms on Floors 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the south side of the building will operate as normal. Note that laptops are not allowed in the Silent Study room on Floor 6 (Room 624) – the only Silent Study Room where devices are not allowed.

Elsewhere in the building, we encourage all users to keep noise and conversations to a minimum. Library staff will be readily available throughout the Library to promote an environment conducive to study. Feedback and comments on the Floor 5 Silent Study Space will be very welcome.

If you require space for group discussion and collaborative working, have you considered booking a space across our different Libraries? See our website for further details.

Please note that cleaning and vacuuming will take place through the night on all floors, including Floor 5, and that we are unable to control the noise caused by our hand driers.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Library Closures 2-5 June

Her Majesty The Queen is the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service.

To celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the University of Aberdeen, including all library sites, will be closed from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June, inclusive.

Our libraries will reopen on Monday 6 June. Please check our Library Opening Hours here.

Information on The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee events can be found here :

HM Government website

The Royal Family’s Platinum Jubilee website

Aberdeen City Council website

Did you know…? – Taking library books abroad

Did you know how to seek permission to take library books abroad?

You may need to take library books out of the country so that you can continue reading during your vacation. For items from The Sir Duncan Rice Library, please speak to a member of the Subject & Enquiry team. Staff can be found in the offices on floors 4-6.

It is best to go to the office closest to where the book is from – for example, for books on arts & humanities go to the Floor 4 office, for sciences go to the Floor 5 office, for social sciences & divinity go to the Floor 6 office. For books from Taylor (Law) or Medical libraries, please visit the branch and talk to staff on the issue desk.

You will be asked to fill out a short request form. The staff member will check that the books are suitable for taking abroad and finish filling out the form with you.

Please note that items are still subject to recall even when out of the country. If a book is recalled from you while abroad, you will need to post the book back to us. Make sure you check your University email regularly to avoid any fines.

It’s as simple as that! Please do get in contact if you have any further questions.