Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Posted on May 16, 2023 by saraht

Thursday 18^th May 2023 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! From their website: “The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.”

Library staff are committed to offering accessible digital resources to those who need them. When we purchase books and other resources, our preference is to buy electronic versions. However, this isn’t always possible due to licence or publishing restrictions. We have access to some additional free services for qualifying users – please get in touch to discuss how we can help you.

Our email address is librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk, please contact us any time, for any reason. We’re happy to answer any questions: if we can’t help, we’ll find out who can!

A close-up of a person holding tablet device in front of the Sir Duncan Rice Library.

RNIB Bookshare

RNIB Bookshare is a database of electronic resources offered by the Royal National Institute of the Blind. Their collection includes more than a million books and is completely free to use! All books can be downloaded in various formats and are compatible with screen readers and other assistive software. More information can be found on the RNIB Bookshare website.

To request an account, please ask your disability advisor to contact Library staff – this is so that we can make sure you meet RNIB Bookshare’s eligibility criteria. Library staff will create an account on your behalf then send you an email with the login details. Your account can be used until you leave the University.

Requests to publishers

Library staff can request free accessible materials directly from publishers. To do this, we must meet one of the following criteria:

at least one print copy of the title in stock, or
have electronic access to the title (but for disability-related reasons the student would benefit from a different file type or format), or
the student will own a personal copy and can provide proof of purchase which will be sent to the publisher

This isn’t always successful, or very quick, but we are more than happy to make requests. If you need access to a specific item, please email us at librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk with the title, author’s name, year/edition, and the format you require (eg. PDF, EPUB, or even a print copy). All enquiries are strictly confidential: we don’t share your details with publishers, and we’ll never share your personal information without your consent.

Personal scans

If you need access to a work available only in physical format, library staff can scan items on your behalf. These are only for personal use and must not be shared with anyone else. To make requests, please email librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk with book/article details. We will get back to you if we have any questions, then email the scan to you.

Reading lists

The library works closely with teaching staff to provide digital reading lists for each course. These are hosted in a web-based software package called Leganto. Leganto is compatible with screen readers and has options to change contrast, font size, and pop-up duration. It is also possible to export your entire reading list into an accessible file.

When essential materials are only available in physical format, teaching staff can request digital scans. These must comply with copyright law, so are usually less than 10% of the total work (more information on copyright can be found on our website). These scans can be accessed directly from Leganto and can be read using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

E-resource providers

Many of our e-resource providers and databases offer features to help with accessibility. For example, VLEBooks offers a Readaloud feature, allowing you to use text-to-speech from any browser. A list of accessibility statements from providers can be found on our website.

Library staff member demonstrating how to borrow books on the self-issue machine.

Direct support

Library staff can also offer one to one support, either in-person or as an online session, at a time that suits you. We can help with a wide range of queries; including how best to use our catalogue, Primo, help with referencing, how to find resources for your assignments, or anything else!

We can make referrals to other support services if you want them (such as Assistive Technology).

Physical accessibility

We can offer a gentle introduction to the library, either for individuals or small groups. We recognise that our users may be neurodiverse, so these can be held at quiet times to minimise distractions. Staff can help with navigating physical spaces and finding an area that works for you, locating and borrowing books, and more. We also offer a book fetching service for our users – let us know if you’d like to access this.

We hope this information is useful. Our email address is librarydisability@abdn.ac.uk. Again, please do get in touch with us any time, for any reason. We’re happy to receive feedback and answer any questions: if we don’t immediately have answers, we’ll investigate and get back to you as soon as possible!

Did you Know?…Borrowing Books-how many and for how long?

Posted on January 30, 2023 by lucyd2020

Welcome to the University of Aberdeen. We are pleased that you have chosen to study and do your research while using our resources. We also realise that you may have questions regarding how many books you can borrow, and our rules and regulations. Please read on to learn more about borrowing from the hundreds of thousands of high-quality books available in our Library Collections.

How many books can I borrow?

The table below shows you how many books you are able to borrow from our Libraries at any one time, depending on the type of Library Account you have.

Type of Library Account	Number of books you can borrow
Undergraduate Student	20
Taught Postgraduate Student	20
Research Postgraduate Student	40
University Staff	50
Temporary Services Staff	10
NHS Grampian Staff	10
External Members	10
SCONUL Access Students	5

How long can I borrow the books for?

The books available in all of our Libraries can be borrowed for different lengths of time, depending on how much they are expected to be used for teaching or research. See below for an explanation of the different loan types available and how you can easily identify them on the shelves.

Heavy Demand

How can I tell if a book is Heavy Demand?

There will be blue tape on the book’s spine, as well as the shelfmark. These books are core reading materials across all courses and therefore have the shortest loan periods in our collection. Please also be aware that you can only borrow 2 books at a time from this collection.

How long is the loan?

1 day, due back 10.30am the next day – or Monday if borrowed on a Friday or over the weekend.

If borrowing before 10.30am please check the due date and time carefully – if the item is booked it will be due back at 10.30am that day. Check the screen and your receipt for the due date and time.

A few items are on 3 hour reference. You may borrow the item using the self-service kiosks in Heavy Demand but must return it within 3 hours.

Can I renew the loan?

No phone renewals are allowed. Renewals must be done in person, with the item present. This is because items must be returned by a specific time during the day and very often the item has already been reserved for another reader.

3- Day Loan

How can I tell if a book is 3- Day Loan?

There will be yellow tape on the book’s spine, as well as the shelfmark. These books have been recommended for reading on different courses.

How long is the loan ?

Return within 3 days, weekends included e.g. borrowed Wednesday, due back on Saturday. Holds may be placed to reserve these.

Can I renew the loan?

Items may be renewed as long as no-one else has placed a hold on the item.

Items will be renewed automatically for you if not requested by another reader.

If the book is recalled an email will be sent to your University account telling you when to return it.

You can renew 3-Day Loan items yourself via MyAccount in Primo, or in person at one of our libraries up to 9 times.

4-Week Loan

How can I tell if a book is 4-Week Loan?

There will be white tape on the book’s spine, as well as the shelfmark.

How long is the loan ?

4 weeks from date of borrowing, but they can always be recalled at any time by another user of the library, including over holidays.

If the book is recalled an email will be sent to your University account telling you when to return it.

Can I renew the loan?

Items may be renewed unless recalled or on hold by another reader. If the book is recalled an email will be sent to your University account telling you when to return it.

Items will be renewed automatically for you if not requested by another reader (Aberdeen University students and staff).

You can renew 4-Week Loan items yourself via MyAccount in Primo, or in person at one of our libraries up to 9 times.

Long Loan

How can I tell if a book is Long Loan?

There will be no coloured tape on the book’s spine, only the shelfmark.

How long is the loan ?

Until the end of the Summer term, but they can always be recalled at any time by another user of the library, including over holidays. If the book is recalled an email will be sent to your University account telling you when to return it.

Can I renew the loan?

Recalled items cannot be renewed. Before the annual return of books in May items can be renewed via MyAccount in Primo or in person at one of our libraries.

24 Hour Restricted Loan

How can I tell if a book is 24 Hour Restricted Loan ?

There will be a 24 Hour Loan label on the first page of the book. There will be no coloured tape on the book’s spine, only the shelfmark.

How long is the loan?

Return within 24 hours from the time of issue, weekends included, e.g. issued 16.45 on Tuesday, due back by 16.45 on Wednesday.

Can I renew the loan?

Restricted loans may be renewed as long as no-one else has placed a hold on the item. You can renew 24 Hour Loan items on loan to yourself via Primo up to 9 times.

Self Issue Machines and PINs

Set up your PIN now to access the self-check machines in our libraries!

Did you know that there is an automated system for issuing and returning books in both the Sir Duncan Rice and the Taylor (Law) libraries? Once you have set up your PIN you will be able to use your student ID card and issue books to your library account without requiring the assistance of a staff member!

How to set up your PIN:

You can either follow the instructions and the link sent to you by email shortly after you’ve registered, or you can visit any of our libraries (Sir Duncan Rice, Taylor (Law), Medical) and ask a member of staff to do that for you at one of the Information Points or Help Desks – don’t worry, it only takes a few seconds!

Library Fines

Following a steady reduction in the amount of fines in recent years, and in light of the current cost-of-living crisis, we have permanently stopped charging fines for overdue books. We have done this to ensure wider access to our resources and to ease financial stress on students and staff.

As fines were in place to encourage people to bring items back on time, we need everyone to play their part to make this work – support your University community by checking your University e-mail account regularly and returning items by their due dates.

If items are not returned on time, we will not ask you to pay a fine, but as other students need access to our items, your library account will be frozen and you will not be able to borrow any more items until the overdue item has been returned.

If the item has not been returned after two weeks, we will need to ensure we have a way to provide it to others, so we will begin the process of invoicing you for the replacement cost plus a handling charge.

We also conduct an Annual Return of Books every May across the library service, so please ensure that you keep an eye on your library account.

If you have any questions about borrowing books, or about using our libraries, our staff are always happy to help. Please email us via library@abdn.ac.uk.

Where to go for help in The Sir Duncan Rice Library

Posted on January 26, 2023 by saraht

A comfortable study and learning environment for all
The Library is here to support your study and research by providing a range of study spaces to suit your individual needs. Members of staff can be contacted at any point, in person or via email/telephone, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries about the Library’s facilities and services.

A view of the Sir Duncan Rice Library from the outside.

Finding the information you want – using the resources
Find books and journals in print and electronic format, museum objects, theses, images, exam papers and more just by using Primo, the Library’s discovery tool. If you would like help using the different functions within Primo, speak to a member of staff in the Subject and Enquiry Team, at the Information Centre on Floor 1 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library. Subject and Enquiry team staff can also be found on Floors 5 and 6 of the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Please contact us at library@abdn.ac.uk.

If you have a subject-specific question, need help constructing a search strategy or using one of our specialist databases, speak to the Information Consultant for your discipline. A detailed list can be found here.

Borrowing enquiries, fines, using the Heavy Demand section, collecting reserved items
Speak to staff at the Information Centre on Floor 1 if you need help placing requests on books or collecting reserved items. Staff on Floor 1 can also advise on Inter-Library Loans and access to your borrower record. The Heavy Demand section is on the west wall of the building, next to the Information Centre. It contains books that are heavily used, a DVD collection, study spaces, self-service kiosks for borrowing and returning. It also contains MFDs for copying, printing, and scanning. Staff on Floor 1 can provide advice on how the Heavy Demand section works.

Copying/printing
Speak to any member of staff on floors 1, 5 and 6 if you need help using the MFDs. Also, there are detailed guides on the notice boards behind the MFDs to help you understand the functions of scanning, printing and photocopying. These guides are available from the University’s Toolkit, found here. Remember to top up your printing budget! For information on paying for printing, click here.

IT-related queries
Our IT service desk is the first point of contact for issues relating to connectivity, printing, username & password problems, remote access and more. The service desk is located on Floor 1 of The Sir Duncan Rice Library. You can also email servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk or call 01224 -273636 (this number also connects you to the Out-of-Hours service). Calls can also be logged through MyIT, a self-service facility for reporting problems.

Printing and binding your dissertation
The University’s binding service is on 23 St. Machar Drive. Services include colour and black & white printing, soft and hard binding, lamination, large format poster printing and more.
Tel: 01224 – 272578
Email: printshop@abdn.ac.uk

Materials from our Information skills workshops http://finditfastlibraryworkshops.pbworks.com/w/page/86602816/Home

RefWorks
See our RefWorks Library guides at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php#R
(Navigate to our Library guides section on the Library website and select ‘A-Z’, then click on ‘R’ and scroll down to ‘RefWorks’)

For Research Postgraduates and staff, further instruction on how to use RefWorks’ advanced features is provided in our Literature Searching Essential Skills workshop series. These run 3 times a year. To search for and book these sessions, please see the course booking website. Alternatively, speak to one of the Information Consultants.

Further help & support

Library guides on how to use Primo
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php#P

Information skills workshops
www.abdn.ac.uk/coursebooking

Library guides online
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/library-guides-101.php

Primo
https://abdn.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1

Inter-Library Loan service
www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/interlibrary-loans-182.php

Email your Library enquiries to:
library@abdn.ac.uk

Telephone your Library enquiries to:
01224 – 273330

InfoLinks Library blog
https://aberdeenunilib.wordpress.com

Library on Twitter
https://twitter.com/aberdeenunilib

Remember that we are here to help!

Primo videos

Posted on September 17, 2019 by LenaP.

Need help with using Primo? Watch our videos and discover how to use Primo, the Library’s discovery tool, to find specific books or books on a topic. Our videos also cover journal searches and the processes of planning and executing a search. More videos to follow soon!

Our videos can be accessed at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/information-skills-179.php#panel547.

Please email eleni.boro@abdn.ac.uk or e.grant@abdn.ac.uk if you have any questions!

Eleni Borompoka, eleni.boro@abdn.ac.uk

Using the My Account option in Primo

Posted on February 20, 2019 by ewanag

Did you know that logging into Primo with your University of Aberdeen username and password will open a range of additional features to help you manage your Library account and record any searching that you do?

This includes being able to see what you currently have on loan, the option to renew books if possible, and also the chance to see what you have borrowed previously. Additionally, you can see the saved details of items you have found when searching in Primo, or the search terms you used to find them. Follow the steps below to learn more about using the My Account feature in Primo.

**Enter your University of Aberdeen username and password**

**Once logged in click My Account for further details**

**Options available in Primo once you log in**

By using the My Account feature in Primo you can become more organised in how you go about searching and using our collections, allowing you to record what searching you have done and build up a collection of useful library materials that you can refer back to any time that you login to Primo. The Help option at the top of the Primo screen goes into more detail on these aspects.

For further information on using Primo see our video guides and our three library guides: our general quick guide as well as ones on searching for books or journals.

Ewan Grant, e.grant@abdn.ac.uk

Primo videos

Posted on January 23, 2019 by elainefitzgerald

Our videos can be accessed at www.abdn.ac.uk/library/support/information-skills-179.php#panel547.

Please email eleni.boro@abdn.ac.uk or e.grant@abdn.ac.uk if you have any questions!

Eleni Borompoka, eleni.boro@abdn.ac.uk

Library tours for new and returning students

Posted on January 7, 2019 by ewanag

As we begin the second semester here at the University Of Aberdeen’s Library Service we would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning students.

We are running short library tours in The Sir Duncan Rice Library (TSDRL) beginning this week on Thursday January 10, and they are open to everyone. These tours, which last around half an hour, will introduce you to:

The layout of TSDRL
How to search for library materials
How to borrow library books
Where you can find help from library staff

There is no need to book in advance for these tours, just come along to the ground floor of TSDRL at 10am or 2pm and staff will be waiting to show you round our stunning library.

The tours will take place on Thursday January 10, Friday January 11, and then throughout all of next week, with the last tours being offered on Friday January 18. There will be no tours at the weekend.

So, if you are looking for a peaceful break from what can be a hectic start of term, pop along to the quiet of the library for a tour and learn what we can do to help you as you begin, or continue, your studies.

We look forward to seeing you.

Ewan Grant

e.grant@abdn.ac.uk

Do you need help finding books in The Sir Duncan Rice Library?

Posted on April 10, 2016 by ewanag

The Sir Duncan Rice Library has an enormous collection of books, with over 400,000 items on the shelves. Have you, though, checked Primo, the portal to all our resources, and not been sure where to go next to find the particular book you want on the shelves? Well, read on to learn how to locate the titles you want to read on our miles of shelving.

The Shelf Mark (sometimes called the Call Number) is the information you need from Primo to locate titles on the shelves and for any book this will be a number between 0 and 999, followed by 3 letters which are usually the first three letters of the author’s surname. The letters are included so that books on the same subject can then be arranged alphabetically.

Take this book for example: Introduction to logic by Irving M. Copi. It has the shelf mark, or call number, of 160 Cop, where 160 is the number for the subject of Logic and Cop is the first three letters of the author’s surname. Quite a simple system really.

The book sequence starts with 000 (computer science, knowledge and systems) on floor 7 and the numbers increase as you descend down the floors, with the last book shelved at 999 (history of miscellaneous countries) on floor 3. Here is a general indication of the shelf marks for each of our subject floors:

Floor 3 – Shelf Marks between 900 and 999
Floor 4 – Shelf Marks between 700 and 899
Floor 5 – Shelf Marks between 400 and 699
Floor 6 – Shelf Marks between 300 and 399
Floor 7 – Shelf Marks between 000 and 299

In addition to the main borrowable collections each floor contains Reference collections and Folio Collections. Reference books are located at the start of each floor’s sequence and Folios, or oversized books, are shelved separately at the end of the sequence on each floor. Between the Reference and Folio Collections are the main books available for borrowing. Some floors also contain other materials available for borrowing. See below for further details of each floors’ items and the sequence in which they are arranged:

Floor 3 Reference Items: Ref 900 – Ref 999 Main Collection: 900 – 999 Folios: f900 – f999

Floor 4 Reference Items: Ref 700 – Ref 899 CD-ROMs
Main collection: 700 – 779
Collections of Scores
Miniatures Scores
Full Scores
Vocal Scores
Music Scores Main Collection: 780 – 899
Folios: f700 – f899

Floor 5 Reference items: Ref 400 – Ref 699
Sc Collection*: Shelf Marks Sc 001 – Sc 999
Main Collection: Shelf marks 400-699
Folios – Sc Collection: f Sc 001- f Sc 999
Folios – Main Collection: f400 – f699

* The Sc Collection is the History and Philosophy of Science Collection

Floor 6 Reference Items: Ref 300 – Ref 399 Main Collection: 300 – 399 Folios: f300 – f399 The Teaching Resource Collection (TRC) is also on Floor 6 and is shelved in a separate room in the south-east corner of the floor.

Floor 7 Reference items: Ref 001 – Ref 299
Main collection: 001-299)
Folios: f001 – f299

To help you get your bearings on our subject floors keep in mind that the sequence on each floor starts with the first set of shelves (or bays) on the far left as you exit the lifts. This is the side of the library nearest to the sea. This first bay will contain the Reference items for that particular floor, and the main borrowable collection will follow directly after. The bays will continue in sequence, row by row towards the opposite side of the floor. This is repeated for each set of bays as they cross the floor, to the side furthest from the sea. See the image below for the general idea of the direction in which books are shelved in The Sir Duncan Rice Library. Each floor is slightly different but the same principle applies on each of the floors.

General floor layout in The Sir Duncan Rice Library

The shelf marks for each bay are indicated with a notice on the end of each of them i.e 650.01 Cow – 658.049 Tro. All shelf marks between these numbers will be found in that bay. The sequence starts on the top-left-hand shelf and the numbers will read from left to right across each shelf and down onto the next. They then move to the next set of shelves and continue in this way until you reach the end of that bay.

Hopefully the information above will make things clearer for you as you look for books in The Sir Duncan Rice Library, and remember that if you are ever having difficulty locating any books on our shelves our staff are here to help you. Happy searching but also don’t forget that being lost in the shelves can often lead to you discovering a wonderful book you didn’t even know you wanted to read: serendipity can be a wonderful thing.

Further details on where books are shelved can be found in this Library Guide:

Vivien Logan (v.logan@abdn.ac.uk) and Eleni Papadakou (e.papadakou@abdn.ac.uk)

MAINTENANCE: Primo at risk on morning of December 1st

Posted on November 30, 2015 by ewanag

Tomorrow library staff will be carrying out vital maintenance to Primo, the Library’s resource discovery tool, as essential updates are installed. This maintenance work may also impact upon the Library Catalogue and DigiTool.

This update will take place between 8 and 9am on Tuesday December 1. It is expected that Primo and the other services may actually be functioning as normal during this time but they should be considered at risk of being unavailable.

We apologise for any inconvenience this short interruption may cause, but this maintenance is essential.

And, as this is the week during which exams start, we would also like to wish all our students good luck.

Ewan Grant

Primo – How to find a particular book you want to read

Posted on November 23, 2015 by ewanag

This is the first in a short series of blog posts looking at common questions which users of our libraries may have about using Primo, our resource discovery tool, when looking for materials for their study or research. Primo is the portal to our paper and electronic resources and can lead you to millions of different materials available here at the University of Aberdeen.

In this post we will show how Primo can help you locate a particular book you wish to read, something you may have been asked to read for a class or maybe a book you have learnt about from your own reading.

1 – To begin your search go to Primo at http://primo.abdn.ac.uk

2 – Once at Primo we would always recommend logging in so that you can link out to electronic materials and use all of the features available in Primo.

3 – You will need to enter your UoA username and password.

4 – Once logged in you will see your own name at the top of the screen.

5 – In this example we are looking for the following book: Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012) Research Methods for Business Students. 6th edn. Harlow: Pearson.

Select the Books+ tab to focus the search on books.
Enter some details of the book and the family name of the first named author.
Then select Search.

6 – Primo returns a list of 3 results and the title we are looking for is at the top of the list. Primo tells us on the right of the screen that there are 5 versions of this book. For more details click on View 5 versions.

7 – All 5 versions are now listed, each a different edition published in different years. We are looking for the 2012 edition and it is at the top of the list. Be sure to read the edition that you have been asked to consult as older editions may contain out-of-date information. To find out if it is possible to currently borrow the book select Availability.

8 – We can now see that there are:

Two copies of this book, both currently On Shelf and available to be borrowed from the Heavy Demand collection on floor 1 of the Sir Duncan Rice Library.
You are also provided with the Call Number to help you locate it on the shelf.
You can book Heavy Demand books up to three weeks in advance so you can get the book when you want it. To do that select Heavy Demand Booking.

9 – Having already logged into Primo makes it easier to book library materials. Select the date you wish to reserve the book for and select Request.

10 – You will get a message indicating that the booking was succesful.

You will be able to collect and borrow the book from the Heavy Demand area on floor 1 of the SDRL after 10.30am on the day you have reserved it for.
It will be on the shelf at the Call Number given in Primo.
The booking only lasts until 3.30pm on the day of the booking
The collection of Heavy Demand books operates slightly differently in the Taylor Library, with requested books available for collection from staff at the issue desk in the library.
The Medical Library leaves reserved Heavy Demand books on the shelves for collection.
Click here for further details on reserving and booking library materials.

Further information on using Primo can be found in our online library guide.

To see our full range of library guides click here.

Also, don’t forget that library staff are here to help you locate any materials you may be having trouble locating.

Good luck with your exams.

InfoLinks

News from Library, Special Collections and Museums at the University of Aberdeen

Category Archives: library catalogue

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Did you Know?…Borrowing Books-how many and for how long?

How many books can I borrow?

How long can I borrow the books for?

Self Issue Machines and PINs

Where to go for help in The Sir Duncan Rice Library

Primo videos

Using the My Account option in Primo

Primo videos

Library tours for new and returning students

Do you need help finding books in The Sir Duncan Rice Library?

MAINTENANCE: Primo at risk on morning of December 1st

Primo – How to find a particular book you want to read