Library News for Arts

Naxos Video Library trial

Sam — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:58:51 +0000

The Library has recently activated trial access to Naxos Video Library. The database contains a searchable and playable collection of more than 250 (planned 500) full-length videos of concerts, operas, ballets, and documentaries from labels such as Arthaus Musik, Dacapo, Dynamic, EuroArts, Ondine, Opus Arte, Medici Arts, Naxos, and TDK. Featuring performances from artists including Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Martha Argerich, Gerald Finley, videos are available to stream at 700 kbps (standard quality) and 2 mbps (high quality) and the service is compatible with both PC and Mac computers.

Naxos Video Library can be accessed via the Library Databases webpage . Please do send us your comments via the feedback form.

National Gallery images added to Credo

Sam — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:41:44 +0000

A collection of over 2000 high-definition images from the National Gallery has been added to Credo Reference in the form of an e-book. Each image is accompanied by a description, acquisition information and details of its artist, medium, size and date. You can access the e-book directly via the link below.

Access the National Gallery Collection via Credo Reference.

Cambridge Histories Online trial

Sam — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:25:48 +0000

The Library has activated a 30 day trial of Cambridge Histories Online, which offers access to the complete Cambridge Histories series of 260 volumes.

We would be grateful if you would give us your comments via the Database feedback form.

February online training sessions announced

Helen Clough — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:21:14 +0000

Library Services is running the following online tutorials for OU students and staff in February:

Student introduction to Library Services: Thurs 4th, 10am

How to do a literature search (level 3 & postgraduate): Tues 9th, 10:30am

AL (tutor) introduction to Library Services: Mon 15th, 2pm

How to find journal impact factors: Tues 16th, 10:45am

How to use RefWorks: Tues 16th, 3pm

How to navigate the Library website: Weds 24th, 12noon

Please register for these online sessions by going to the Library Information Literacy Area. On this website you will also find the learning outcomes for these sessions, a link to training on the interface and you will be able to check if you have the right software to access Elluminate.

New open-access journal: Journal of Art Historiography

Sam — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:16:59 +0000

The University of Glasgow has recently launched the Journal of Art Historiography. Described by the University as “[…] the first contemporary journal dedicated specifically to the study of art historiography […]”, it will be published twice a year (June and December) and full-text articles will be freely available online.

The journal aims to include contributions from both emerging and established scholars, in a wide range of disciplines. The first issue discusses ‘Viennese art historiography’ and ‘German art history and philosophy’ in particular.

Further information, and the journal itself, can be accessed via the University of Glasgow website.

British Library Postgraduate Training Days

Helen Clough — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:19:12 +0000

Since October 2009 the British Library have held four extremely successful National Postgraduate Training Days and the final training days of the 2009/10 programme will be taking place soon:

English Literature (19th Century – Present Day): 1 Feb 2010
History (Medieval – 18th Century): 9 Feb 2010

If you are a first year PhD student and feel that an introduction to the British Library and its resources would benefit your research, please complete the online form on the BL’s website to book a place.

Library building closure Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January

Helen Clough — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:59:44 +0000

Due to adverse weather conditions the Library building in Milton Keynes will be closed on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January.

The building will re-open as normal on Monday 11 January at 08.30am

The Library Helpdesk will operate normal weekend hours and can be contacted using a number of methods including email and web form. For more information about the helpdesk service please visit the Library Services help and support web pages.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the building closure.

January online training sessions announced

Helen Clough — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:51:31 +0000

Library Services is running the following online tutorials for OU students and staff in January:

Finding information in Business & Management: Fri 8th, 10:45am

Student introduction to Library Services: Tues 12th, 12 pm

How to use RefWorks: Thurs 14th, 10am

How to social bookmark: Mon 18th, 1pm

How to find an ejournal: Thurs 21st, 3pm

How to find an eBook: Weds 27th, 4pm

Please register for these online sessions by going to the Library Information Literacy Area . On this website you will also find the learning outcomes for these sessions, a link to training on the interface and you will be able to check if you have the right software to access Elluminate.

Access to Video Assets (AVA) project survey reminder

Helen Clough — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:31:20 +0000

We need your help to identify features you would like to see in an Open University video archive indexing system.

Library Services, who are leading the Access to Video Archives (AVA) project, are investigating ways to deliver a searchable index of video material held in our archives.

The project aims to provide a model to encourage searching, reuse and preservation of valuable OU video resources.

Although the key audience is staff involved in course production, it will also be of interest to the wider OU community wishing to identify and (subject to rights clearance) reuse video clips of past events in the OU’s history.

The AVA survey below (which closes Friday 11 December) should only take you five minutes to complete and the feedback will help to provide important information on your requirements for such a system, ensuring it meets your needs.

Access this short questionnaire

If you are interested in learning more about the project, visit the AVA website or contact Sue Allcock.

The final findings of the JISC national e-books observatory project

Helen Clough — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:10:20 +0000

As part of our Open University Library Seminars programme, we are very pleased to announce a presentation by Dr Hazel Woodward of Cranfield University Library, entitled The final findings of the JISC national e-books observatory project, followed by a brief presentation by Liz Mallett of the Open University Library on the findings of a joint ebook reader pilot study with Cranfield.

This will be held in the Library, Seminar Rooms 1 & 2, at 12:30 to 13:30 on Thursday 17th December 2009.

Everyone is very welcome to attend but spaces are limited so please indicate your interest as soon as possible to ensure your place. Please contact Library-Promotions@open.ac.uk for bookings.

The JISC national e-books observatory project has been about exploring impacts, observing behaviours and developing new models to stimulate the e-books market, and to do all this in a managed environment. The aims of the project were:

* To licence a collection of e-books that are highly relevant to UK HE course taught students in four discipline areas: Business and Management Studies, Engineering, Medicine (not mental health or nursing) and Media Studies.

* To evaluate the use of the course text e-books though deep log analysis and analyse the impact of the free at the point of use course text e-books upon publisher, aggregator and library processes

* To transfer knowledge acquired in the project to publishers, aggregators and libraries to help stimulate a course text e-books market that has appropriate business and licensing models

The Ebook reader pilot study was a short joint project between the Open University and Cranfield University libraries. A small group of students from each institution was given an ebook reader each to use for 3 months, and their thoughts on them recorded. Liz will give an overview of the findings and what they mean for the library service.