October Reading Week Library Opening Hours 2012

(by Wiccked on Flickr.
Creative Commons.)

Main Library

Monday 29th October: CLOSED (Staff Training)
Tuesday 30th October: 9.00am - 4.00pm 
Wednesday 31st October: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Thursday 1st November: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Friday 2nd November: 9.00am - 4.00pm

The Art Library and SPACE IT Centre are CLOSED throughout Reading Week. 

Normal hours resume on Monday 5th November

You can return items by posting them through the Main Library Letter Box when we are closed.

Our Online Library Catalogue is being upgraded during Review week, however you can still renew items by ringing (0191) 200 4020 and leaving a message (including your ID number) on our Answerphone; or by emailing libraries@ncl-coll.ac.uk.

Library Catalogue is Off Line

Heritage, our online library catalogue which enables you to search for books, place reservations and renew items over the internet, is currently unavailable as it is being upgraded.

We'll have an improved system up and running shortly.

In the meantime, please ring 0191 200 4020 or email libraries@ncl-coll.ac.uk with any library queries or to extend your loans.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Harvard in a Hurry

It is vital that you properly reference all your academic assignments - this adds authority to your work and ensures that you can't be accused of plagiarism.

However, the Harvard Referencing system can take a bit of getting used to, so here's a quick video to get you started using Author-Date Citations and Reference Lists / Bibliographies in the right format for the work you hand in at Newcastle College...:

More resources to help with Harvard Referencing are available here or by clicking the Harvard Referencing link at the top of this blog..

Second-hand USB Charity Sale

We're selling off all the unclaimed (and now wiped) USB sticks that have been left in the Library over the past few months, with all proceeds going to MacMillan Cancer Support.

• 1GB USBs cost £1
• 2GB USBs cost £2
• 4GB USBs cost £4

Come along to Main Library Issue Desk, grab yourself a bargain and do some good for our nominated charity in the process.

Quick Links to Research Sources and Resources

(By Horrigans on Flickr. Creative Commons)

You are probably starting to get plenty of assignments to do by now, and Reading Week next week might mean you won't be able to get into College to use the Library.

Here's a link to recommended online resources (e-books, e-journals, dependable websites and more) that you can access anywhere, 24/7, to get the reliable data, quotations and information in order to finish your work.

IMPORTANT - To access the Newcastle College e-resources, you MUST have first changed your Password from the default one (your 6-digit date of birth), or the links won't work.

Click here, then select "enrol" to change your Password off-campus. (Step-by-step instructions are available here.)

A Google A Day

Test your internet research skills with A Google A Day - the daily quiz from Google.

Challenge yourself, play against friends or try to top the worldwide leaderboard to see who is the most "Search Savvy" ... and pick up lots of tricks and tips to help you develop advanced Online Researching Skills to track down information for your assignments in the process.

Watch the video below to find out more....

Warning - this is VERY addictive!

Renew Online

You can extend the loan period of items you have borrowed from Newcastle College Library by renewing online.

Simply go to http://library.ncl-coll.ac.uk/, use the Library Catalogue link in the Library pages of NCG Online, or click on the Library Catalogue logo at the foot of this blog; then log in using your usual Newcastle College Username (eg 's' + your Student Number). The Password is "12345" (unless you have changed this for yourself).

Logging in to the Library Catalogue

  

Click the word "Loans" in the left-hand menu or, from the Home Screen, double-click "Current Loans" in the My Portal Summary section beneath the Search Box....:

The Renew Icon

When the list of items you have out comes on screen, click on the green "Renew" button next to the items you wish to keep for longer.

The new return date will be listed in the "Due Date" column.

The Renewal Screen

NB: You cannot renew items that are overdue or have been reserved by other Library Users.

Click here to get automatic reminders of when you need to renew your library items.

A guide with full details of our Online Catalogue's functions and features can be downloaded here.

Universities Comparison Website

We have the prospectuses of all UK Universities available for you to browse near the Study Skills section at Newcastle College Main Library, but here's a web resource that may be useful to those currently weighing up their options for Higher Education next year...:

Assignment Survival Kit

If you're struggling to cope with all the different assignments that are flooding in right now, then try the terrific Assignment Help and Scheduler service from Staffordshire University Library.

Not only does it give step-by-step guidance on exactly how to tackle essays, portfolio work, presentations, posters or reports; if you type in your deadline date, the program will also devise a timetable for you to work to, so can be sure to get all the work done in time.

Google Cultural Projects

Last year we recommended Google Art Project, which allows you to enjoy the greatest Landscape and Portrait paintings from the World's most celebrated galleries, zooming in to brush-stroke level (a must-see for our Fine Art students!).

Now Google have build on this success with their latest Cultural Heritage projects...:

Free Newcastle College Email Accounts

Did you know that, as a Newcastle College student, you have a free college email account?

To access your email,

Study Skills Section

Are you having trouble finding books to help you tackle report writing, essays or dissertations at Newcastle College Library?

World Sight Day Book Swap

Do you have unwanted books you wish to swap?

If so, come along to the World Sight Day Book Swap all this week (8th October - 12th October 2012) in the Main Library.

Hand in your books at the Issue Desk and you will be given tokens to swap for books others have donated. If there is nothing you fancy, keep them for another book swap later in the year!

There will also be collection boxes to raise money for RNIB at this event to coincide with World Sight Day on 11th October 2012.

Durham Book Festival 2012

One for fellow book lovers out there - Durham Book Festival is only a few weeks away, and promises a mix of poetry and politics, murder and memoirs ... and afternoon tea (?).

Click here to see the full programme of events and to book your place.

Copyright-free Media Search Engine

A handy resource if you need to include copyright-free (or "some rights reserved") images, video, music or other media in your work, CC Search provides convenient access to search services which restrict their results to items offered under a Creative Commons licence, permitting other people to freely use or modify them to best meet their needs.

All you need to do is type your search term in the Search Box, then click on whichever provider (Google, Flickr, SpinXpress, Wikimedia Commons, etc) you want to search with.

Still can't find what you need?

Stationery

Did you know that, as well as providing books, journals, research help and PC access, we also have a Stationery Shop at Newcastle College Library?

Here's a list of our prices

Mandela Art LIbrary

Even if you aren’t studying on an Art course, it might well be worth checking out our dedicated Art & Design Library on the first floor of Newcastle College's Mandela Building.

Here we have thousands of books, magazines and other resources which will be of interest to anyone who enjoys photography, fashion, architecture, graphics, fine art, ceramics or even comic book illustration.

There’s also a suite of Apple Mac and PC computers, colour printing and photocopying facilities, and a wide range of specialist art stationery supplies (such as display folders, sketch pads, graded pencils and brushes, etc) available to buy at bargain prices.

Why not have a wander over? The branch is open from 9:15am every weekday, telephone: (0191) 200 4021 or email klaire.purvis@ncl-coll.ac.uk.



P'interesting Research & Study Skills Books

It'll soon be time to start tackling assignments or planning extended projects and dissertations.

Click here to browse our most popular Research and Study Skills Books, and just click the link to Reserve it to collect later.

Alternatively, search our Library Catalogue to explore our full collection.