Accessing Online Library Resources during Lockdown

Whilst the College is closed, students at Peterborough College and University Centre Peterborough can still access online Library Resources, which include databases and ebooks. 

Peterborough College

Students at Peterborough College can access online resources via the library webpages on the Student Intranet. Students will need to login with their Peterborough College network login where prompted to access these resources.  Helpful online guides are available through the LRC Google Classroom:

UCP

UCP students (Level 4, 5 & Level 6 top up) can access online resources by clicking on 'Library Resources' on the left hand menu in Canvas, using their UCP login where prompted. Level 6 students can access the ARU Digital Library, using their ARU login.

Online Resources

Online resources are a reliable alternative source of information, providing statistics and images to help you with your course. Resources which you can access at include:

eBooks: Ebook Central, VLebooks and Issues

eJournals: Sage, Academic OneFile & Wiley

Anatomy: Anatomy TV

Archaeology: Current Archaeology 

Business: Gale, Mintel (Peterborough only)

Catalogues of Research & National libraries: Copac

Current affairs: Issues

Education, childcare & safeguarding: Childlink, Child protection, Safeguarding Adults at Risk, Intered, Nursery World, Education & Childcare training tool

Fashion photography: Vogue archive 

Maps: Digimap 

Newspaper articles: Gale

Population: Histpop 

Professional Journals: Professional Development Collection

Sport: SportDiscus

Training Tools: Health & Social Care, and IT

Tutorials: Hairdressing and Construction

UCP students have access to these and further databases.

Ebooks

Through Ebook Central, VLebooks and Issues you will have access to the Colleges ebook collection made up of ebooks which we have brought to link in with your course.

Reservations

At this time, you are unable to reserve books from the library, please try the ebook alternatives.

I have a book that needs to be returned / renewed, what should I do?

If the College is closed when your book(s) / items are due to be returned, please return them when the College reopens. No fines will be incurred during this time.

Contact us

Students at Peterborough who need help with research or accessing online resources, can email the Learning Resource Centre team at lrc@peterborough.ac.uk or sign into the LRC Google Chat Monday - Wednesday, 12-2pm.

Keep safe

Library Team

Top tips for studying at home

 

It can be hard adjusting to the new normal, studying at home when you are used to coming into college and seeing your friends, having to get to grips with new technology and new ways of working and meeting with people. Here are some of our top tips to help you survive during this time. 

1. Give yourself regular breaks: It can be quite easy to get engrossed in work and then realise 2 or 3 hours have passed, so make sure you give yourself regular breaks to recharge. You also need to take regular breaks from the screen, 5-10 minutes every hour is recommended (https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/work-routine.htm#:~:text=Take%20short%20breaks%20often%2C%20rather,meetings%20or%20making%20phone%20calls.) as too much screen time can damage your eyesight. 

2. Be kind to yourself: you may have other demands at home, which may not have been present whilst you were in college, just take things one step at a time. 

3. Engage in your online lessons as you would in person: turn on your camera, take an active part in the discussion as if you were in the classroom. 

4. Keep in regular contact with your tutor: although you may be self isolating, don’t virtually isolate yourself, make sure you keep in contact with your tutor, if you have any worries or concerns or even just to let them know how you are getting on. 

5. Try to have a separate work space: If you are able, then organise a separate working area at home, that is for working only and make sure when you are taking breaks, that you move away from this area.

Also, don’t forget we have our click and collect and select and collect services (https://sites.google.com/peterborough.ac.uk/lrc/lrc-home ) which can help you access the books you need. We also have access to a wide range of databases to help with your studies. For further help, you can email lrc@peterborough.ac.uk or we have our online chat facility, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-2pm, go to Google chat and search for LRC to talk to a librarian.

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sleepy_Cartoon_Woman_Working_From_Home.svg )

Online Library Resources in Lockdown

Though we are in a second lockdown, students at Peterborough College and University Centre Peterborough can still access online Library Resources, which include databases and ebooks. 

Studying at home.

Peterborough College

Students at Peterborough College can access the library webpages through the Student Intranet, by selecting the 'Information' tab, scrolling down to 'Peterborough Information', choosing 'Learning Resource Centre', followed by the 'Electronic Resources' link.  Please login with your Peterborough College network login where prompted to access these resources.

UCP

UCP students (Level 4, 5 & Level 6 top up) can access online resources by clicking on 'Library Resources' on the left hand menu in Canvas. Please login using your UCP login where prompted. Level 6 students are able to use the ARU Digital Library, using your ARU login.

Online Resources

Online resources are a reliable alternative source of information, providing statistics and images to help you with your course. Resources which you can access: 

eBooks (Ebook Central, VLebooks and Issues)

eJournals (Sage, Academic OneFile & Wiley)

Anatomy (Anatomy TV)

Archaeology (Current Archaeology)

Business (Gale, Mintel)

Catalogues of Research & National libraries (Copac)

Current affairs (Issues)

Education & child care & safeguarding (Childlink, Child protection, Safeguarding Adults at Risk, Education & Childcare training tool)

Fashion photography (Vogue archive)

Jobs (eClips)

Maps (Digimap)

Newspaper articles (Gale)

Population (Histpop) 

Professional Journals (Professional Development Collection)

Sport (SportDiscus)

Training Tools (Health & Social Care, and IT)

Tutorials (Hairdressing and Construction)

UCP students have access to these and further databases.

Ebooks

Through Ebook Central, VLebooks and Issues you will have access to the Peterborough College ebook collection made up of ebooks which we have brought to link in with your course.  You can also access ebooks through the online library catalogue.

Books

You can also reserve books from the Learning Resource Centre, via our Click & Collect and Select & Collect services.  For more information please view the Blog posted on 30th October or the Library Webpages.

Contact us

If you need help with research or accessing online resources, please email the Learning Resource Centre team at lrc@peterborough.ac.uk or to sign into the LRC Google Chat Monday - Wednesday, 12-2pm.

How to reserve books from the Learning Resource Centre (Library).

How can I reserve a book(s) from the Learning Resource Centre (Library)?

At the moment you are not be able to browse any of the bookshelves in the Learning Resource Centre (Library). If you would like to borrow a book from the library you can reserve a book(s) by using our ‘Click and Collect’ or ‘Select and Collect’ services. 

Click and Collect

Choose Click and Collect if you know which book you would like to order.

To Click and Collect, you will need a pin number, please email the Learning Resource Centre (Library) team, lrc@peterborough.ac.uk if you need to set up a pin number or if your pin needs resetting. Use the Learning Resource Centre (Library), catalogue to reserve a book. 

Select and Collect

Select and Collect can be used when you would like to request a selection of books around a subject, genre, or author.

To place an order, please use our online form. We will use the information that you provide to choose a selection of books.

How can I access the Library Catalogue and Select & Collect Reservation form? 

Peterborough College Students please use the links via the Student Intranet Learning Resource Centre (Library) webpages.

University Centre Peterborough students please use the Library links via your reading lists.

There are also useful guides in the LRC Google Classroom that will show you step by step instructions how to reserve a book.

 

What should I read next?

If you would like ideas about what to read next Peterborough College students can view our NEW online library displays via the Student Intranet, Learning Resource (Library) webpages, this month we have been featuring our Black History Month display, next month we will be promoting our Dare to be scared, Movember and Remembrance displays. 

If you would like to read any of the books featured in the displays either email lrc@peterborough.ac.uk or reserve the book(s) that you would like to read through Click and Collect. 

Dare to be scared

Movember

Remembrance

How can I contact the Learning Resource Centre (Library) Team?

If you need any help or assistance from the Learning Resource Centre (Library) Team please email lrc@peterborough.ac.uk or contact the team Monday - Wednesday, 12pm - 2pm via LRC Google Chat.

Black History Month in the Learning Resource Centre, (Library)

 Black History Month

The month of October is Black History Month in the UK. Black History Month provides an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but also offers a chance to raise awareness of the events from history and identifying lessons which can be learned from the past. 

In the Learning, Resource Centre, (Library), we are celebrating though a display of fantastic fiction and non-fiction books which are available to borrow from the library.

Black History Month Display in the Learning, Resource Centre, (Library).

At this time you cannot browse books in the Learning Resource Centre, (Library), you can request books. If you are a student at Peterborough College or University Centre Peterborough and you would like to read one of the books on our Black History Month display, please email: lrc@peterborough.ac.uk letting us know which book(s) you would like to borrow.

Books on display

Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

Natives Race & Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Noughts & Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

Clear light of day by Anita Desai 

Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Love in a headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed 

Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

12 years a slave by Solomon Northup

Becoming by Michelle Obama

The god of small things by Arundhati Roy

The boy with the topknot by Sathnam Sanghera

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Anita and Me by Meera Syal

The hate u give by Angie Thomas

Face by Benjamin Zephaniah

#BlackHistoryMonth

Virtual Tourist Attractions

Virtual tourist destinations to visit this half term

With Half Term approaching I thought that I would look at some of the places which you could virtually visit whilst tourist destinations are still in lockdown.

City tours

Take a day trip to the cities of London: https://360.visitlondon.com/# Edinburgh: https://edinburghtourist.co.uk/virtual-tours/ or Paris: https://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-do-in-paris/info/guides/virtual-visit-paris with these virtual guides.

Museums and Galleries

Explore, Museums, art and architecture from around the world: https://artsandculture.google.com/

Visit The British Museum galleries & collection, the British Museums blog has links and tips for exploring the museum from your own home: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/how-to-explore-the-british-museum-from-home/

Via The Natural History Museum virtual pages you can not only take a virtual self-guided tour, but you can also find out more about my favourite exhibit in the Museum, Hope, Blue Whale: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/virtual-museum.html

Take a look around the fascinating Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where you might spot exhibits used in the film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/

You can take 3 virtual tours around the National Gallery, I like to visit Room 43, as Monet’s The Water-Lilly Pond takes my breath away every time I see it: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours

At the Tate Modern you can view the Turner collection, see the work of sculptor Henry Moore and view British artwork from 1545 to the present day: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain#getting-here (Select online displays).

Remember to stop for coffee.

Places to Visit

The Buckingham Palace virtual tour allows you to look around the Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room and the Throne Room: https://www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace

Take a 360 tour around the grounds of the Tower of London as a voice over tells you about the Towers history: https://www.youvisit.com/tour/meadk  Hampton Court Palace should be next on your list, you can look around the Great Hall, Watching Chamber and end your tour in the kitchens: https://in360degrees.co.uk/indie360/HamptonCourt/

If you have you ever wondered about the different rooms which make up the Houses of Parliament take this 360 tour: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/virtualtour/ after that you may like to have a look inside 10 Downing Street: https://www.eyerevolution.co.uk/blog/get-inside-10-downing-street/

This 360 tour of the Vatican Museums is well worth a virtual visit: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html

Visit the Royal Opera House where you can see performances of Ballet & Opera:
https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/all

Whilst the Aquarium and Zoos are closed you can still see the animals via a variety of Webcams and live streams:

London Zoo: https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/virtual-london-zoo

Chester Zoo: https://www.chesterzoo.org/

View the Panda cam at Atlanta Zoo: https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/

Houston Zoo Webcams: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

Monterey Bay Aquarium webcams: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

Aquarium of the pacific: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/webcams

Harry Potter Exhibition

Finally if you are a fan of Harry Potter and you missed the British Library 2017 – 2018 Harry Potter Exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic?dm_i=5JXV%2C178Q%2C6XNPO%2C4C53%2C1&fbclid=IwAR1mFx41mrbH76jQM6SIeK0WW9tP8FMuyHjUfRjHPZ3WQUvLmOPchMQO5sE

Whatever you do or wherever you virtually go may I wish you a good Bank Holiday weekend and Half Term Holiday.

Learning about research and information from the Covid-19 pandemic. No.6 Research builds on earlier research so remember to reference.

Research and referencing

Have you heard the story of how Pythagoras came up with his new theorem while bathing and jumped out of the bath crying "Eureka"? (See the start of the TED-Ed video below if you want to hear the story).

Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that it worked like that and neither does any research and discovery which is carried out today. It is thought Pythagoras travelled widely and is highly likely to have been influenced by the architecture and construction work in places like Egypt and Babylon where he would have seen the principle working in practice. He may have been the first to prove it, however.

Research always builds on earlier research.. Scientists won't suddenly just come up with a treatment or vaccine for Covid-19 by sitting on a beach somewhere waiting for inspiration, they will be using previous research on subjects like viruses (especially Coronaviruses), the human immune system, DNA and what was done in previous pandemics for example, as well as testing new vaccines. The idea of using the blood from someone (full text is available on Gale Infotrac/ FE News) who has recovered from Covid-19 and giving it to someone who has the disease was tried in the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 when they did not have a vaccine. The Covid-19 scientists may have been using some trial and error with this idea too but the idea was based on something that worked in the past. Scientists are currently sharing information regularly and if you look at any of the Covid-19 research sites (e.g. Cambridge Fighting COVID website and the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium) you will see academics quoting and referring to other scientists' work as well as talking about the work they are doing themselves. They show how they have used previous research and other researchers' work.

How is this relevant to my research?

• It is always good academic practice to cite in text and reference everything you read and refer to in your assignments or presentations. Not to do this is plagiarism.
• Referencing shows you have read widely and if you show how it backs up your conclusions, your arguments are more likely to be objective and credible.
• References help someone reading your work follow the research back and give them other places to go for their research (just as you can use references in an author's bibliography for research).
• Your lecturer may disagree with your point of view but if you can show where you have found your information you are unlikely to be marked down.
• Referencing saves you copying and pasting large swathes of text (and going over your word count!) into your assignment as you can refer to some research, cite it and just summarise the relevant points in your own words. (Those who want to know more can check using the reference).
• Cite the author and year of publication throughout your assignment and then the full reference at the end (listed in alphabetical order by author).
• ARU and UCP use the Harvard referencing system and their website has examples for all sorts of resources you may use.
• The LRC has a referencing tutorial with quizzes you can do in the How do I? section of the LRC web pages on the Student Portal.