Library Refurbishment, Phase 2 - Drilling continues

The Library staff waved goodbye to Arthur and Annie, the infamous air conditioning units and everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the chillers were turned back on.  The Library environment is now much cooler and we hope that you are experiencing a better study temperature too.

The refurbishment work continues apace and the drilling has recommenced with vigour!  However, the library staff are soldiering on and you will be pleased to know that we are working hard on ordering reading list material, ensuring all online readings are available, planning library welcome sessions and teaching seminars for the start of term.

If you are struggling to study with the building noise, you may find it quieter in the following places MB606 (80 spaces) and MB 5th Floor study area (60 spaces). Also, the social study areas on the landings near the sky-lifts on each floor of the Main Building.

As always the latest refurbishment photographs are available on Flickr

Kind Regards
Library Photographic Team
Kirsten, Nicola and Val

The Library will close at 17:00 on Friday 23 August

The Library will close at 17:00 on Friday 23 August, due to refurbishment.

We will be open, as usual, from 12:00 on Saturday 24 August and Sunday 25 August.

The Library will be closed on Monday 26 August for the Bank Holiday and closed on Tuesday 27 August for the University Holiday

The Library will re-open on Wednesday 28 August at 09:00.

27th August 2013 – Library System Unavailable

The Library system will be unavailable on 27th August 2013 due to a scheduled maintenance upgrade.  It will not be possible to check book availability, reserve or renew books during this period. 

It should still be possible to use Library SmartSearch to access databases, electronic journals and ebooks during this time. 

We apologise for any inconvenience.

The Library will be closed on Saturday 17 August and Sunday 18 August

The Library will be closed on Saturday 17 August and Sunday 18 August for refurbishment work that will affect the ground and first floors, as well as the upper floors.

The Library will open again at 09:00 on Monday 19 August, as usual.

There are alternative study spaces available as follows:

MB606 (80 spaces) and MB 5th Floor study area (60 spaces). Also, the social study areas on the landings near the sky-lifts on each floor of the Main Building

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you have any queries about this closure, or any other implications of the refurbishment, please email library@aston.ac.uk

Library Refurbishment, Phase 2 - 2nd and 3rd floor progress

It has been another hot week in the Library and we apologise for any discomfit that you have endured while the chillers have been turned off.  Arthur and Annie have been working overtime in the Library Office trying to keep us cool.  Please assured that the builders are working hard on implementing the new air conditioning system as part of the refurbishment project and we should have a better temperature in the Library soon. 

The latest photos show the arrival of the conductors and the crane lifting them in place on the top of the Library roof.

The different study areas are now starting to take shape on the 2nd and 3rd floors including the Flexible Group Study Rooms.  To view all the latest refurbishment photographs please take a look at our Flickr page

Kind Regards
The Library Photography Team
Kerstin, Nicola and Val

A new face in the Library

The Library said goodbye to Lois Chambers who has been working as our Planning and Resources Officer covering a maternity leave post.  It has been a pleasure working with Lois but our loss is Conference Aston's gain as she has accepted a full time position in their Team.  We wish Lois all the best in her role!

We welcome Nathan Bailey who will be continuing the maternity cover as our new Planning and Resources Officer. 

Library refurbishment, Phase 2 - machines take over

There is a now a loud humming in the Library Office and no it is not the Library staff singing while they work.  We have been introduced to Annie and Arthur who have joined us for a short time to help cool the temperature down in the office.  Due to the next stage of the building work, the chillers have been turned off for a couple of weeks so the building contractors can work on the ducting.  However, they have kindly supplied us two air conditioning units to help with the rising temperature in the office.

There are no new photos of the refurbishment progress this week.  However, everything seems to be running to schedule.  Views of the contractor's base, behind the library, show a huge supply of plasterboard and ducting, which has been moving up to 2nd and 3rd floors in the external lift.

To the view the refurbishment photographs so far please access our Flickr site

Kind Regards
The Library Photography Team
Kerstin, Nicola and Val

Passport market research databases - access problems

Due to infrastructure maintenance, you may experience disruption to the Euromonitor's Passport Global Market Information Database from Friday 9 August till Sunday 11 August.  Euromonitor apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to have all Passport features operating back to normal as soon as possible.




 



It's getting hot in here!!!

We are currently experiencing our own internal heatwave in the Library as the builders transfer over the air conditioning system to the new system as part of the refurbishment project.  This will take  approximately a week so we apologise to anyone working or studying in the Library.  Please drink plenty of water and go for regular breaks outside!

There are also alternative study spaces available as follows

• MB606 (80 spaces)
• MB 5th floor (60 spaces)
• Social study areas on the landings near the sky-lifts on each floor of the Main Building

Web of Knowledge - enhancements

Thomson Reuters has released the latest version of Web of Knowledge which focuses on improved
ease of use with new local language interfaces, search forgiveness and improved user interface for registration and output.

Check out their recorded tutorial for full information but you will now be able to see

• alternative suggestions for misspelt search terms
• auto-suggestions for publication titles
• streamlined personalisation features
• quicker export options for example in to EndNote
• new local language interfaces in Portuguese and Spanish