Book an appointment with a referencing expert

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We know you really like our referencing pop-ups, where we put extra staff in the atrium at key times of year to help with all your tricky referencing questions. But we also realise that sometimes a quick conversation isn’t quite enough, and you’d like to sit down and talk through referencing with someone who can explain it in a bit more depth, or look at a few more examples.

That’s why, following our recent pop-ups, we are really excited to be trialling something new, which we hope you will find useful.

We’re making our referencing experts available for bookable 30 minute appointments! Read more ›

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Explore Your Archive Week!

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This week is Explore Your Archive Week. 

Can you say “I’ve Archived”?  Here’s some nostalgic, surprising and dramatic images from our institutional past selected by our archivist, Anna Delaney.

Read more ›

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“Climate emergency” is OED word of the year in 2019

Posted on by David Bennett — No Comments ↓

Polar bear on melting ice floatAnd the word of 2019 is… “climate emergency”.  Well, we could have sworn that was two words but we’re not going to argue with the lexicographers at the Oxford English Dictionary!  Accompanying heightened awareness of climate change and its impact on how we live, the Oxford English Dictionary team have been monitoring with interest the increasing sophistication and escalation of language being used to discuss climate science, with the emergence this year of the phrase “climate emergency” signalling a sea change in how global warming is being interpreted.

Read more about how the climate change debate is hotting up this year on the OED blog.

 

Posted in Thing of the Day Tagged with: ,

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming

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Christmas opening times

There’s not long to go until the festive season is upon us, so our opening times for the holidays are now available on the Library website.

Our service hours for the Christmas Vacation change from Saturday 14th December but don’t worry, Library staff will still be on hand to assist you and answer enquiries through until Friday 20th December.

Please note: 24/7 opening will end on Friday 13th December when the Library will close at midnight and resume after the holidays at 8am on Monday 6th January 2020.

Reservations collection point

Reservations and recalled loans

Recalls will be suspended from Friday 6th December 2019 and will resume on Friday 3rd January 2020. This means we will not ask you to return items during this period.  If you’re still away from the University after Friday 3rd January and your book is recalled, you can post it to us at: The University Library, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK PO1 2ST.  We recommend using a secure postal service to ensure the books are safely received.

Books that are already reserved by others when you borrow them will only be issued for seven days, rather than for the whole vacation.  Please check the due date on your receipt if you are going away.  If you have any queries or concerns, please speak to a member of library staff or chat to us online.

Enjoy the holidays!

Posted in About your Library Tagged with: ,

Divine Images from our Rare Books Collection

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Over the past couple of months, our new Rare Books display case has been put to great use to show to you some of our collection that are not usually on display.

In October we had the powerful artwork of Paul Peter Piech which complimented our display of books for Black History Month. Piech used his graphic, bold images and words to provoke a response from the viewer. This month we have found books from our collection focusing on the work of William Blake. Like Piech, Blake also made political statements with his work; and on display we have books with examples of how he combined his beautiful painting, engraving and his poetry to produce delicate and intricate artwork, which are visually amazing and at times disturbing.

Tate Britain describes Blake as ‘radical and rebellious, he is an inspiration to visual artists, musicians, poets and performers worldwide. His personal struggles in a period of political terror and oppression, his technical innovation, his vision and political commitment, have perhaps never been more pertinent. ‘

Our collection will be on display until the first week in December in our first floor exhibition space and you can see more of Blake’s original artwork at Tate Britain until 2nd February 2020.

 

Find more information at https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/william-blake-artist

 

Posted in About your Library, Subjects: Creative Arts, Uncategorised Tagged with: , , , ,

Love your valuables – keep them with you where you know they are safe

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Secure your belonging - book, mobile phone and laptop chained together.Keep your valuables safe

It is easy to get distracted but whenever you are away from home, please keep your belongings with you at all times so you can keep them safe. Even in the Library.

And your neighbour’s study space clear

At the same time thas a few unlucky people have their property stolen, others complain that personal property is being left blocking study spaces.  This becomes a problem at busy times of year.  Please leave your bags on the ground next to you so that all the study spaces are available for everyone.  If you need to spread out, consider working in 3rd Space, which is less busy.

For both these reasons, please:

Keep your belongings with you at all times to keep them safe.

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Referencing pop-ups return (18-29 Nov)

Posted on by David Bennett — No Comments ↓

Referencing pop-upsThe well-loved referencing pop-ups are returning to the Library Atrium for the next two weeks, starting Monday to save yourself from citation struggles and referencing rage! Bring your referencing quandaries, citation uncertainties and things you have read but don’t know quite what they are and let us soothe your referencing challenges.

Don’t forget we still answer all the same referencing questions at the Library Help Desk whenever it is staffed!  The pop-ups are just an extension to our usual service at these busiest times of the year!

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Enter the Hult Prize Program today!

Posted on by David Bennett — No Comments ↓

Hult prize programThe world’s biggest student entrepreneurship competition has come to Portsmouth this year.

If you are a student at the University of Portsmouth, whatever course you’re doing, and would like to compete in the biggest student entrepreneurship competition to win $1,000,000 then this opportunity is for you.  A team of 3-4 students have to come up with a business idea that is profitable and helps in solving the climate change issue.

Register now to get trained by Google and great mentors this November and compete with other Portsmouth students by pitching your idea this December to have the chance to end up going to the United Nations HQ in New York City next year, meet former President Bill Clinton and have the opportunity to win $1,000,000 to fund your idea.  If you have an idea, you still have time – enter by the end of the weekend (17th November)!

The prize competition runs regularly and 2020 entry is opening very soon, with early entries heartily encouraged, so if you cannot enter immediately, grab a few friends and get planning for the next entry date!

Registration website and more details are available from the competition website.

 

Posted in Thing of the Day Tagged with:

Two minutes silence at 11 am

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There will be a two minute silence from 11 am today in remembrance of those lost to war.  Staff will be unavailable to answer questions during this time.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Posted in Services

Drop-in on the law information experts

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Justicia - golden statue of 'lady justice'The law is structured differently from many subjects and finding legislation can be a challenge.  Thankfully there is extra help on hand from start to finish on Mondays and Tuesday every week until the end of term:

 

Drop-in database help

Friendly student database reps for Lexis and Westlaw can teach you everything from basics to advanced certification for law databases Westlaw and Lexis, every Monday from 1-2 pm and Tuesday from 2-3 pm in Library Meeting Room UL 0.12.  You don’t even have to be studying Law!

 

Weekly Oscola referencing drop-ins

Until 17 December, you can also drop-in on the Law subject team, Mystery and Sharon, in UL 0.26 (Library Seminar Room 2), bring your Oscola referencing woes and ask them how they can make make your law referencing problems vanish.

Posted in Services, Subjects: Law & Criminology