Something new! Morris Miller Library audio tour podcast now available!

Learn to find your way around the Morris Miller Library by downloading an audio tour to your mp3 player, mobile phone or other mobile device.

Print out an accompanying map and you are on your way to learning about the main features of the Library.

During the first weeks of semester tours are also on offer in all UTAS libraries so please do participate or enquire about them.

Library System Upgrade Monday 1st February

The University Library Computer System will be upgraded on Monday the 1st February.

The upgrade will start early in the morning and should be completed by lunch time, to minimise disruption. Although the system will be unavailable, library material can still be borrowed and returned during this time.

There will be a version of the on-line library catalogue available while the upgrade is occurring, to allow searching for library material. Booking and requesting of library material will not be available while the upgrade is occurring.

The Library apologises for any inconvenience this upgrade may cause.

Changes to wireless connections

UConnect Wireless Registration Process –  Staff and Students

As a result of the UConnect wireless changes planned for Wednesday the 13th of January 2010 at 11:00pm current users of these services will need to re-register all wireless devices. The following steps should be followed to complete this.

1. Ensure the wireless device is disconnected from any wired connection (normally a blue cable).  This includes the undocking of laptops.
2. Ensure your proxy settings are either not set or set to autoproxy.  See proxy help faq for more information.
3. Open your Web browser to any page and you will be redirected to the UConnect setup pages. If this does not happen, either type a new address into the address bar or click on “refresh”.
4. Follow the prompts to register and setup your wireless device.

For more information about the registration process please refer to the Service Desk documentation.

Changes to the arrangement of material at the Launceston Campus Library

Over the summer break, Launceston Campus Library staff will be changing the shelving arrangement of the Library’s collections, from the Dewey Decimal to the Library of Congress classification system. This means books will have their shelf numbers changed from the decimal style (example: 333.956/56) to the alphabetic style (example: SH 328 .W35 2004). Books on the same topic will appear in a new location on the shelves.

The advantages are:

• Accurate call number details will now be on the library catalogue.  The process has meant a complete clean up of all of records for the Launceston collection.   The process has also served as a stocktake, ensuring that any missing material is identified.
• Launceston will have the same classification system as all other UTAS libraries.  The change was completed at the AMC Library in the middle of 2009 and at the Cradle Coast Campus in December.
• It will be easier to locate items on the shelves.  The numbers are much shorter and in most cases, the call number label can now be attached to the spine, rather than the front of the book, making it easier to see when browsing.
• Library of Congress Classification provides a really specific number for specific topics, making the finding of more obscure research areas much easier.  For this reason, it is used by many university and research libraries around the world.

Disruption to service will be kept to a minimum but if you do have any problems locating material, talk to one of our staff who will be happy to assist.

A guide to Library of Congress classification can be found under How books are arranged on the shelf at http://www.utas.edu.au/library/azindex.html#h

Wendy Hoyle, Launceston Campus Librarian

New students – a Library guide especially to help you

UTAS Library welcomes all new students!

Library guides are a great place to start finding information in different subject areas.

We are now offering a Library guide for new students  - to help you learn about all the resources and services the library offers you.

Finding past examination papers

Examination papers in electronic form are available from the Library’s catalogue.

Need help finding the papers?  This online tutorial  shows you how to search the catalogue for them.

Further help and information is available at http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/exams.html

Need help preparing for exams? Two workshops are being offered in Hobart

Two Exam Preparation Workshops  will be running during Study Break week. These workshops are open to anyone, you don’t have to register,  so please feel free to attend, and let your friends know too. 

Tuesday 20th October,  1.10pm-2.00pm 

 Wednesday 21st October,  1.10pm-2.00pm 

 Hobart UniCentre 103 Flexspace

UTAS Library theses digitilisation project

The Library will soon begin the task of digitising our collection of University of Tasmania theses. At first we will digitise the 100 most requested volumes. We have chosen CAVAL’s book scanning service (using a robotic photographic scanner) to do the work. We have recently received the first thesis scanned by CAVAL. The orginal given to CAVAL was a yellowing typed thesis from the 1960s and we are very pleased with the quality of the scanned product. You can see the thesis at http://eprints.utas.edu.au/9287/.

UGrow workshops – coming up!

UTAS Library is pleased to support the UGrow program.

You don’t need to register – simply turn up at the venue on the day.

Details of next workshops:

Workshop 5: Building the evidence

Building evidence to improve chances of employment after graduation

* Mon 14 Sept, 1.10pm-2.00pm, Rm D130, Ltn Campus

* Thurs 17 Sept, 1.10pm-2.00pm, Flex Space, Hobart Campus

Workshop 6: Ticket to success: how to write a good resume

A range of information and advice on resume writing

* Wed 16 Sept, 1.10pm-2.00pm, Raymond Ferrall Flex Space, Ltn Campus

* Thurs 24 Sept, 1.10pm-2.00pm, Flex Space, Hobart Campus

UTAS Library’s new eBook library service

Have you accessed an ebook through the UTAS Library catalogue? 

We are currently trialling EBL (Ebook library), which is an innovative ebook library service that allows users to loan for a period of 1-3 days, as well as read ebooks offline using laptops or ebook reading devices.

Read more about this on the UTAS Electronic Resources Blog - and post a comment to let us know what you think!