e-resources week 2014

e-resources week saw a total of 56 students drop-in to the LRCs to find out more about  accessing e-books and e-resources including mySearch.

We also had 18 students complete our quiz with 3 students winning £10 printing vouchers. These students were Sally Thompson (GC), Sacha Rivett (MW) and Harriet Bragg (FC).

mySearch allows you to search most of the LRCs e-resources in one place!



Dawsonera is one of our e-book platforms and allows you to access and download e-books to your PC and portable devices such as iPads.

If you would like to find out more about these e-resources and the others that are available to staff and students please pop into your LRC and ask!

E-resources Week 13th - 17th January

Do you always find the right resources for your assignment? Can you use the LRCs e-resources? Do you know how to search the online catalogue Heritage, find e-books and use mySearch?

If the answer to any of these questions is NO then come along to the LRCs e-resources event. There are drop-in sessions, displays and quizzes all week.

Here is what's happening...

Guildford College LRC Drop-in Sessions

• Monday 9am - 12pm: Heritage & e-books
• Tuesday 9am - 12pm: mySearch & e-resources
• Tuesday 12pm - 1pm: e-readers & fiction e-books
• Wednesday 9am - 12pm: Heritage & e-books
• Thursday 9am - 12pm: mySearch & e-resources

Every day from 4pm a Librarian will be available to answer your e-resources questions!

Merrist Wood LRC Drop-in Sessions

• Monday 2.30pm - 5pm: e-resources & mySearch
• Tuesday 9am - 11.30am: e-books & Heritage
• Wednesday 2.30pm - 5pm: e-resources & mySearch
• Thursday 2.30pm - 5pm: e-books & Heritage
• Friday 2pm - 4pm: e-resources & mySearch

Farnham College LRC Drop-in Sessions

• Monday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm: e-resources & e-books
• Tuesday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm: e-resources & e-books.
• Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm: e-resources & e-books.
• Thursday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm: e-resources & e-books.
• Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm: e-resources & e-books.

Staff Briefing: Monday 8.30am - 9am Introduction to mySearch & e-resources.

All LRCs are running an e-resources Quiz with a chance to win a £10 printing voucher!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Top e-books in November

Business keeps top spot  in November's top ten e-books by pages viewed followed by Beauty Therapy, IT, and Hospitality..

Here's November's chart:

4144   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
2086   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2 
645     Beauty Therapy. - 3rd ed.
354     Aromatherapy: therapy basics
293     Official guide to body massage
217     Book of JavaScript
115     Theory of hospitality and catering   
113     BTEC Level 3 National in IT
81       Beauty therapy. - 2nd ed.
78       Information systems project management
   

The top downloaded books for November were:

33  Understanding addiction
6    BTEC Level 2 First Business
6    An introduction to animal behaviour
5    Armstrong's handbook of management and leadership
5    Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice

mySearch - what is it and why do I need it?

What is mySearch?

mySearch is an online research tool that “pulls together” many of the LRC resources so that they can be explored using a single search box. In other words, rather than searching the Library Catalogue for books and a database for journal articles, you can go to mySearch and get results which include books, e-books, and journal articles in one list. In fact, you could think of mySearch as the Library’s version of Google.

The link can be found on the LRC E-Resources page (you will need to login to Moodle for access) or here on the blog (see links on the right).

It works like this...

Technically-speaking, mySearch provides an integrated index for many of our resources. Although it is an EBSCO product, your search results will also include non-EBSCO resources such as:

• Heritage, the Library Catalogue
• BioOne
• Britannica

Not only does it search most of our resources with one search box, it returns your results quickly and ranks them according to relevancy. It’s powerful and should be of help finding resources for your research. Just keep in mind that, like Google, it may return a large number of results and you will need to use judgment when assessing their value.

I'm having trouble using mySearch...

Well, it’s a new tool for you and for us! So, it may not be obvious how to do some of the things you have grown accustomed doing with the other databases. So we would like to encourage you to explore this resource along with us and give us feedback on your success and frustration with it.

Remember the LRC staff are happy to help if you are having trouble or want some help with searching for information.

Top e-books in September

We start another year with Business back in top spot  in September's top ten e-books by pages viewed with Tourism, IT, Carpentry, Counselling, Childcare and Beauty Therapy all staking their claim. Tourism top the download chart but we also have entries for Arboriculture and Construction.

Here's September's chart:

2977   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1403   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2 
267     JavaScript Professional Projects
249     BTEC Level 3 National in IT
126     Learn JavaScript in a weekend
88       Carpentry and joinery Level 1.
69       BTEC National Travel and tourism Book 2   
51       Counselling skills and theory
50       Facials and skin care in essence
43       Working with children
   

The top downloaded books for September were:

5    Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 Book 1
3    Doing your research project
3    Edexcel diploma: Construction and the built environment
2    Trees : their natural history
2    Effective organisational communication

Top e-books in June

Business takes top spot plus 5 other places in June's top ten e-books by pages viewed with Beauty Therapy, Tourism, and IT filling the other 4.  Business once again top the download chart but we have new entries for natural history with books on animal management and trees making an appearance..

Here's June's chart:

6060   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
4357   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2 
975     Beauty therapy. - 2nd ed.
585     BTEC Level 3 National in IT
533     Aromatherapy: therapy basics
467     Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed.
255     Travel & tourism. BTEC Level 3 National Book 1   
127     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
           (12th ed.)
114     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
           (11th ed.)
114     Team roles at work
   

The top downloaded books for June were:

5    Project management
2    Restraint and handling of wild and domestic animals
2    Trees : their natural history
2    BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2

Top e-books in May

Business takes top spot plus 5 other places in May's top ten e-books by pages viewed with Beauty Therapy, Tourism, and Carpentry filling the other 4.  Business has retaken control of the download chart with all the top download titles going to them.

Here's May's chart:

3044   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
981     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
           (12th ed.)
934     BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
679     Beauty therapy. - 2nd ed.
644     Knowledge management
375     Travel & tourism. BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
333     Introduction to banking   
277     Carpentry and joinery Level 1
237     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
           (11th ed.)
224     Aromatherapy: therapy basics
   

The top downloaded books for May were:

12  Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
9    Knowledge management
5    Marketing communications
5    Research methods for business
5    Project management
5    Armstrong's handbook of management and leadership

Top e-books in April

Business takes top spot plus 5 other places in April's top ten e-books by pages viewed with Beauty Therapy filling the other 4.  Counselling has taken over the download chart with 4 out of the top 5 going to them.

Here's April's chart:

2305   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1881   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2 
1294   Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed.
699     Exploring corporate strategy: text & cases
488     Knowledge management
480     Beauty therapy. - 2nd ed.
340     Management. - 5th ed.   
291     Indian head massage in essence
255     Management and organisational behaviour
240     Aromatherapy: therapy basics
   

The top downloaded books for April were:

9   Supervising counsellors
7   Counselling and psychotherapy in organisational settings
7   Reflective practice in counselling and psychotherapy
6   Supervision in the helping professions
6   Marketing research

There were also 18 chapter/page range downloads from: BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2

Dawsonera - ebook website upgrade

A new look Dawsonera is coming soon and in preparation for this Dawsons will be working on the site on Wednesday 24 April.

On this day there will be two periods of 10 minutes when the site will be unavailable

• the first at 5.00 pm
• the second at 7.00 pm

The new look website will begin to be available from around 10.00 pm the same day and will not affect access for most people.  However, if you are using Dawsonera at the switchover time you will be logged off and will see the new look site when you log back in.

Old Home Page

New Home Page


New Online Reader

Add caption

Top e-books in March

Business and Beauty Therapy hold on to places 1 and 2 again in March's top ten e-books by pages viewed.  We have new entries for counselling this month - will your e-book make it into next month's top ten...

Here's March's chart:

2634   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1057   Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed. 
355     Race, culture and counselling
352     Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
211     Knowledge management
189     BTEC Level 2 First Business
175     Management and organisational behaviour    
141     counseling for anxiety problems
139     Enterprise and small business
138     Research methods for business
   

The top downloaded books for March were:

7   Management and organisational behaviour
5   An introduction to behavioural ecology
4   Knowledge management
4   Handbook of professional and ethical practice for psychologists, 
     counsellors and psychotherapists

Top e-books in Februrary

Business and Beauty Therapy hold on to places 1 and 2 in February's top ten e-books by pages viewed.  We have new entries for performing arts and teaching this month - will your e-book make it into next month's top ten...

Here's February's chart:

2757   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
721     Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed. 
565     Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
238     Act now! a step-by-step guide to becoming a working actor
131     E-business and e-commerce management
123     Management and organisational behaviour
120     Key studies in psychology    
116     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
101     Teaching today
99       Marketing communications: interactivity, communities and content
   

The top downloaded books for February were:

16 Management and organisational behaviour
6   Practical counselling and helping skills
4   Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
4   BTEC Level 3 National in IT

Top e-books in January

Business hold on to several positions in January's top ten e-books by pages viewed.  Well done to Beauty Therapy and Tourism for managing to hang on to their top spots and keep the management books at bay!

Here's January's chart:

5504   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1203   Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed. 
782     BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
691     Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 2
540     Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases
397     Aromatherapy : therapy basics     
323     The business plan workbook
323     Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
314     Beauty therapy fact file
265     Management   

The top downloaded books for January were:

14  Marketing management
7   Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity
5   Collective animal behaviour
5   Management
5   Practical counselling skills

Top e-books in December

Business once again hold onto top spot in the pages viewed chart for last month with Beauty Therapy, Tourism & Hospitality, and Photography taking the other places in the top ten.  In our downloads chart Counselling have claimed top spot this time round.

Here's November's chart:

8269   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1665   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
587     Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed.
342     The business plan workbook
329     Aromatherapy : therapy basics
281     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice     
219     Human resources management in the hospitality industry
209     Travel & tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
144     Langford's basic photography
137     Business law   

The top downloaded books for December were:

5   A life of one's own
3   Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity
3   BTEC First Business: Level 2
3   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1

Happy Christmas!

Don't forget that even though we're closed over Christmas and the New Year you can still access all our e-books and other online resources 24/7.

Look for the LRC under Key Courses on Moodle to find links to Heritage (library catalogue) and our e-resources.

Top e-books in November

Business once again hold onto top spot in the pages viewed chart for last month. Beauty Therapy are also holding onto their chart positions and we have behavioural ecology books in the top ten for the first time this year.  In our downloads chart Early Childhood have claimed top spot this time round.

Here's November's chart:

3786   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1957   BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
359     Behavioural ecology
333     An introduction to behavioural ecology
262     Beauty therapy. - 3rd ed.
226     Aromatherapy : therapy basics
200     Research methods for business
186     Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice
176     Doing research in the real world
172     Business information management : improving performance using 
           information systems   

The top downloaded books for November were:

8   Child development for early childhood studies
5   Construction technology
4   Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity
4   Managing behaviour in the early years
4   BTEC First Business: Level 2
4   An introduction to behavioural ecology
4   Advanced construction technology

Top e-books in October

Well done to Business in holding onto top spot in the pages viewed chart for October. Beauty Therapy are holding onto their chart positions this month and Tourism have broken into the top ten.  In our downloads chart IT have claimed top spot this time round.

Here's October's chart:

11801   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
1656     BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
1227     Beauty Therapy (3rd ed.)
870       Travel & Tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 2
750       Beauty Therapy (2nd ed.)
750       BTEC Level 2 First Business
599       Official Guide to Body Massage
473       Travel & Tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
434       Teaching Today
343       Making Sense of Change Management

The top downloaded books for October were:

10   BTEC Level 3 National in IT
9     Movement and Dance in Early Childhood
8     A Manager's Guide to Self Development
8     Making Sense of Change Management
6     BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1

Top ten e-books in September

At the end of the first month of the new academic year we find out who's got going the quickest using our e-books.  Did your subject make the top 10?

Here's the first chart based on pages viewed:

1941   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
900     BTEC Level 3 Business Book 2
503     Beauty Therapy
280     Science of Beauty Therapy
200     Official Guide to Body Massage
199     Beauty Therapy Study Skills
192     Doing Your Research Project
146     Becoming a Therapist
143     Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity
137     Travel & Tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1

The top downloaded books for September were:

15   BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
3     Supporting Drama and Imaginative Play in the Early Years
2     Carpentry and Joinery Level 1

Top ten e-books for 2011-12

Here are the top 10 e-books for the last academic year based on pages viewed.

As expected Business are in the top spot but well done to Beauty, Carpentry, Tourism and Early Years too.

Who will come out on top this year?

Pages     Title

24,206    BTEC Level 3 National Business Book 1
8,790      BTEC Level 3 Business, Book 2
4,260      Book 1: BTEC National Business
3,216      Beauty Therapy (2nd ed.)
2,775      Carpentry and Joinery Level 1
2,337      Reflective Practice and Early Years Professionalism Linking
1,742      Anatomy and Physiology : Therapy Basics (4th ed.)
1,605      Exploring Corporate Strategy
1,516      Travel & Tourism for BTEC Level 3 National Book 1
1,401      Knowledge Management

Using E-resources at Farnham College

Students at Farnham College are able to access a huge range of specially purchased on-line material, thanks to the fact that they share resources with Merrist Wood and Guildford College.  The ones they find most useful include:

·         Infotrac – journals, magazines, newspapers, reference covering many subjects

·         Issues Online – a wide coverage of contemporary social issues

·         New Scientist

·         e-Mag – English Literature and Language

·         Media Magazine

·         New Perspective – History articles

·         Intered – specialist magazines and books covering child care ages 0-18 years

·         Ebooks such as the Level 3 BTEC Business book

Go to Moodle/Key Courses/E-resources and explore these yourself, or ask a member of the LRC staff to help you find the ones most relevant to your subject.

LRC CPD Day Showcase

The LRC had a very successful CDP Day showcase with 61 staff visiting us. There was a wide range of activities on offer including:

·         CIS Guildford QR Code game

·         Dewey order game and word games

·         Demonstration of Keynote reports

·         Have a go at using Action & Flip Cameras

·         Try out an e-book reader or the interactive books on the iPad

·         Find out about the LRC pages on Moodle and use Heritage Online

·         Tweet and find out about the new LRC Blog

There was also a Best Practice Vodcast in which Guildford College Tutors explained how to get the most out of the LRC. If you missed it you can watch it again here: http://youtu.be/aDorLREuUic

If you would like to find out anymore about how the LRC can support you or your students please get in touch or pop in and see us! You can also follow us on twitter http://www.twitter.com/GCLRCs

Guildford College LRC

library@guildford.ac.uk

01483 448611

Merrist Wood LRC

mwlibrary@guildford.ac.uk

01483 884022

Farnham College LRC

FCLRC@guildford.ac.uk

01252 740547