LRC Reading Group Update

The Reading Group Books

Our Reading Group met for the first time in October and chose the books that we will be reading as a group this year. 

The books are:

Paper Towns by John Green
The ten thousand doors of January by Alex L Harrow
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
To all the boys I’ve loved before by Jenny Han
How to be happy by Eva Woods

Our students have chosen a good mix of books and I for one am looking forward to reading them.

Girl reading in a library.
https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=261862&picture=books-library-book-old-library

Next meeting

For our next meeting on Wednesday 27th November 12.30 -1pm, we will be reading John Green’s Paper Towns. If you would like to join the Reading Group please speak to a member of staff in the LRC, you will be given a copy of the book which will be yours to keep.

If you enjoy reading why not join our Reading Group today.

New reading group

New to Learning Resource Centre

LRC Reading Group

If you enjoy reading you may like to join our new Reading Group.

Why would I join a Reading Group?

1. Book Clubs are sociable and will give you a chance to make new friends.

2. You may read books which you might otherwise not have picked up, leading to new favourite authors or genres and an expansion of your reading horizons.

3. No matter how serious your book discussions, getting together and chatting on a regular basis can be fun.

4. Let’s face it books and refreshments go well together.

Relaxing Read
https://pixabay.com/get/57e0d2454952ab14f1dc8460825668204022dfe055587449722d78d1/leaves-1076307_640.jpg

When and where will the LRC Reading Group meet?

Our Reading Group will meet up once a half term in the LRC small computer room.  The first meeting is on Wednesday 9^th October 12-1pm. During this session you will get to know one another and choose the books which we will be reading as a group this year.

How will the books be chosen?

The Reading Group members will choose the books that we will read.  The books will be brought for the group and members will be able to keep their copy of the book.

The Reading Group is at lunchtime, when will I have time to eat my lunch?

Reading Group members will be able to eat their lunch during the session and soft drinks will be provided.  Remember to bring your lunch with you.

If after reading this post you would like to join or find out more information about our Reading Group, either speak to a member of staff before 9^th October, or simply turn up at the first session. 

I hope to see you there.

LRC Loyalty card and reading

Do you enjoy reading or want to read more?

The LRC is running a loyalty card scheme again this year to encourage as many students as possible to borrow and read 6 books throughout the year.

Reading can be enjoyable, relaxing and sometimes challenging. However, did you know that reading fiction particularly helps you improve your English. You start to absorb new words and ways of writing which can't easily be taught. There is also research that reading helps improve your empathy and social skills as well as your creativity.

Loyalty Card poster
Copyright Peterborough Regional College

To take part, come in to the LRC, speak to a member of staff at the desk and sign up. As you read a book (which has to be fiction or a biography), we stamp your card. After 3 books you can collect a free tote bag and once you've read 6 you are entered into a prize draw and invited to a special Loyalty Card event towards the end of the academic year.

Tips for getting better at reading.

Towards the end of last week, the BBC Ideas website released a short video called "How to get seriously good at reading" https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/how-to-get-seriously-good-at-reading/p07n3xmv . Even if you love reading, there are some interesting facts in the video that you may not know.

Loyalty Card Celebration Event

Loyalty Card Event

On the 6th June the LRC held it's annual loyalty card presentation event. This year we teamed up with the Wellbeing team and youth centre and held a joint presentation along with prizes for the yellow book competition (photos, poems etc. created by students about mental health).

We invited Alexander Gordon Smith (a writer of teenage horror novels including the Escape from Furnace series and The Fury) to speak to the students at the event. He spoke about how he started writing books and also how writing had helped him at difficult and stressful times in his life. The students enjoyed the event (which included afternoon tea) and many spoke to him afterwards.

A hamper of reading goodies was presented to the winner of the Loyalty card scheme this year and runner-ups received signed copies of Alexander Gordon Smith's latest book. We also held a free raffle giving everyone there a chance to win a copy too.

Alexander Gordon Smith talking at the Loyalty Card event
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

Why not take a look at Alexander Gordon Smith's website and if you like scary things try one of his novels. We have several titles in the LRC which you can borrow.

Reading and Wellbeing

Reading and Wellbeing

The Literacy Trust has released the findings of their annual literacy survey which explores the link between children's reading and their wellbeing. There seems to be evidence that children and young people with a positive attitude to reading have a higher sense of well being.

You can read the report here.

LRC Loyalty Card

In order to promote reading and literacy, the LRC is running it's annual Loyalty card scheme again this year. Students who read 6 books are entered in to a draw for prizes worth £50. Students wishing to take part can register in the LRC at the main desk. Every time you return a fiction book, your loyalty card will be stamped. A presentation event will be held in the spring next year.

The LRC are also partnering with the English department who are running their Get Lit campaign promoting reading in the classroom. Books read for this can count towards your loyalty card tally too.

Loyalty Card Event

Loyalty Card Event

On Wednesday, the LRC hosted it's annual Loyalty Card event. 

Throughout the year, students and staff have been borrowing and reading fiction and collecting a stamp each time they have finished a book. Participants were entered in to a draw for a chance to win £50 of Waterstones vouchers or a copy of Darren O'Sullivan's new book.

We were thrilled to have local author Darren O'Sullivan with us for the event. Darren used to be a Performing Arts student at Peterborough Regional College and he has just had his first book Our Little Secret published in print. It is a thriller set in Peterborough.

Author and ex-student Darren O-Sullivan with LRC Manager Louise Auckland

Darren held a question and answer session with the students who attended and presented certificates and prizes to the 3 students whose names he pulled out of the draw. Congratulations go to Leon particularly who won the Waterstones vouchers!

Student feedback after the event included:

 "I loved the feedback and advice from a real author on how to write stories".

"I really enjoyed taking part in the reading challenge and encouraging the students"

"I really enjoyed the event".

Coming Soon - LRC Loyalty Card event

Loyalty Card Event

The Learning Resource Centre is holding a celebration event for those who have taken part in the loyalty card scheme.

The loyalty card scheme is a yearly initiative, run by the LRC, to encourage students and staff to read more fiction. The student or staff member obtains a loyalty card and gets their card stamped for every fiction book they have read. Once the student or staff member has read 6 books, they are then entered into a prize draw.

This year’s celebration event will be on the 18th April, between 3:30 and 4:30pm in the LRC. Students and staff can sign up and hand in completed cards until the 16th April.

The LRC now has a confirmed speaker for its loyalty card event.

Darren O’Sullivan is a local author and ex-PRC student. Darren has enjoyed success with his novel, ‘Our Little Secret’ and his second psychological thriller, ‘Close Your Eyes’ is out later this year. One lucky winner will receive a Waterstones voucher and three runners up will receive copies of Darren’s novel, ‘Our Little Secret’.

Darren O'Sullivan

Note-taking from reading

Note-taking from reading

Last week, we focused on reading for your assignments. This time, we are looking at the process of taking notes as you read.

Each person needs to find the way that works best for them. Some students will prefer to be more traditional with linear notes like lists and bullet points. Others will prefer to be more visual and use mind maps and spider diagrams. Some will write freehand on paper and others will prefer to type using a computer. Below, are a few tips (largely taken from the further reading resources below) which are relevant whichever way you use.

Photo CC0 https://pixabay.com/en/student-concentrated-preparation-1178024/

• Prepare beforehand - remind yourself what you are taking notes about and what exactly you are trying to find out. This will ensure that from the outset you are aiming to keep your notes relevant.

• Decide how you want to organise your notes. Are you going to have different page for each theme or argument?  Remember to number your pages as well as you go so that you can read them back in the right order!

• You may want to start by highlighting or underlining text. This is especially useful with e-books as you can save highlighted text in different colours and annotations and access them from your bookshelf (remember to log in first). Please don't do this in library books!

• Notes should be brief. Avoid full sentences. Create your own abbreviations and use them consistently.

• Leave space before moving to a new point so you can add details later (perhaps from another source).

• Don't try and write down everything. Initially try reading without your pen in your hand (or hands on the keyboard/ mouse) to resist the temptation to do so.

• Try and write in your own words where possible. This shows you have understood what you are reading and you will need to do this when you come to write your assignment anyway.

• Note viewpoints and arguments, not just facts, making sure you also note who the viewpoints belong to. You may want to decide on a specific way to record your views as you go along.

• Note names and quotations exactly including page numbers and resource details for your citations and bibliography.

Sources and further reading 

The LRC has Stella Cottrell's book The Study Skills Handbook (shelved at 371.3) which has a section on note-making.

We also have an e-book Improving your study skills: study smart. Study Less. by Shelley O'Hara which has a chapter on taking notes. Read this in college or outside using your PRC network login.

ARU has a note-making guide which covers note-taking from lectures as well as from reading.

The SkillsYouNeed website also gives some useful note-taking advice.

OneNote

PRC computers have OneNote software on them so you can create your own online notebooks with sections and add notes, links, images etc. A useful feature is that the URL of anything copied from the internet is automatically added. There is of course other software and apps available which you may prefer to use.

Reading for your assignments

Study Skills

Over the next term, we are hoping to introduce some skills you need as a student; skills that can help you get extra marks and help you work more effectively on your assignments. If you are an Access student looking to move to Higher Education, it is particularly good to start practising these skills before you get to University.

Reading skills 

(Some of these points have been taken from the Further resources listed at the end of this blog)

• You need to use a range of different resources (books, journal articles, reports, websites) by different authors to get a rounded view of a subject. The better mix you have, the better your marks are likely to be. However, you need to be smart about this as you don't want to waste your time reading information you don't need. Here are some tips:

• Choose an environment where you can concentrate on your reading - without distractions. This is usually quiet, but some of you might find it easier to focus if you have music on in the background.

• Know exactly what information you are looking for. Have your assignment question clearly in your mind. 

• You may want to read an introduction to your subject in a core textbook first so you have some understanding of the main facts, theories and viewpoints before you start focussing on more specific elements of the topic.

• You can't read everything , so choose what you are going to read by:

1. Scanning contents pages. Use indexes, blurbs and abstracts.
2. Looking for keywords - you should have a mind map or list of those you used when searching for the resources. You can also use these to search electronically within a document or e-book.
3. Looking for resources that demonstrate different viewpoints (not just one).
4. Making sure that it is relevant, relevant, relevant. Keep looking back to your assignment question.

• Make sure you note down all resources you are going to read in more detail (why not write the Harvard reference now so you don't have to do it later?) with the page numbers. Make sure you spell names correctly as a wrong spelling can stop you finding the resource again quickly.

• Read critically. Don't just try and collect facts; analyse what you are reading. This means to read as if you are someone on the outside looking in, viewing things from a neutral standpoint.. Think about what you are reading as much as possible and then when you have read all the viewpoints, bring your own judgement to bear.

• Ask questions like What is the author saying? What is their main argument? Do they have evidence to support their argument? Have they ignored certain facts? Are they biased? How does what I am reading link to other things I've read already?

Finally, for good time management, limit the amount of time  you are going to spend reading (first, to identify resources you are going to read and then in more detail to take notes) before you move on to writing your assignment. 

Photo: CC0 https://pixabay.com/en/to-read-the-book-library-reading-2784895/

Further resources on reading skills.

The SkillsYouNeed website has sections on effective reading and reading for note-taking.

If you are UCP students there are resources in their Study Skills Plus section on academic reading. This includes an interactive module you can work through to help you improve your reading and note-taking.

Be Healthy Stay Safe Be Green event

Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Be Green

Yesterday was the College's annual Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Be Green event and the LRC had a stall at this. We enjoyed talking to students who came to our table and asked them what their prescription for a healthier life would be. Here are some of the suggestions:

Stay healthy

Love yourself

Love life

Be positive

Enthusiasm

Physical exercise (football)

Eat healthy food

Drink water

Stop smoking

Eat less fast food!!!

Smile and have fun

Always make the most of everything

Friendship

Read more

Less stress, less worry!

Eating better!

No drugs

Work hard, relax, exercise

Eat fruit and vegetables - 5 a day.

Student prescriptions for a healthier life
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

National Wellbeing Statistics

Statistics are useful sources of information and the Office of National Statistics website is a good place to start for all sorts of UK statistics (crime, population, employment etc.). Each year they report on the nation's wellbeing. Follow the link to read the latest report which covers happiness, life satisfaction and anxiety levels.

If you want to take your own Happiness Survey the Oxford happiness survey is available to print here  or you can take it online.

At the Be Healthy Stay Safe event, LRC staff enjoyed meeting Wendy, the College's new Counsellor. If you need someone to talk to, you can contact her and she will help you. In the LRC we have a collection of Reading Well Books on Prescription which GPs have recommended (set up by the Reading Agency) including some especially for young people. Books cover topics such as overcoming anxiety, overcoming depression, self esteem, stress and OCD. We also have a number of the mood-boosting books which are feel-good, uplifting fiction reads.

Anti-bullying Week

Finally, this week has also been Anti-bullying week and we had our own display with socks coloured in by students (as recommended by the national campaign).

Anti-bullying Week display
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

Book Boxes

Book Boxes

Did you know that the LRC can put together a book box for tutors/lecturers to use in their lessons?

Ideally we like a week's notice of the topic (but we can do this quicker) and we do need to be sure that we have stock on the particular subject.

Please contact the LRC in person, by phone or email and let us know the topic, when you need it and how many students there are in the group. We will have the box ready for you to collect before your lesson and then you can return it at the end. We can also suggest other resources such as e-books. If you would like a librarian to come to your class and do an activity with your group using the box, then we can help with this also.

Pile of 5 books
https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-five-books-51342/

5 things to do with a book box

1) Introduce books as a way to research

    a) Give each student a book and ask them to find a topic

    b) After 5 minutes ask students to then say how they found the information.

    c) Talk about the index and the contents pages. (Tip: go to the sections where there are the most 

        pages first before the individual pages e.g. 33-37).

    d) Discuss other ways students can know whether a book is useful for their research

        i.e. blurb on the back, author, how old it is, which country it's published in

2) Use a box of books to practice Harvard Referencing

    a) Ask students to use the plagiarism and referencing blended learning activity on the LRC 24/7             page to learn about how to reference.

    b) Then give out books and ask students to reference them either in teams or individually.

3) Use the box of books to help introduce a topic by asking the students to research it themselves

     a) Set some questions

     b) Ask students to research the answers using the books from the box (with or instead of   

         websites) either individually or as teams.

4) Use the books to inspire students when they are choosing what to do for an assignment. e.g. an art  

     assignment/ project or make up/ hair activity.

    (One of our most challenging book boxes was for an art assignment on "Containment". We had to

      find images which portrayed the idea of being contained, imprisoned, caged etc.).   

5) Use a box of fiction to encourage students to look at books to read for pleasure or to introduce 

     them to poetry. One lecturer who worked at the college in the past read with/to his students in
     their tutorials!

    

LRC Halloween book display
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

World Book Day

World Book Day

Today is World Book Day and Library+ is celebrating with a quiz which students can complete and return for a chance to win a £10 Waterstones voucher. You need to return your completed quiz to the library by the 13th March 2017 at the latest.

Reading

Do you read for pleasure? If not, why not try something from our selection in Library+? You can borrow some to try. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get in to them, you can bring them back and try something else – all without having to pay anything.

Photo: Peterborough Regional College
Fiction books in Library+

If you haven’t read much before, perhaps try our selection of Quick Reads. These are not too long and can help you get used to reading a story through. Perhaps look for a plot (written on the back of the book) which is similar to the films you like to watch.

For those of us who enjoy reading we know the benefits of reading. There is nothing like finding a book that you can’t put down because it is so good and you just must know what happens.

Here are some of the other advantages for reading:

• ·         It helps you use your imagination (without having to try).
• ·         It gives you an insight into how different characters think and act.
• ·         It subconsciously helps you learn new words and improves your writing (e.g. for college work).
• ·         It helps you escape from reality for a while – ideal for relaxation and your mental health.
• ·         It is something you can do when you are on your own (whilst not necessarily feeling that you are).
• ·         It is great when you find an author or series that you like. You can then go and read their other books – just for enjoyment.

S  So why not give it a try. Just ask the library staff if you aren't sure what to choose. No one is going to check up on you and it is always good to try something new.