Student publishing - free event

The University of Manchester Library and Manchester University Press are holding a one day conference on student publishing on 16^th January.  This event will discuss journals for both taught and research students. Speakers from varying perspectives will share their experiences – advantages and drawbacks, successes, challenges and surprises – and all attendees will have the opportunity to contribute.

Speakers include librarians, academics and students from the universities of Surrey, Warwick and Manchester, and publishers from Manchester University Press, UCL Press and the White Rose Press.

Attendance is free but numbers are strictly limited.  Tickets can be booked at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/one-day-conference-on-student-publishing-tickets-30292466583 

Library Survey 2016 - Tell us your thoughts

Calling all students and academic staff!

We are committed to improving your library services. Better understanding your expectations will help us tailor our services to your needs.
We are conducting this survey to measure library service quality and identify best practices through the Association of Research Libraries' LibQUAL+® program.
The survey runs between 21 November - 11 December and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.  If you input your e-mail address at the end of the survey, you will be entered in to a prize draw to win £100 voucher.

Complete the survey

Find out more

New database - Gallup Analytics

Gallup Analytics is an online analytics platform containing data from the Gallup World Poll, which collects opinions on the most important issues worldwide. Topic areas include: economic confidence, employment, leadership, military and police, religion, food, corruption, and more.

Data can be viewed by demographic and socio-economic groups, and across geographies, and can be exported to create custom data tables, trends, charts and scatter plots.
 

International Open Access Week #oaweek

From Monday 24th to Friday 28th October the University Library's Research Services Unit will be visiting different sites across campus to talk about open access.

Monday, 24th October - Ideas Space, Hadfield Building

Tuesday, 25th October - Mezzanine Level, Western Bank Library (with cake and coffee)

Wednesday, 26th October - Medical School Foyer, Hallamshire Hospital 

Thursday, 27th October - Foyer, Jessop West

Friday, 28th October - Mezzanine Level, Western Bank Library (with cake and coffee) 

The team will be available from 11.00-14.00 each day to answer your questions. 

New improved Box of Broadcasts

On 1 August the new Box of Broadcasts went live, with a fresh look, enhanced video quality and more powerful searching capabilities. Throughout September a whole host of improvements have been made:

• A platform working across desktop, iOS and Android devices
• More powerful searching capabilities
• Better programme coverage and a permanent archive of all broadcast content from nine channels: BBC1 London / BBC2 / BBC4 / ITV London / Channel 4 / More4 / Channel 5 / BBC Radio 4 / BBC Radio 4 Extra
• Better thumbnail previews on search results
• Preview clips before saving
• Label your own clips
• Personalised email alerts when programmes are ready to view
• More detailed citation data

The first time you connect to the new BoB website, you'll be asked to complete a short form to set up your account. Please use the same email address that you used on the old BoB website. If you'd already created clips and playlists in the old BoB system you'll be able to import them to the new one.

New Library eresources

We're continually working towards enriching our collections to support the strategic aims of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the wider University through our Strategic Funds for Learning & Teaching, and for Research. We've consulted widely to support these major purchase decisions and we're pleased to announce a range of new resources that are available now, or in the near future.

We'll be blogging in more detail about individual resources throughout the year. New content that will be of particular interest for social sciences include:

• ENDS Report - environmental news and policy

• Euromonitor Passport - global business intelligence

• Gallup Analytics - opinion poll data from around the world

• Newspaper archives - including Economist, FT, Japan Times, Sunday Times

• OECD iLibrary - additional content

• Oxford Scholarship Online - additional content

We would be very interested to hear about the impact of these resources on research or learning, so if you have any evidence or feedback to share, please get in touch.

Oxford Dictionaries Premium, Chinese language resources

Oxford Dictionaries Premium (formerly known as 'Oxford Language Dictionaries Online' or 'OLDO') offers searchable, comprehensive bilingual dictionaries, and acts as a point of reference and guide for language learning.

As well as its English to Chinese and Chinese and English dictionary, the University of Sheffield subscribes to the following languages Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Its Chinese language resources will help you improve your Chinese grammar, pronunciation, and writing skills.

Access is available directly from this page (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/cdfiles/oldo) by connecting to the Oxford Dictionaries website - you'll be prompted to log in to MUSE as necessary.

Pride Sheffield 2016

We are again supporting diversity & inclusion with an updated StarPlus Pride list 2016. As part of the Library's visible symbol of commitment to LGBT equality week and Pride Sheffield 2016 on 30th July, staff were asked to list their favourite LGBT resources and they did us proud.

 

If you can't find what you're looking for, why not recommend it and we'll see if we can add it to the Library's collection!

Box of Broadcasts (BoB) upgrade

Box of Broadcasts (BoB) is being upgraded during August 2016. The new BoB interface goes live on 1 August 2016, but there will be limited content and functionality during the upgrade period. There won't be any access to saved clips and playlists, or some archive content broadcast before 1 July 2016. The service should be fully restored, along with new functionality, by September 2016. BoB apologise for any inconvenience caused during the upgrade period.

We'll update you on the exciting new functions in September!

Changes to default search options in Web of Science

From 15th July 2016, Web of Science will default to the WoS Core Collections search option, rather than All Databases.  

The WoS Core Collection search offers more advanced options (such as the Analyze Results feature), however Core Collection search results will not include content from some key databases such as MedLine, Biosis or Zoological Record. 

  

Users accessing Web of Science via StarPlus will still automatically default to the All Databases search as before. 

Users accessing Web of Science directly may need to select the All Databases option from the search menu.

​

You can also select your preferred search options by signing up for a personal account and going to the Settings menu (you must access Web of Science via StarPlus to do this if you are off-campus):

Here's what is included in the Web of Science Core Collection:

• Science Citation Index Expanded (1900-present)
• Social Sciences Citation Index (1956-present)
• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1975-present)
• Conference Proceedings Citation Index- Science (1990-present)
• Conference Proceedings Citation Index- Social Science & Humanities (1990-present)
• Book Citation Index– Science (2005-present)
• Book Citation Index– Social Sciences & Humanities (2005-present)
• Emerging Sources Citation Index (2015-present)
• Current Chemical Reactions (1985-present)
• (Includes Institut National de la Propriete Industrielle structure data back to 1840)
• Index Chemicus (1993-present)

The All Databases Option also allows you to search content from the following databases:

• BIOSIS Citation Index
• BIOSIS PReviews
• Current Contents Connect
• Data Citation Index
• Derwent Innovations Index
• KCI-Korean Journal Database
• MEDLINE
• Russian Science Citation Index
• SciELO Citation Index
• Zoological Record

Oxford Scholarship Online - now bigger and better!

We're pleased to say we've recently extended our subscription to the Oxford Scholarship Online database of ebooks. Previously we had access only to the Philosophy collection, but we now have access to ebooks in the fields of economics & finance, business & management, law, political science, sociology and social work. All titles are indexed on StarPlus or you can search and browse the database by subject.

China Academic Journals on CNKI (中国知网) #weareinternational

China Academic Journals Online on CNKI (中国知网) is a full-text searchable database of Chinese arts and social sciences journals supporting global research and learning.
#WeAreInternational


All subscribed journals from CNKI are searchable on StarPlus by title, keywords, publisher, and subjects. You can also conduct key words article search on CNKI journal database. 

New Trial - Kluwer Arbitration International

Kluwer Arbitration is an online resource for international arbitration research. It includes commentary from expert authors and an extensive collection of primary source materials. We've arranged for a 3 week trial, which is available to University staff and students on-campus only. The trial ends on 6 July 2016 so please take a look and let us have your feedback comments.

Migration to New Worlds - webinar Tues 31st May 4pm

Interested in how our Migration to New Worlds database can be used in teaching and research? Then this webinar is for you. The 45-minute webinar, on Tuesday 31st May 2016 at 4pm, will feature special guest and consultant editor Professor Andrew Linn, Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Westminster.

Migration to New Worlds provides an in-depth look at the emigration of peoples from Great Britain, Ireland, mainland Europe and Asia to the New World and Australasia in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The 'Responses to Immigration' section is particularly relevant to the current refugee crisis.

The webinar will explore these documents for an in-depth look at how the collection can be used for teaching and research.

Exams, more study spaces and extended Library opening

With exams starting soon, there is likely to be more pressure on study spaces across campus.
There's now a new online learning space directory that you can use to find somewhere to study.

In addition to the 24/7 opening at the Information Commons and the Diamond, extended opening hours are in place at Western Bank Library - open from 7am on weekdays from 3 May to 9 June.

Sustainable Organization Library

 

The Sustainable Organization Library (SOL), published by GSE Research, is a dedicated online collection of individually searchable chapters, articles, reports and case studies featuring leading thinkers in sustainability and social responsibility. SOL covers sustainability in its broadest sense, addressing the social, environmental and economic aspects.

SOL crosses over all sectors of business education, especially green management programs which promote ethical business and socially responsible leadership. It features collections from organisations such as Greenleaf Publishing, Oxfam,  UN Global Compact, ILO, Do Sustainability and The Geneva Association.

Access SOL to start searching, or you can also search for individual titles on StarPlus.   

The Pop-Up Library is coming to Mappin Street

Hello to all our economics and journalism students! Our Pop-Up Library will be in the foyer at 9 Mappin Street tomorrow Thursday 28th April 12-2pm 

We’ll be giving out snacks and other freebies, and answering your questions about library resources and support for learning and research.

Look out for the Pop-Up Library coming to your department soon!

 

 Announcements about future Pop-Up Library sessions will be made on this blog and the @SocSciLibrarian Twitter account. We’d love to hear your thoughts on when and where you would like to see the next one #popuplib

Study Break Pass

As part of our Is it ever OK campaign, we asked 'Is it ever OK to use your belongings to hold on to a study space?' Your feedback told us that you would like to be able to reserve a study space while you take a break, especially at exam time when you may be spending long periods in the library.


We've listened and as part of Exam Plus we've introduced a 45 minute study break pass. These are now available for collection from any of our customer service points.

Let us know what you think.

ever OK to use your belongings to hold on to a study space? Your feedback told us that you Is it ever OK to use your belongings to hold on to a study space? Your feedback told us that you would like to be able to reserve a study space whilst you take a break.would like to be able to reserve a study space whilst you take a break.We’ve listened and introduced a 45 minute study break pass. These are now available for collection from any of our customer service poi

Welcome to Exam Plus!

Take a look at the Exam Plus web pages to find out how the Library, and our colleagues throughout the University, can help you during your exams. The web pages are separated into 4 useful sections: Find a Space, Find Skills, Find a PC, and Find Help. The Find a Space and Find a PC sections provide up-to-date information to help you find study spaces during busy periods. From 3 May the Library has secured extra study spaces around the University and details of these can be found under Find a Space. The Find Help section also provides links to further sources of help that you may need during the exam period, including information skills tutorials, workshops, revision tips and exam do's and don'ts.  There is also information about who to contact should you need further help.
 

The Pop-Up Library is coming to the Management School!

Our Pop-Up Library will be in the Courtyard Cafe on Monday 18th April 12-2pm 

We’ll be giving out snacks and other freebies, and answering your questions about library resources and support for learning and research.

Look out for the Pop-Up Library coming to your department soon!

Announcements about future Pop-Up Library sessions will be made on this blog and the @SocSciLibrarian Twitter account. We’d love to hear your thoughts on when and where you would like to see the next one #popuplib

Undergraduate dissertation prizes up for grabs!

Are you an undergraduate student completing your dissertation in the academic year 2015/16?  Do you want your research to be read by other researchers, users of data and practitioners?

The UK Data Service will be awarding three prizes for theses that demonstrate flair and originality in using quantitative data available through the UK Data Service.
The three winning candidates will receive financial prizes of £500 (1st place), £250 (2nd place) and £150 (3rd place). The abstract of the winning dissertations, along with their key findings, will also be publicised on the UK Data Service website and to their networks within the social sciences through their quarterly Newsletter.

The deadline for the dissertation Executive Summary is 16^th May 2016.

For information on how to enter see the UK Data Service News page. 

Foreign Office Files for China, 1919-1980

Foreign Office files for China, 1919-1980 makes available the complete British Foreign Office files dealing with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan for much of the twentieth century. The documents combine eyewitness accounts, weekly and monthly summaries, annual reviews, reports and analyses with a synthesis of newspaper articles and conference reports, economic assessments and synopses. Search Foreign Office Files for China under the University Collections tab on StarPlus for more information.

Are you ready for the REF?

To be eligible for the next REF, all your articles and conference papers published after the 1st April 2016 must be deposited in an open access repository within three months of acceptance.  

To meet these requirements, you can deposit your Author Accepted Manuscript in MyPublications.  We will then upload it to White Rose Research Online, our open access repository.

To find out how to do this, and learn more about Open Access, visit our Open Access webpages.  You may also wish to read How it all works, a new series of guides for researchers. Issue one gives an excellent introduction to the key issues relating to Open Access and research data, and the services available to help you maximise the impact of your research outputs.

Taking books home over Easter?

As you know, we usually renew your books for you automatically if they haven't been requested. However, over the Easter holidays things work a little differently.

Renewals

• Even though we will try to automatically renew your loans by Saturday 12 March, we may encounter some issues, such as another student requesting your book. Because of this, we’re asking you to please remember to check your library account through StarPlus, and renew any items due for return before going off home for the holidays.
• Once your book has been renewed, you’ll be able to keep it over the holidays and - as long as no one else requests it - we’ll continue to renew it for you once term starts. If someone does make a request for a book that you have on loan, you will need to bring it back to us by Monday 11 April.

Requests

• If you’ve made any requests for books that you no longer need over Easter, please remember to cancel them online.
• So that we can get your requested books to you even faster, if anyone has a book that’s overdue they won’t be able to place a request.

Read online

• If we don’t have a physical copy of the book you need, don’t worry, we also have a wide selection of e-books and other online resources available through StarPlus. Just log in to MUSE and read our ebooks from your desktop, wherever you are, 24/7.

If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the Library on 0114 222 7200 or email library@sheffield.ac.uk

Finding legal information workshop

Puzzled by legal terminology? Need to find an Act of Parliament for your coursework? Then this workshop is for you!  Aimed at students who are not studying law but who want a basic introduction to legal information and materials, the next workshop runs on Wednesday 9th March, 10.00-11.00 in the Library Skills Room on the 4th Floor of The Diamond.

You can book now and see our other workshops on our Information Skills web page.

British Library Boston Spa Minibus

The Library runs a regular free minibus service to the British Library Document Supply Centre at Boston Spa to give staff and students of the University the opportunity to use the extensive collections housed there. Visits are scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month and the next trip is on 5th April. These are usually very popular and book up quickly, so hurry and book your place now!

The minibus leaves from the Tower court car park outside the Western Bank Library at 8.45am and returns to Sheffield by approximately 5.00pm.

The British Library requires pre-registration to use their libraries and material must be ordered in advance. More details can be found on the library’s web page

Exciting news: now you can access all the journals on CNKI via StarPlus

CNKI (China Academic Journals Online, 中国知网) is a full-text searchable database of Chinese journals on business, economics, management, literature, philosophy, history, archaeology, music, arts, politics, law, education and social sciences. All the journals from CNKI are now searchable on StarPlus by title, keywords, publisher, and subjects.



We subscribe to 864 titles in Literature/History/Philosophy, 676 titles in Politics/Military Affairs/Law, 2016 titles in Education/Social Sciences and 982 titles in Economy & Management on CNKI. This development makes accessing these over 4500 Chinese journals easier than ever.

Seven steps to producing a literature review

Creating your first literature review can be a complex process requiring a number of skills. It involves identifying, evaluating and synthesising previous research in your field of study. Structured around research ideas, its purpose is to set the research scene by highlighting the main arguments and identifying gaps or shortcomings which need to be addressed with further research.

For help with writing your literature review take a look at the Library’s online tutorial: Producing a literature review. This tutorial will guide you through the process of writing a literature review in 7 steps. It also suggests sources of further advice about specific skills and provides recommended reading. 

Business Source Premier

Looking for company and business information? Our subject guide will help you find the right resource for you. 

Business Source Premier is a business research database, with full text access to leading titles such as Harvard Business Review. It also provides company profiles, which will be useful for any student preparing for job applications or interviews.

The database has text to speech (read aloud) functionality in English for documents in html format.

If you create a personalised account within the database, you can organise your search results in folders and add notes to documents that you save. You can also save searches, create alerts and RSS feeds. Apps for iPhone and Android devices are available.

This database will be of interest to students and researchers in a range of disciplines across the University. To get access, open StarPlus from the My Services menu in MUSE, type Business Source Premier into the University Collections search box and follow the View It/view full text links to the database.

The Pop-Up Library is coming to Mappin Street!

Our Pop-Up Library will be at 9 Mappin Street next Tuesday 1st March 11am-1pm

 

We'll be giving out chocs & other freebies and answering your questions about library resources and support for learning and research.

Look out for the Pop-Up Library coming to your department soon!

Announcements about future Pop-Up Library sessions will be made on this blog and the @SocSciLibrarian Twitter account. We'd love to hear your thoughts on when and where you would like to see the next one #popuplib

What is Information Literacy and why is it important?

Information Literacy is a key attribute of The Sheffield Graduate. It means knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to use and communicate it. Our Information Literacy web pages include a video explaining why academic staff say it is important. 
 

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Getting Started page has some links to some of our tutorials on effective note taking, understanding your reading list and effective note taking. There is also a short video that explains what your subject librarian can do for you

MY BOOKS scheme is now closed!

You’ve helped us to spend £50,000 in less than two days, and thanks to your suggestions, we're now busy filling the shelves with the books you need.

 

Don't forget you can always use our book recommendation form to recommend books at any time. 

World Book Day 3rd March: Book Swap

Got any old textbooks you don't want?  Want to read something new?  

Come to Western Bank Library on Thursday 3rd March, and help us celebrate World Book Day with our first ever Book Swap.  

Bring your old books and swap them for something new, or just help yourself to the second hand books available.  There will be everything from textbooks to novels, and whilst you don't have to swap a book to take one, the more you bring, the better it'll be. 

The Book Swap runs from 10:00am - 2:00pm upstairs in Western Bank Library and it would be great to see you there!

Help us spend £50,000 on new books

Are you a student at the University? We've set aside a whopping £50,000 for new books, and we need your help to spend it.

From 9am on Monday 22 February, you can fill in an online form telling us which books you think we should buy. The form is for ordering new titles. If you think we need more copies of a current title, let us know via the Get It tab on StarPlus.

We’re expecting the cash to go fast – so act quickly! Find out more about our My Books campaign and get spending.

Library Guide for Achieve More - 10 Billion

Our new guide Achieve More - 10 billion helps you negotiate this complicated subject by putting the latest literature and access to the best tools at your finger tips. There's advice on finding academic articles and books in addition to media and Digimap. An animation shows you how to throw together a quick search strategy, and there's copyright advice on citing images.

The guide can be found here: http://sheffield.libguides.com/c.php?g=445697&p=3040212