Kickstart your Masters dissertation

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Advert for the Masters Dissertation fair 2025 listing the range of events that will be included: webinars, workshops, writing retreats and drop ins. Event runs Mon 3 March to Fri 7 March

Feeling a bit stuck with researching and writing your Masters dissertation or project?  Why not book to come along to one of our Kickstart your Masters dissertation sessions, run by our Academic Liaison and Study Advice teams?

Choose from a selection of webinars, workshops, retreats and drop-ins running Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March, offering advice around dissertation planning, researching, writing and digital skills.

For more information on each session and to book, take a look at our Kickstart your Masters dissertation guide

We will be offering advice on all aspects of your dissertation researching, planning and writing. From managing your project and writing your literature review, to researching our databases, making the most of Microsoft Word and using reference management software, these friendly sessions are designed for you to get some tips from the experts and get your dissertation off to a positive start.

More help available

You can also book an appointment with a Study Adviser, who can offer advice to enable you to manage your project, write critically and ensure academic integrity.

Or book to meet your Academic Liaison Librarian who can support you with researching and accessing the material you need, and how to reference it correctly.

For those who prefer self-paced online resources, we have a suite of videos and guides on dissertations, major projects and literature reviews.

Remember, you can always discover key resources in your subject area in the liaison team’s guides and use our guide for Taught Postgraduates.

Academic Liaison Librarians and Study Advisers

Winter vacation? Snow problem!

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A fluffed up robin in the snow

Worried about Winter vacation? Let us give you a bird’s eye view of how to prepare

Whether you’re on-campus or heading home for the Winter vacation, make sure you know about the upcoming changes to our opening hours and plan ahead! 

When will the Library be open? 

  • The Library will be operating on semester opening hours up until Friday 20 December. We will be closing at midnight on Friday 20 December. 
  • We will be closed 21 December to Sunday 5 January for the University closure period. 
  • From Monday 6 January to Friday 17 January, we re-open with reduced opening hours. Semester time service will resume from Saturday 18 January at 08:30. 

When do I need to return my books? 

You can borrow right up until the University closure period. Standard loans can be borrowed for up to 6 weeks, but items may still be recalled until Friday 13 December. Please keep an eye on your University email account (and your Junk folder) for any recalls notices so that you can avoid fines.  

During the University closure, you may still receive recall notices, but items will not be due back until we re-open on Monday 6 January. 

 

Last collections before University closure  

If you want items which are not on the open shelves before the Winter vacation, make sure that you get your requests in on time!  

  • Closed Access items need to be requested before 13.30 Thursday 19 December. 

Normal service will resume on Monday 6 January with our first Closed Access collection happening on Tuesday 7 January. 

For more information and detailed instructions on how to make Closed Access requests, check out the ‘Requesting items from Store and Closed Access‘ information page. 

 

Accessing online information 

If you’re very keen to continue your studies during the University closure don’t worry, our Subject guides and Study Advice guides are always available online. Or why not get a head start by: 

  • …exploring some of the ‘further’ or ‘suggested readings’ on your reading list. 

Keep on top of your studies but don’t forget to enjoy a well-deserved break!  

Happy Holidays to you all.  

 

Your Library team 

Brow wrapped parcel with sprig of holly on white background.

Off-site Store items – temporarily unavailable

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Bookshelves from Off-site StoreCollections from our Off-site Store will remain suspended or severely restricted due to essential building maintenance into late January. 

Whilst we are unable to collect items held in our Off-site Store University Staff, Students, and Associates may use our inter-library loan service. Collections from Closed Access remain unaffected.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

 

 

Need help practicing and developing your mathematical and statistical skills?

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Student using calculator

The Library’s new Maths Support guide provides links to an extensive range of interactive e-resources and video tutorials which you can access at any time to practise and develop your mathematical and statistical skills. Developed for students by students, in collaboration with Library staff, the guide is organised into key topics to make it easier and quicker for you to find the help you need.

libguides.reading.ac.uk/maths-support

Lecturer helping student at computer

If you want to boost your maths and stats knowledge before approaching new topics in your course, then make sure you also register for Integral for HE. This online resource is designed to support undergraduate students and provides interactive quizzes, videos and overviews on a wide range of topics including Complex Numbers, Matrices, Algebra and Functions, Further Calculus, Vectors, Differential Equations and many more. It’s easy to register for your own account, just fill out this online form and we’ll do the rest!  

Library Welcome Week Events

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A photo of the outside of the library on a sunny day, with a sign in front that reads 'welcome to UoR Library'We’d like to wish you a warm welcome from all the staff here at UoR Library!

If you’re wondering about how to use the Library and what’s available, we have a variety of events planned for you all week, and information to help you settle in:

New student Libguide

This is an online guide telling you about the library including useful videos, answers to questions, where to get help and all our welcome week events.

Introducing your library

We are running tours Monday – Friday, every 30 minutes from 10:00 – 15:00. No need to book, just meet in the Library foyer.

Self-paced tours

We know there’s a lot going on right now!  So if you want to just take things slowly, at a time that suits you, we’ve created a self-paced tour for you to go through online.  Or you can pick up one of our handy expandable maps in the Library, to take a look around the building yourself.  Or check out our Instagram to watch our reel that shows you around!

Special Collections

Come along to make yourself a badge and find out about the University’s Special Collections – in the Library foyer 11:00 – 14:00 on Tuesday.

Mystery Books

On Tuesday and Wednesday we will have a selection of Mystery Books you can borrow. Library staff have recommended some great reads from our collection. We’ve mixed them up and hidden them in bags, so it’s like getting a blind date with a book!  Come by, pick up a bag and find something new to read!

The Legendary Library Escape Box Challenge

On Thursday between 12:00 – 16:00 we will be running a library themed escape challenge. Come along as a team, or drop by and we can put you in a group with some new friends!  Meet in the Library foyer.

If you join in with any of our activities don’t forget to let us know on social media!  You can find us on Instagram and YouTube.

Your Library Team

The Chair Necessities

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Three chairs in the Library foyer. Each chair has a sign on it containing a QR code and a number from 1 to 3.

You may have seen these in the foyer.

Back in May, we asked you to cast your votes on what chair design should be used for the 5th Floor. Many of you tried them out and let us know which chair you preferred.  

Image of 5th Floor reading room.

Looking rather smart.

 

 

 

 

 

After a few months of patiently (and impatiently) waiting, the new chairs have finally arrived and have been moved to their new home in the 5th Floor Reading rooms, ready for a new semester. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to sit, ponder and vote. We hope you love the end result as much as we do.

 

1st Floor closed 8th – 20th August

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From Thursday 8th August until Tuesday 20th August, the 1st Floor of the Library will be closed for University Clearing.

PCs can be found on all other floors of the Library, and Group Study rooms are available on the 2nd and 4th Floors. Please ask us if you need help finding a study space.

The IT Helpdesk will be moved to the Ground Floor, and can be found at the Study Advice and Academic Liaison Desk. Support is also available via telephone, email and the IT Self Service Portal.

Are you ready for the Summer Deep Clean?

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Member of staff filling carpet cleaning machine with water to wash carpets as part of the annual summer big clean

Getting ready to clean the carpets.

During the summer vacation, Library Support Services work to clean and refresh the Library, ready for the upcoming Autumn term. As part of this essential maintenance, we go beyond the usual areas and reach into the spots which aren’t covered by the day-to-day clean. This includes relocating chewing gum to the bins and washing all of the carpets.   

In order for this essential cleaning to be done as quickly as possible, some study areas will be temporarily closed off during the summer vacation. 

We apologise for the inconvenience. Please ask at the Welcome Desk if you need help finding an alternative study space. 

Your Library Team 

Using the Library over summer vacation

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With the end of term and the beginning of summer vacation, there are a few changes taking place in the Library.  

Library building on a clear sunny day with hedge in the foreground.Opening hours  

Summer term ended on Friday 7 June, which means our opening hours have now changed too. Between 8 June – 22 September, we’ll be open between 08:30 – 17:00 during weekdays. The Library will be closed at the weekends except for our three Summer Saturdays on 13 July, 17 August and 21 September. If you’re returning Library materials outside of these hours, the external Book Drop is always open and can be found to the right of the main entrance.  

 

Vacation loans  

If you’re an undergraduate or taught postgraduate student, you can borrow items for the whole summer without needing to renew, as long as your course doesn’t end before 24 September 2024.  

Borrowing for staff, research postgraduates, Associate and external users will not change, so please continue to keep an eye on your University email account and Library account to ensure you return or renew items on time and avoid fines. 

If you’re unsure about your due dates, check your Library account or get in touch with us. 

 

SCONUL access 

If you’re heading home for the summer period, but would still like to access a local university library, why not consider the SCONUL access scheme? As long as you’re still a current student, you can apply to join and access university libraries throughout the UK and Ireland. More information can be found on the Library website or you could ask staff at the Welcome Desk in the Library.  

 

Continued support from your Academic Liaison Librarian and the Study Advice Team  

Although the Library opening hours may have changed, your Academic Liaison librarians and Study advisors are still here to support you over the summer. Why not book a 1-2-1 appointment or check out their range of resources on our website?  

  

If you have any questions during the summer vacation, you can contact us at library@reading.ac.uk or call on 0118 378 8770.   

Enjoy the summer!  

Your Library Team 

 

System upgrade 10 June – some services disrupted

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Tonight, we are upgrading our Library Management System. During the upgrade on Monday 10 June, between 20:00 and midnight, (after the Library buildings are closed) some services will be unavailable.

 

Open laptop

 

You will still be able to …

  • Search the Library catalogue, Enterprise.
  • Access all our E-resources – so any e-books or e-journals you find on the catalogue will still be available via the ‘Click here to access’ links.
  • Use Summon for online access to journal articles, book chapters, and much more!

But you won’t be able to …

The upgrade is planned to be finished by Tuesday 11 June, but the system will be ‘at risk’ for the rest of the week whilst our Systems Team make sure everything is working correctly. We will let you know if Enterprise will be unavailable for longer than initially planned. 

If you have trouble accessing e-resources, you can contact the E-resources Team at eresourceshelp@reading.ac.uk or you can fill in a Problem Report Form.

If you want to talk to someone about your account, you can contact the Library at library@reading.ac.uk.

 

Starting your dissertation? Follow our top 5 study tips

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Student in a library working at her laptop with books in the background

So, you may have just finished your exams but now you have to turn your attention to your dissertation. Where do you begin and how can you ensure you stay on track? Below are our Study Advice and Library tips to help you get started and stay focused.  

Tip #1: Have a plan 

Having a plan not only helps you to stay on track but weekly goals keep you motivated. Work backwards from your hand in date and remember to build in extra time for proof reading and final touches. Our videos on managing your time offer some tips to get you started.  

Tip #2: Start with something small 

To help you get going, start with a task that you can get done easily. This might be something simple, like setting up a word template or printing off a couple of key articles. Being able to complete one task can give you a sense of achievement and motivate you to tackle more challenging ones. 

Tip #3: Think about the information that you need… 

….and how to access it! If you are carrying out a literature review, or analysing documents or literature, make sure that you are familiar with the key online resources in your subject area. You can find out more about what’s available to you, as well as contact details for your Academic Liaison Librarian, on your Library subject guide.  

Tip #4: Think more, read less 

It’s important that you think critically about you’re reading. This requires you to see the links between various theories and consider what they mean for your research question. So, when taking notes remember to not only record a summary of your reading but more importantly note what you think about what you have read. This will help you when you come to write up. Our guides on critical analysis offers some advice on this. 

Tip #5: Attend a webinar or workshop

The Library and Study Advice teams are running a series of webinars and workshops for Masters students working on their dissertations. The Masters Dissertation Fair is back for another year, covering a range of topics from selecting a reference management tool, to structuring your literature review.   

 Webinars will run online every day from Monday 3rd - Monday 10th June. On Monday 10th June we will be running an in person writing retreat so you progress your writing, and on Friday 7th June a hands-on literature searching session. These friendly and helpful sessions are open to all Masters students, and you can book a place online here