How to reference images, diagrams and tables

We've been asked a few times lately how to reference images.  If your image, diagram or table is from a journal article or book then you should reference the journal article or book and include the page number.

Our Write and Cite guide for the QM Harvard style of referencing tells us on page 20 how to reference online images, diagrams and tables.  Details should be set out in the following order and with the punctuation as indicated:

Title of image or a description (in italics).
Year.
online image [in square brackets]
Available at: followed by the internet address
Date accessed. [in square brackets]

LRC at night in colour. 2008. [online image] Available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/queenmargaretuniversitylibrary/3111106804/in/photostream [Accessed December 12 2012].

Springer eJournals link

We're pleased to report that the problem with accessing Springer eJournals via our eJournals A-Z list has now been resolved.

Holiday opening

The Learning Resource Centre will be staffed as normal until 5pm on Friday 21 December 2012.  Normal staffed hours then resume at 9 am on Thursday 3^rd January 2013. 

The Learning Resource Centre will remain open throughout the holiday period, 24 hours a day.  However, planned maintenance of the building may take place at short notice, which may necessitate the closure of the LRC.  If you intend to use the LRC during this period, please phone in advance to check that the LRC is indeed open on 0131 474 0000.  Remember that off-campus access to all electronic resources is available at any time through the Remote Desktop service. Check our website for details.

And finally, please remember to renew any item you may have on loan.  If you renew 21-day loans now, they will be issued until January.  Any items which are 7-day loans can be renewed into January from Saturday 15th December (provided they are not required by other readers).

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy holiday on behalf of all Learning Services staff.

Springer eJournals

There has been a problem this week with the links to Springer eJournals from our AtoZ listing not working.  Users are taken to a “page does not exist” error page.

This is a problem for anyone who, like QMU, uses the AtoZ service from EBSCO. Both companies have been contacted and we have been assured that they are working together on a solution. Unfortunately we don’t have a timescale for the return to normal service but in the meantime would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Barefoot running

Recently this Librarian accepted an invitation from the Podiatry department to attend the 'Natural running - barefoot mechanics and natural sports supplements' lecture by guest speaker Colin McPhail.  When I think of barefoot running, I think back to the 1980s and Zola Budd:

Zola Budd racing barefoot. 1984. [online] Available at: http://youtu.be/V_yvbkPaoOU. [Accessed November 20 2012].

I wrongly assumed barefoot running was simply running in bare feet and had no idea how controversial it was going to be!  In full Librarian-mode, I noted the references Colin McPhail made to publications and suggested searches to find out more.

The current literature refers to Chris McDougall and his book Born to run: the hidden tribe, the ultra-runners and the greatest race the world has ever seen which takes us back to evolution and minimalist footwear.  McPhail recalled reading an article in The Economist that tells us "barefoot running is not new".  The article comments on "elite runners wearing thin racing flats" and suggests "...in addition to the obvious muscular development, running barefoot also promotes landing forefoot first, rather than on the heel. This pattern is shared by both elite sprinters and distance runners".

Lee Saxby's website has a section highlighting research on the topic with a forward written by Professor Daniel Lieberman that looks at human evolution, running before the modern running shoe, modern running shoes, heel striking and different foot strikes that is worth a look.

Professor Daniel Lieberman's home page lists 'How humans run barefoot (and why it may be good for you' in his current projects as well as talking about his research with Dennis Bramble and colleagues on long distance endurance running.

Searches in databases such as CINAHL, ProQuest Central and SCOPUS on key authors such as the aforementioned Lieberman, Bramble and McDougall will be fruitful.  Also, try using varying combinations of keywords:

"foot strike patterns"
heel striking OR forefront striking
"barefoot adaptations"

Watching McPhail demonstrate different landing techniques in the lecture was entertaining for this Librarian who describes her running technique as basic with putting one foot in front of the other and a stubborn will to keep going!  At the lively Q & A session at the end of the lecture, the convener concluded that barefoot running is one option of many that might not be suitable for all for everyone but is an interesting topic.

Student Survey

Did you study an HNC or an HND at a Scottish college and start a degree at QMU in September 2012? If so, we would like to hear from you. Go to http:///www.hnstudents.org.uk and answer the questions, this will take no more than 10 to 15 minutes of your time and you can enter a prize draw for 15 Amazon vouchers worth £20 each.

How to reference computer software and apps

Following the QM Harvard style and logically listing the who, when, what and where of referencing, to reference an app or computer software requires the elements below in the following order and with the punctuation as indicated:

Author.
Date.
Title of software/program. (in italics)
Version number.
Material type [in square brackets]
Place of publication: (if available)
Publisher. (if available)
Available at: followed by the Internet address
Date accessed. [in square brackets]


Examples:

eFusion. 2010. Voice Recorder HD. Version 6.1.1. [app] Available at: http://eapps.pro/app/voice-recorder-hd-full-featured-iphone-ipad-recorder [Accessed November 20 2012].

Boersma, P. and Weenik, D. 2012. Praat: Doing phonetics by computers. Version 5.3.32. [computer software] Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam. Available at: http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/praat/ [Accessed November 20 2012].

Access the Library on your smartphone or mobile device!

Have you been using Library Anywhere our mobile-enabled catalogue lately? We have been adding some additional services to it in the last month or so. 

Now you can access mobile friendly ebooks, ejournals and databases.

Remember you can also renew your books using Library Anywhere!

Design our new Hub logo and win £100 of Amazon vouchers!

Hub@QMU is Queen Margaret University’s new virtual learning environment, which is based on the Blackboard Learn 9.1 platform.

We are looking for a vibrant, modern logo for Hub@QMU as the branding for the new VLE. The logo should try and reflect:

•  The idea of the virtual learning environment as a hub
•  QMU as a 21st century institution

The logo will be used as a banner within the Hub, on the Hub log-in screen and any related materials. As it will need to be scaled to various sizes the design should be simple and not contain too much small detail. Also the image should be limited to the QMU’s corporate colour palette of QMU blue, silver and white

Please submit your entries as either .jpg, .gif or .png files to hub@qmu.ac.uk

Size: 850 x 120 pixels

The Hub logo competition is open to matriculated QMU undergraduate and postgraduate students only

The closing date for entries is Friday 2^nd November 2012 at 12pm.

 

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel and the winner will be announced on Friday 9th November.

Postgraduate Lab Terminal Replacement Schedule

On Friday 26^th October Information Services will be replacing terminals in the Postgraduate Lab within the Learning Resource Centre. Room 1126 has been booked from 13:00 – 21:00 to ensure Postgraduates have a study space while this work is being completed. Disruption during this time will be kept to a minimum.

The new terminals have:

 

• Faster boot time
• Improved USB
• Improved audio and video
• Auto shutdown on Log off
• Lower power consumption

Further information is available on “Guide to using Wyse C10le Terminals” and “Guide to accessing USB on Wyse C10le Terminals” via the Thin Client Intranet site.

Blackwells Bookshop

If you need to buy some textbooks don't forget to check out Blackwells Bookshop who are temporarily housed in the LRC for a few weeks  beside the bridge area.

Giving Voice

Since graduating this summer, a few QMU Speech and Language Therapy graduates have worked together to create a video to promote Giving Voice, to raise awareness of all forms of communication and emphasise the value of Speech and Language Therapy.

Here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMvvkEwdX_Y

Hub@QMU

QMU's new virtual learning environment is called Hub@QMU.  This will replace WebCT from September 2012. It is accessible from http://hub.qmu.ac.uk.

There will be generic inductions  to the Hub for students starting on Monday 10th September. Please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk for further information.

New Items Link

Interested to know about the LRC's new resources? Then check out our New Items link on the Library Catalogue  which is updated weekly. Just click on the following and take a look:
http://millennium.qmu.ac.uk/ftlist

LRC Open Access Terminal Replacement

82 new Wyse C1OIe terminals including keyboards and mice have been installed in the LRC's Open Access Area. The new terminal will bring faster boot time, improved USB, improved audio and video, auto shutdown on Logoff and lower power consumption.

Eduroamers take note...

Eduroam is a world wide service that enables staff and students to obtain internet access on campus and when visiting other participating institutions with their own laptop/smartphone. For information on how to set up a laptop and details on coverage within the UK and elsewhere then go to our QMU internet page: http://www.qmu.ac.uk/it/eduroam/default.htm.

Current users of Eduroam should note that they must put @qmu.ac.uk after their username. This suffix is vital when using Eduroam and the use of this suffix will be enforced from June the 15th.

General Resources Page

A new General Resources Page has been added to the LRC's Subject Resources List.
Click on the link to find out more:
http://erc.qmu.ac.uk/db/subject.php?catId=72

New Laptop Plug-In Points

In response to user feedback we have now installed 28 laptop plug-in points in the LRC Open Access Area.

E-Books

Did you know that you can search for electronic as well as print books on the Library Catalogue?There are currently in excess of 80,000 ebooks available to LRC users. You can either search for ebooks in the usual way by Author/Title/Keyword, or by using a combination of Search Term and Material Type using the Advanced Search option (see link below)
http://millennium.qmu.ac.uk/search/X#

New MFDs

New Konica Minolta Multi-functional devices (MFD) will be installed at the end of May replacing the current HP devices on campus.

The LRC will be hosting an information session about the new MFDs in Food for Thought on Wednesday 2^nd May between 12:00pm – 2:00pm . The session will be used to promote the new MFDs whilst showing you how to perform basic functions (e.g. print, copy and scan).

As part of this installation we will be introducing the option to print in colour. To help promote the new MFDs and raise awareness, we are inviting you to drop in to the information session where we will demo the new device and print out a piece of your work for free - limited to maximum of 10 pages.  So bring along your USB stick and see the quality of the printout and the speed of the devices.

For further information and user guides please visit the Printing Intranet Site. 

QR code for Room Bookings

For a few years now QM students have been able to book one of our six group study rooms or one of our six individual study carrels online.  One of the most frequently asked questions we get asked at the Service Desk here in the LRC is "where can I book a group study room?" 

The link to the online booking system is on the Library Services home page - look to the left hand side and you'll see "Room Bookings".  Once logged in, you can book a group study room or individual study carrel for an hour or all day, up to three weeks in advance.  You can also log in and see if the room you are in is free for the next hour, the rest of the day or the same time next week.

To make things easier, we've created a QR code for Room Bookings online.  If you've got a QR code reader on your smartphone, scan the QR code and it will take you to the Room Bookings web page where you are prompted to log in.

Trial of eTextbooks from Elsevier

For the next six weeks, the LRC is offering trial access to 125 eTextbooks in the health subjects area from the publisher Elsevier to our students and staff.

The library catalogue contains records with links to the full-text for all of the books.  They are also available from the Elsevier website.

Seamless access is available on campus whilst off campus access requires the user to login via Shibboleth using their institutional/network username and password.

As always, feedback is very much appreciated.  Please email either Barbara Houston or contact your Liaison Librarian.

Journal display in the library catalogue update

We're happy to report that the library catalogue problem has now been fixed and normal service is resumed.

Journal problems in the library catalogue

We're experiencing a problem with our library management system this morning.  It is having a knock-on effect in the library catalogue.  You'll still be able to search for a print journal, but only the title information will be displayed, nothing more.  This means, you won't be able to see what holdings (years and volumes) we have.

Our eJournals A-Z page is managed by a different system and is unaffected.

Please be assured, we are working on resolving this situation as soon as possible.

eduroam companion app for iOS

Our colleagues in Information Services have been made aware of an eduroam companion app for iOS, developed by JANET, which can be used by iPhone and iPad users to locate their nearest eduroam point. Using this application while travelling should help you locate any local eduroam instances which can then be used to connect to the internet using your QMU username and password. For details and an iTunes link to download the app visit:

http://www.ja.net/janetnews/2012/01/05/eduroam-companion-app-for-iphone-and-ipad/

As always eduroam should be configured and tested here at QMU before travelling. For instructions and more information click here.

Cambridge University Press eBooks trial

We're currently taking part in trial providing access to e-books published by Cambridge University Press (CUP). The trial has been made available by the Scottish Higher Education Digital Library (SHEDL) of which QMU is a member.  
The trial will last 6 months and includes all current e-book titles from CUP and titles published during the trial period. The books are listed the library catalogue and are accessible on campus or via the Remote Desktop service.
As always any feedback on the trial can be made to Barbara Houston or your Liaison Librarian.