Working on an assignment over the holiday?

Some of you will have assignment deadlines in January and will be working hard over the Christmas holiday period researching information and writing up your essays and reports.  The University Buildings are closed from the 23rd December 2017 and re-open from the 2nd of January 2018 but you can access information 24/7.

Where can you find information?

Start with your reading list.  Go to your module on Blackboard and find the link on the menu page called Readings.  This will link through to your My Module Reading List.  Check out the relevant sections in the textbooks that might help with your assessment and view the "Further Reading" at the end of the chapter(s).  This usually recommends other books or journal articles that you can read.

Then use Library SmartSearch.  This is a search engine that allows you to search across the books and journal articles in our Library.  You can use the search box to find a particular book or journal article title but you can also search across the collections by topic.  If you are looking for articles on a topic then use the Advanced Search feature to allow you to type in your key search terms.




 Looking for other types of information...you may find the subject LibGuides a useful place to look.  The LibGuides provide access to individual research databases covering a wide

range of subject areas including industry reports, standards, statistics, company profiles, financial data, case studies and much more.

The Great Library Brain Boost
In Week 6 and 7 of the academic term, the Library Information Services Team provided a workshop programme to support students through their first assessments across the Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes.  

You can review the presentation slides and in a lot of cases there are also lecture recordings via the The Great Library Brain Boost LibGuide .  Some of the highlights include:

• Strictly Business Data - finding company and industry reports​
• Advanced Literature Searching
• Getting more out of Google    

Information Specialists
You can also contact your Information Specialists for advice on talking through your assessment task, finding different kinds of information sources and evaluating information to add in to you essays and reports.  There is an Information Specialist for each School and the names and contact details are available from the LibGuides and the Library contact pages 

Finally...
If you have a question while the Library Building is closed over the vacation, please try viewing the Ask the Library Frequently Asked Questions or browse the Library website for information and advice.

Good Luck everyone.

Aston authors/researchers: sharpen your Open Access & Open Data know-how

Do you have questions about Open Access publishing or Open Data? Would you like to know more about the policies and how to achieve compliance, e.g. for HEFCE, RCUK and the EC? Do you need help to upload publications and/or datasets to our repositories (Pure / e-prints)?

Whether you are new to Aston or require a refresher session, specialists in Open Access (Malcolm Horne), Open Data (Ammar Wahid) and Pure (Paul Jones) will be running a training session in MB525b on the following date:

Thursday 15th February 2018, 2-3pm

After the session there will be time for optional hands-on help.  To book your place please contact openaccess@aston.ac.uk

Like Your Library Live Survey

 

All 1st year Undergradutes and Postgraduates are invited to complete the Like Your Library Survey.  We are interested in your views whether you attended your Library Induction Session or you decided against it.  Please take part now https://aston.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/library-services-like-your-library-survey

Kind Regards

Library Induction Team

Important reminder to all Aston Uni Students - please have your uniCARD with you, to use the Library

• Please remember that you need your uniCARD each time you use the Library.
• The uniCARD is important as your ID and for borrowing books and laptops.
• As an exception, off-campus Aston University students can request a Day Pass to access the Library.
• Day Passes for Aston University students are an exception, in order to avoid the mis-use of ID by non-Aston students.   They are available Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00.
• Non-Aston University visitors can request a Library Day Pass with their own ID, Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00.
• Aston University students requesting a Day Pass can complete an online form at the Library Reception desk.
• Once checks have been made by Library staff, a Day Pass can be issued.  This is normally within 5-10 minutes.

Please contact the Library if you have any questions email: library@aston.ac.uk

The Great Library Brain Boost

Are you worrying about finding information for your module assessments?  Would you like some hints and tips on how to find journal articles, industry reports or academic work on Google?  Then you need the Great Library Brain Boost...

View the Library Services Brain Boosting Workshop Programme for a full description of the workshops on offer and information on how to book.  All workshops will be in week beginning 6th November, 2017 and will be located in the Library Building, 2nd floor L215 or L216.
Come and meet your Library team and we will do our best to help you find relevant, quality formation.

Library Workshop Programme 2017

The Library Workshop Programme contains 1 hour practical workshops focusing on general information literacy skills

For the full 2017 programme, see below.

Programme

Title	Abstract		Review the content
Strictly Business Data - finding	The workshop will focus on the business research databases available at Aston University and how you can use them to research for company profiles, market context, competitor insight, future trends analysis, SWOT analysis and industry reports.	Monday 6th November 13:00-14:00 Nicola Dennis	Book Now
Advanced Literature Searching	Are you having difficulty finding good quality academic sources to use in your assignments? This session, primarily aimed at undergraduates, will help you get the most of Smartsearch and point you in the direction of other useful databases and sources of information. We will cover; • Decide where to find the best research • Think about keywords • Devise a search strategy that works • Start finding resources you’ll use • Know where else to go for help	Monday 6th   November 17:00-18:00 Richard Hopkins	Book Now
Fake News	In this session you will learn how to find reliable information when researching, how to evaluate your sources, and how to separate fake from actual news.	Tuesday 7th  November 12:00-13:00 Kerstin Treder	Book Now
Cite it! Sort it! Making Endnote work for you	Are you drowning under piles of articles? Would you like a system which will organise and manage your references for you?  Try Endnote, the University recommended reference management software.  Find out how to utilise the system to store your articles and manage your references wherever you are working in the world.	Tuesday 7th November 13:00-14:00 Clare Langman	Book Now
Getting more out of Google	There are tricks to getting more out of your Google search. You probably know the basics, such as searching for exact phrases using quotations marks, but what about the more complex stuff? The session will look at advanced operators, additional tools and why you shouldn't say "I found the answer on Google".	Tuesday 7th November 17:00-18:00 Sarah Akhtaruzzaman	Book Now
Getting more out of Google	There are tricks to getting more out of your Google search. You probably know the basics, such as searching for exact phrases using quotations marks, but what about the more complex stuff? The session will look at advanced operators, additional tools and why you shouldn't say "I found the answer on Google".	Wednesday 8th November 12:00-13:00 Sarah Akhtaruzzaman	Book Now
Strictly Business Data	The workshop will focus on the business research databases available at Aston University and how you can use them to research for company profiles, market context, competitor insight, future trends analysis, SWOT analysis and industry reports.	Thursday 9th November 12:00-13:00 Nicola Dennis	Book Now
Cite it! Sort it! Making Endnote work for you	Are you drowning under piles of articles? Would you like a system which will organise and manage your references for you?  Try Endnote, the University recommended reference management software.  Find out how to utilise the system to store your articles and manage your references wherever you are working in the world.	Thursday 9th November 13:00-14:00 Clare Langman	Book Now
Assignment Surgery	Come along to this informal session with any questions you may have on searching for information for your assignments, referencing or how to structure your assignments.	Friday 10th  November 12:00-13:00 Nicola Dennis Clare Langman LDC - Learning Advisor	Book Now
Advanced Literature Searching	Are you having difficulty finding good quality academic sources to use in your assignments? This session, primarily aimed at undergraduates, will help you get the most of Smartsearch and point you in the direction of other useful databases and sources of information. We will cover; • Decide where to find the best research • Think about keywords • Devise a search strategy that works • Start finding resources you’ll use • Know where else to go for help	Friday 10 th November 13:00-14:00 Richard Hopkins	Book Now

 
Have a question? Would like more information? Have a suggestion for a library workshop?  Contact library@aston.ac.uk or use Ask the Library.

We look forward to meeting you
Information Services Team

It's International Open Access Week 23-29 October 2017

Open Access, encompassing both Green and Gold, means:

• Increasing access to knowledge
• Raising research visibility
• Complying with funder mandates
• Facilitating collaboration

For more information visit www.openaccessweek.org and our own dedicated guide libguides.aston.ac.uk/openaccess

Law students - training certification in Westlaw

Aston Accelerator week is week beginning 30th October to 3rd November.  Aston Law School have a programme of activities to support you in law practice.  As part of the programme we are offering 3 Westlaw training workshops covering "Commercial Acumen" with a scenario based workshop, BASIC certification and ADVANCED Certification in WestlawUK.  All workshops will be run by a Westlaw trainer called Ramita Kahon and will be held in the Library

If you would like to participate in one or all of the workshops you can book now

Westlaw BASIC Certification (Book here)
Thursday 2nd November
Library Building, 2nd floor -L216
09:30-11:00

Covering the following topics
> Getting started
> Case Law
> Legislation

Westlaw ADVANCED Certification (Book here)
Please note you need to have attended BASIC to take the ADVANCED Certification
Thursday 2nd November
Library Building, 2nd floor - L216
11:15 - 13:00

Covering the following topics
> Boolean search connectors
> Judicial consideration of case law
> Legislative modifications and derivation tables
> EU and other advanced topics

Westlaw Law Research in Legal Practice (Book here)
Thursday 2nd November
Library Building, 2nd floor - L216
14:00-15:30

Covering legal practice, looking at your chosen area and how to use Westlaw for job applications and interviews.

Aston Academics/Researchers - Sharpen your Open Access & Open Data Know-How

Do you have questions about Open Access publishing or Open Data? Would you like to know more about the policies and how to achieve compliance, e.g. for HEFCE, RCUK and the EC? Do you need help to upload publications and/or datasets to our repositories (PURE/e-prints)?

Whether you are new to Aston or require a refresher session, specialists in Open Access (Malcolm Horne) and Open Data (Ammar Wahid) will be running a training session in MB525b on the following date:

Thursday 12th October, 2-3pm

After the session there will be time for optional hands-on help.  To book your place please contact openaccess@aston.ac.uk

Law Students - commercial awareness webinar

Commercial awareness: what it is and how to show you have it! Join Thomson Reuters (aka Westlaw UK and Practical Law) Summer Law School webinar on 24 July 2017 at 13.00-14.00. The webinar will be presented by Kirsten Maslen, Head of Government and Academic at Thomson Reuters Legal and Ramita Kahlon, Customer Trainer also at Thomson Reuters Legal. They will be joined by legal experts to discuss the following topics: ·  What is commercial awareness? ·  What are the key challenges facing the legal market? ·  How do you talk about Brexit at interview? ·  How do you distinguish between law firms/chambers? ·  How to keep up to date with the latest legal developments If you would like to join this webinar please register your interest here. For any questions please contact Ramita.Kahlon@thomsonreuters.com