Photograph by Sam Teigen, taken from www.flickr.com

Are you aware of PatBase, a recent addition to the Library’s database collection?  If you’re searching for a patent this is an excellent place to start.

PatBase is an extensive and welcome addition to the Library’s growing collection of searchable patent resources. In excess of 75 countries are included with full-text availability on over 20 million documents.  The EP, PCT, US, GB, FR and DE patent-issuing authorities are all covered and it contains over 30 million consolidated patent families.

Access to PatBase  is via MetaLib from either the Patents subject category or the Find Database link. You will need to login with the username and password specified on the Library’s Electronic journal and information services passwords web page.

There is also a very useful online guide to get you started – https://www.patbase.com/quickguide.pdf.  Alternatively, why not book yourself onto the Library’s Database of the Month course on Wed. 18th March? This session focusses specifically on PatBase. For further information and to book your place: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/dbaseofmonth.html.

Questions or comments about PatBase? Please use the box below or contact your Academic Librarian directly: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/about/StaffList.html

 
Just to remind anyone not yet signed up that the Library 
Engineering Team is offering two training sessions to help you 
catch up on what's new in the world of engineering information
here at Loughborough. The sessions will cover four new full-text
databases, and more:
- SAE Digital Library
- IEEE Xplore
- SPIE Digital Library
- Construction Information Service
- Standards (British and ASTM)
***and lots of freebies and prizes to boot!!***

We will be running the session twice on:
Tuesday 20th January, 10-12                                      
Thursday 22 January, 2-4
both in S006 (Chem Eng IT Lab)

There will be plenty of time for hands-on practice, so feel free
to bring any specific queries you may have about these or other
Library databases and services.

To book, please email Theresa Doherty(t.m.doherty@lboro.ac.uk)
stating:
* Your name
* Your dept
* Category: PhD student/Research Staff/Academic Staff
* Which session you would like to attend

We look forward to seeing you there!

 Photograph by digitalgopher, taken from www.flickr.com

Academic staff may like to pass on the following information to their final year students.

The Library Engineering team have always supported students with  their final year projects, this year the team has decided to introduce new drop-in sessions to provide added support.  Students are encouraged to bring with them to the session project titles or key words relating to their project, they are also welcome to discuss a particular problem they may have with using library resources.

Where and when ?

Civil and Building Engineering drop-in sessions will be based at the Computer room, RT0.26 between 4 and 5pm in the following weeks:

Week 7    13^th November  

Week 8    20^th November

Contact:  S.F.McKeating@lboro.ac.uk if you wish to attend

Wolfson School sessions will be held in Training Room 1 ( on Level 3 of the Library)  between 12 and 2pm on the following dates:

Week 6     7^th November

Week 7     14^th November

Week 8     17^th November

Contact: T.M.Marshall@lboro.ac.uk if you wish to attend

Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering and Electrical Engineering drop-in sessions will be held in the Library Training Rooms, (on Level 3 of the library), between 12 and 2pm on the following dates:

Week 7        12^th November        Training Room 2

Week 8        19^th November        Training Room 1

Week 9        26^th November        Training Room 2

Contact: R.Jones2@lboro.ac.uk if you wish to attend.

More details about these sessions are available from the academic librarians. Just ask!

ASTM ( American society of testing and materials)

ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world a source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.

Loughborough University now is pleased to announce that it now has access to two databases from ASTM

ASTM’s Digital Library, provides you with instant access to the digital edition of nearly every ASTM International book and paper spanning 140+ industries and 100+ years. 

ASTM’s standards cover metals, petroleum, construction, the environment, and more.

If you would like to use the databases off-campus access is via the username and password available from the Library’s Electronic journal and information services passwords web page. You will need your University Active Directory username and password to access the Library password page.

Have you thought about signing up for two Lunchtime in the Library courses running this week and next?  

This week, on Thursday 24th April we have Advanced Searching of the Web, followed by How to Trace Journal Articles next Tuesday 29th April. Both courses commence at 12noon.

Lunchtime in the Library courses are free to attend and take place in the Pilkington Library, Training Room 1 on Level 3 (next to the Open3 area and close to the cafe).

If you’re interested in refining your searching techniques or have experienced problems in locating specific journal information, then these informative courses run by the Library’s professional academic librarians will certainly be worth giving up an hour of your lunchtime for!

You can view further information and booking details by accessing the following link to the Library’s Lunchtime in the Library webpage: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/lunchtim.html

Each month the University Library selects a new or popular database to feature as its Database of the Month.  The library will feature the Compendex database on Wednesday  19th March from 10:00am to 11:30am in Training Room 1 on Level 3 of the Library.

Compendex is a comprehensive engineering database including manufacturing, quality control and engineering management

The session will  outline how to:

• access the database
• search the database effectively
• save bibliographic references

You are also given the opportunity to search the database yourself.

Please book through Professional Development’s booking system

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Library is running some training courses this month which you might be interested in attending. There are two Lunchtime in the Library courses; Finding Patent Information on Wednesday 14th November at 12pm, and an Introduction to the Major Engineering Databases on Thursday 22 November at 12pm. Further information and details on how to book can be found on the Library webpages: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/lunchtim.html

Also of interest is the Database of the Month session for November, which is on the IEEE Xplore. This session is on Wednesday 21 November from 10am – 11.30am. Further details and booking information can be found on the library webpages: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/dbaseofmonth.html  

Why not come along to these sessions and find out more about the resources the library provides for you and your students?

At this time of the year many of your students will be working on final year dissertations or final year projects.  Did you realise that we can offer?:

• workshops explaining how to find resources (both print and electronic) and how to use these resources in order to produce a good literature search.
• workshops/lectures either in the library, or in your department explaining what plagiarism is and how to avoid it by using correct citation methods.
• individual appointments for students having difficulty locating the information they require.

For further information contact your Academic Librarian:

Lizzie, Steph, Becky or Tracy

The Library has just launched a new interactive, self-paced online tutorial on how to find and present information effectively.  InfoTrail@Lboro is designed to help students gain vital information and study skills which they will need for their course of study and beyond.  InfoTrail includes modules on:

• Using the Library  – including the Library catalogue and reading list system
• Understanding information - including types of sources, publications formats and choosing information sources
• Your information strategy – including time management, developing a search strategy for an assignment and taking notes
• Electronic information – including advice on effective searching using MetaLib, electronic resources and the internet.
• Evaluating your information  – guidance on criteria to use as part of the evaluation process
• Presenting your information – including writing skills, plagiarism, correct referencing and presentation skills

So why not have a look and then recommend it to your students? There are lots of activities to try out and the option to “Self-test” at the start and end of a module to see how much your knowledge has improved.  The Library is hoping to develop tailored subject specific versions of InfoTrail in the future so let us know if you think your students would benefit from this.  Feedback is welcomed so why not get in touch with Steph or Lizzie or leave a comment on the blog.