The HardiBlog

Library users can now discover the wide range of Library services and resources by taking a self-guided tour. A new brochure has been published, with detailed maps of the Main Library and the Nursing and Midwifery Library. You can borrow a portable audio wand from the Customer Services Desk and listen to a commentary in conjunction with the brochure. Alternatively, you can download the audio tour from the Library's website ( http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/Orientation/ ). Taking the tour will help new students especially to find their way around the Library and identify key areas of interest. During Library orientation, quite a few students used the wands and the feedback was very positive. Note that you can also find your way quite easily just with the printed brochure. The great advantage of the tour is that you can work at your own pace, and you can complete it at a time that suits you. So, why not take the tour and tell Library staff what you think. This is a new service from t...

The 1911 Census is one of only two census for which complete household record forms exist. These have been digitised by the National Archives and are now available, for all Irish counties, at www.census.nationalarchives.ie .

Access to the fulltext e-resource International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (Elsevier) is now available. The International Encyclopedia of Human Geography provides an authoritative and comprehensive source of information on the discipline of human geography and its constituent, and related, subject areas. The encyclopedia includes over 1,000 detailed entries on philosophy and theory, key concepts, methods and practices, biographies of notable geographers, and geographical thought and praxis in different parts of the world. Access is available via 'Find e-Resource' in e-Knowledge on: http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/ and also from the e-link on the library catalogue record.

Access is now available to Perdita Manuscripts: Women Writers, 1500-1700. This e-resource contains digital facsimiles of original manuscripts from 15 major libraries written or compiled by women during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is produced in association with the Perdita Project based at the University of Warwick and Nottingham Trent University. Access is available via e-Knowledge on http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/ See also: http://libgate.library.nuigalway.ie/login?url=http://www.perditamanuscripts.amdigital.co.uk/introduction/index.aspx

How do we improve the Library catalogue? Can the catalogue continue to add value in a rapidly changing information landscape? As Librarians, we know we have to respond to the rising expectations of our users, the increase in new kinds of digital resources and a nascent revolution in scholarly publishing. Such wholesale change demands a radical rethink on the facilities and services the catalogue actually provides. Our ultimate aim must be the provision of the optimal launch-pad for NUI Galway's scholarly activity. Enter e-Knowledge 2.0, NUI Galway's new Library catalogue based on the Primo system from Exlibris. e-Knowledge 2.0 uses a whole panoply of recent advances in search engine technology and brings them to bear on our physical and virtual collections. As librarians, we have listened to our users, when they asked why they cannot search books and journals at the same time. We have selected a system incorporating the best elements of Web 2.0 to create a streamlined user expe...

The latest issue of the Library Newsletter is available here: http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/services/news_and_events/current_issue/ Features of this issue include Our evolving Library catalogue ARAN update Improve your chances of funding STM- measuring success 1911 Census for Galway now online

The recently unearthed skeleton has been put to work giving Library Tours... www.library.nuigalway.ie/librarians/nursing/Nursing_Library2.wmv

Academia.edu is a new social networking site for researchers. It has a great layout, allowing you to browse easily by research interests, University or School. A number of NUI Galway researchers have already joined it. The level of detail you add is optional: you can add your research interests, your photo, your CV, your published papers, a link to your Facebook account and your contact details. Rosarie Coughlan Research Support Librarian (STM) email: rosarie.coughlan@nuigalway.ie