No.6
July 2005
Students at work in the Launceston Learning Hub
Library news
Launceston Learning Hub opening
On Monday 23rd May 2005, Senator John Watson officially opened the University Library’s Learning Hubs at the Launceston Campus Library. Accompanying Sen. John Watson were Prof. Rudi Lidl (Deputy Vice Chancellor), Prof. Sue Johnston (Pro Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning) and Linda Luther (University Librarian). Sen. John Watson represented the Australian Government, which funded the creation of the Learning Hubs.
Sen. John Watson spoke of his long association and interest in events dealing with the University Library. Prof. Sue Johnston spoke of how students’ study needs have changed in an increasingly electronic information world, and the Library was best suited to accommodate these new requirements. Prof. Johnston also commented that our Learning Hubs were comparable or exceeded the practices of other libraries around the world. A morning tea was offered to guests and Library staff in attendance.
Morris Miller Learning Hub celebration
Staff and students are invited to join the Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor, Teaching and Learning to celebrate the Learning Hub in Morris Miller Library. Drop in for coffee and cake between 4.30 and 6.00 pm, Wednesday 13 July. Library staff will be available to talk about the Hub and to show you around.
Exhibition in the Morris Miller Library foyer
Dr Winifred Curtis - 100 years of botanical research, teaching and travelling
The opening of this exhibition, which will run until the end of July, was timed to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dr Winifred Curtis on June 15th. It consists of biographical notes, family photographs, letters, postcards, travel brochures, teaching materials, publications, botanical specimens of plants named after Dr Curtis, and other interesting items illustrating her life and achievements.
Linda Luther, the University Librarian and Dr Gintaras Kantvilas, head of the Tasmanian Herbarium, who gave the main speech at the exhibition opening. Behind them is a portrait of Dr Winifred Curtis which was painted by George Davis and lent by the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
UNIaccess program wins prize
The UNIaccess program and its coordinators, Lorraine Hamilton of FEU and Susan Bell of the Launceston Campus Library, won a Department of Education 2005 Learning Together Award for Educational Excellence. The citation was, “For developing and delivering a successful training program to provide State Library and Online Access Centre staff with the necessary skills in the use of UNIaccess resources”. Lorraine was presented with the award by the Minister for Education, Paula Wriedt. Congratulations Lorraine and Susan for your hard work and well deserved award.
Electronic Services News
This area provides news about changes to existing or new electronic services, which are provided by the library to support research and teaching programs.
AANRO – Australian Agricultural & Natural Resources Online
The ABOA, ARRIP and CARRP databases on the Informit site have now been incorporated into the AANRO database. These databases are now not listed separately in the Alphabetical listing of databases but can now be found under the AANRO listing. STREAMLINE is also part of AANRO but it continues to be also searchable as a separate database on Informit.
Journal Citation Reports
Impact factors for 2004 have just been made available through the Journal Citation Reports. The interface for JCR has changed, to align it with the new Web of Knowledge look. New features include:
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New subject category level data including median and aggregate impact factors, aggregate immediacy index, aggregate half-life, citation and article totals will provide easy access to broad content to enhance your journal evaluations.
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In addition to the number of articles and reviews published, JCR source data will also display the number of all other published items.
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Scope notes for subject categories available in JCR are now specific to the JCR edition year beginning with 2003 and going forward.
Australasian Law Journals Project
AustLII (www.austlii.edu.au) has developed a web page that provides links to 16 Australian and New Zealand academic law journal, with a search interface that will search across all 16 journals. Available journals include
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Australian Indigenous Law Reporter
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Australian Journal of Human Rights
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Alternative Law Journal
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Federal Law Review
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Human Rights Defender
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Privacy Law and Policy Reporter
The number of journals available will increase as the project continues.
Database Trials
The Library has set up trials to various exciting new databases including:
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Xreferplus - a searchable online reference library of up to 169 reference books - encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, books of quotations and subject-specific titles.
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Brittanica Online
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EBSCO MegaFile Premier
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Bibliography of Asian Studies
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British Humanities Index (CSA)
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Bibliography of the History of Art (CSA)
Please check our Database Trials page for links to other short-term
trials at:
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/trials.html
Oxford English Dictionary Online - June update
The OED has announced it latest update which includes over 2,700 new
and revised words and phrases. The OED can be accessed from the Databases
page at:
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/
dbases3.html#o
For any enquiries/comments please contact:
Kate.Walpole@utas.edu.au
Training and Help
Workshops and Library Classes
Our branch libraries are offering ‘Library Tours’ and a wide variety of other classes and hands-on workshops for the start of and during the 2nd Semester.
The Clinical and the Art and Music Libraries offer on demand training / help sessions on all aspects of library service, including sessions on databases and EndNote. Sessions are offered on a needs basis, either in groups or to individuals.
For details of forthcoming library introduction tours, workshops
for staff and postgraduate researchers and other information literacy
classes please see:
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/assist
/tours_workshops.html
Special Information Skills classes
Liaison Librarians can deliver information skills classes or hands-on
workshops, which focus on specific subjects or courses. Please contact
your Liaison Librarian directly to discuss embedding information skills
into your teaching in order to develop information literacy in your
students. Liaison Librarians and their contact details are listed
at:
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/about/liais.html
During 2004 we supplied 3,578 loan items to our eligible users. These items were books predominantly. This compares with 3,477 items supplied in 2003. This 3% increase on the 2003 figures continues to highlight the gaps in our library collections, which we are seeking to address with the additional funding to the Library for 2005.
In contrast, our copies supplied (predominantly journal articles) to eligible users are down. 12,256 in 2004 compared with 14,184 copies in 2003. This is probably due to our huge increase in electronic serials over the 2004 period. This continuing trend is good news for all library users.
Hobart Phone: 03 6226 2230
E-mail docdel.hbt@lib.utas.edu.au
Launceston Phone: 03 6324 3571
E-mail docdel.ltn@lib.utas.edu.au
Launceston Library
Ian Bollard, media star
The Examiner newspaper interviewed Ian Bollard, Acting Launceston Campus Librarian, as part of a special feature article on the northern campus of the University. The article appeared in the Sunday Examiner on 5th June 2005. The journalist, Anna Randell was keen to show how the Library embraced technology in its services to students. It was reported how a university id. card functioned as a borrowing card, photocopying card, and printing payment card. Anna reported how the Library supported and added to the learning experiences of students through the new study spaces of the Learning Hub. Ian stated that not since his wedding had he had so many photos taken of him at one time. Ian is available for autographs between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. daily.
Group Study Rooms in the Leaning Hub.
The new Learning Hub includes three study rooms which can be booked for group study by staff or students. Each room holds up to 6 - 8 people, and the rooms can be booked for two hour periods. Staff may also book the eLearning Labs on Level 2 of the library, when they are not required for library training. These labs hold about 12 computers each and a digital projector, and may be used for hands-on training sessions. All these rooms can be booked through the Service Desk on x1818.
Launceston Library Circulation
New carpet
The winds of change are blowing through the Launceston campus library, bringing with them not only a cloud of dust, tinged with the faintest scent of adhesive, but also lovely new sections of carpet on level two.
New Service Desk
A close encounter of a second kind. Library staff and users will have a whole new experience because of the modifications made to the front counter at the Launceston campus library.
Phone: 03 6324 327
E-mail: Ltn.Reference@utas.edu.au
Law Library News
Some interior decorating has occurred during the mid-year break, to create a welcoming entrance area to the Law Library. We have developed a new display area for books, journals and law reports, and a seating area where people can browse the display. We have also created some group study areas on Level One of the library, with 4 tables where students can work together. This is in addition to the 6 moot and discussion rooms on Level Two of the library.
New Help Sheet – As part of the Library’s collection of Help Sheets the Law Library has produced a new Help Sheet called Australian Law Reports Online. It lists Australian law reports available online, what years are covered, and what database you can find them in.
Phone: 03 6226 2063
E-mail: Law.Reference@utas.edu.au
Morris Miller Library
As you may already be aware the builders have returned to the Morris Miller Library and are currently refurbishing the Reference, Circulation and IT working area on the Entry Level. We apologise for any inconvenience this disruption may cause and hope the new area will be functioning for the start of Semester 2.
Kate Walpole will be taking each Friday off to the end of the year as Long Service Leave. The Morris Miller Reference Team is pleased to welcome Susan Robson as Kate’s replacement. Susan can be contacted on x2306.
Phone: 03 6226 2225
E-mail: MML.Reference@utas.edu.au
Science Library
Sandy von Allmen will be on long service leave from the 11th July until the 26th August. During this time Sandy will be completing her final internship for her Bachelor of Teaching. In Sandy’s absence please contact:
Chris Evans email: Christine.Evans@utas.edu.au (ext
2132) or
Sarah Crosswell email: Sarah.Crosswell@utas.edu.au (ext
7217).
Phone: 03 6226 2441
E-mail: Science.Reference@utas.edu.au
The University Librarian’s Office
Lois Anderson
The Library recently farewelled Julie Wills, the University Librarian’s secretary, who has accepted the position of Office Manager for the School of Chemistry. Lois Anderson will be filling this position until Lee Reid returns from maternity leave early in 2006. Lois can be contacted on 03 6226 2223
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