As the end of the year approaches, the Library has added a new resource to its collections: The Artforum Archive.

Artforum has been one of the most influential international magazines covering contemporary art since the 1960s. The archive provides full access to decades of criticism, exhibition reviews, interviews and essays, making it a valuable resource for anyone studying or teaching art, design, visual culture, architecture or media studies.

Here’s how it works:
You can search or browse issues by date, artist, author or subject, allowing you to follow critical debates as they developed over time or locate writing on specific movements, exhibitions or practitioners. Content spans modern and contemporary art, film, performance, architecture and theory, with contributions from leading critics and scholars.

This new access is particularly useful for:

• supporting coursework and dissertations
• sourcing contemporary criticism for seminars and lectures
• tracking how artists and movements were received at the time

Whether you’re fitting in some reading before the Christmas break or planning ahead for teaching and research in the new year, the Artforum Archive offers a substantial body of material to work with. Season’s greetings from the Library — no stamps, cheques or subscription forms required.

You can access the archive here, and If you’d like updates on new resources, trials and service developments, you can also subscribe to the Library blog using the email sign-up at the bottom of this page.

Wishing you a restful end-of-year break from all us in Library Services, and we hope this new resource proves useful over the winter period.

Calling all artists, designers, and visual thinkers! LJMU students and staff now have full access to the Bloomsbury Visual Arts Hub, a vibrant online platform packed with inspiration, critical thinking, and practical guidance for anyone studying or working in the visual arts.

Whether you’re exploring the latest in design thinking, delving into printmaking techniques, or researching art through the lenses of race and gender — this hub brings it all together in one beautifully curated space.

What’s Inside the Hub

Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of New Media Art

Explore the evolving world of digital and interactive art — from virtual reality to AI-generated installations — and discover how technology continues to shape creative expression.

Printmaking Collection

Get hands-on with the theory and practice of printmaking. This collection covers techniques, materials, and insights from leading practitioners.

Applied Visual Arts

A go-to resource for creative professionals and students alike, featuring detailed case studies, project guides, and real-world advice on working in the visual arts industry.

Design Studies Collection

Explore contemporary design from every angle — from sustainability to user experience — with content connecting theory, practice, and innovation.

Art, Race and Gender Collection

Engage critically with key debates around identity, representation, and power in art and visual culture. A must-read for anyone exploring equality and inclusion in creative practice.

Why Use It?

• Access expert insights and visual research 24/7
• Explore diverse perspectives on art and design
• Enhance your creative projects and essays with reliable, scholarly content

Access now via LJMU Library:
Head to Bloomsbury Visual Arts Hub and log in using your LJMU details to start exploring.

Trial access for LJMU staff and students: 15th September – 15th December

Discover Pidgeon Digital, an inspiring online collection of audio and video talks by leading architects, designers, and artists from around the world. Originally launched by Monica Pidgeon, this archive features renowned figures sharing their ideas, projects, and creative processes in their own words.

Why try it?

• Hear directly from influential architects and designers
• Ideal for Architecture, Design, Art and Built Environment courses
• Great source for inspiration, research, and lectures

Trial period: 15 September – 15 December
Access via LJMU Library: Pidgeon Digital

Don’t miss your chance to explore this rich resource and enhance your studies or teaching with real-world creative insight and please let us know your feedback by replying here or on our socials.

Event – Expert Introduction to WGSN – Fashion Trend-Forecasting Resource  
Wednesday 9th March 2-3 pm – ONLINE

Detailed Online session led by Bastion Muhlenhaus of WGSN, followed by Q&A. 

• Learn why trend-forecasting is important and about WGSN methodology
• Get an overview of WGSN – understand its timeline structure and how to navigate
• Know areas in daily use by fashion industry professionals to boost your employability
• Have your questions answered 

Book now on Skills Training Calendar     
https://ljmu.libcal.com/event/3853347       

Access WGSN from this LJMU electronic library link
Follow the instructions from the ‘View Online’ link, using your LJMU email address to create an account and set up a password whilst on campus.
WGSN is one of our Library ‘Databases‘.

WGSN is a trend forecasting company that monitors consumer trends in order to predict the products, experiences and services people will need in years to come, helping brands to stay relevant and secure their place in the future.

We have access to WGSN Fashion. This is a platform that provides an insight into global fashion trends and the fashion industry, and helps to aid the creative process through its product information, design inspiration and ideas. It is a vital research tool for those studying Fashion and Graphic Design, and also contains many articles on business and IT too.

Features include:

• Personalise your homepage to feature reports that match your interests
• Find reports by Market (mens, womens, youth, kids), Season, or Category (accessories, active, apparel, demin, footwear, intimates & swimwear)
  
• Catwalks: coverage and analysis of catwalk trends and fashion week highlights
  
• Image & Design Resources: a library of high resolution images
• Manage your account: here you can manage your subscriptions to newsletters and change site preferences

For access:

Go to WGSN on Databases A-Z, DB Search or search for it in Discover. You can also click here.

The first time you use this resource you will need to register for a username and password (using your LJMU email address), and this needs to be carried out through the VPN. Instructions on how to install the LJMU VPN software can be found on the page Using your own computer, under the heading ‘Using a University PC from your own computer’.

After registering, you will then be able to log in off-campus. Go to ‘Returning Users – Login & Reactivate Account‘.

Your account will expire after 90 days of not being used, simply log in to reactivate it.

Missing the theatre? Well here’s the chance to watch high quality recordings of 30 world-class productions, available any time, anywhere. Ideal viewing for over the Christmas period!

Highlights include:

• James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors
• A Streetcar Named Desire: starring Gillian Anderson, Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby
• Othello: Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear jointly won the Evening Standard Best Actor Award for their performances in the iconic roles of Othello and Iago.
• Twelfth Night: Tamsin Greig as a transformed Malvolia, in a new twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity
• Frankenstein: Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller each play Victor Frankenstein and his creation in these two performances of Danny Boyle’s smash-hit production

Each video is accompanied by information about the cast and creative team, details of where and when it was filmed, an image gallery, and links to related eBooks.

We have access to the collection until 31st August 2021.

For access, click here, and log in with your LJMU username (username@ljmu.ac.uk) and password. You will also find the resource listed on Databases A-Z.

Established in 1993, Neural is a digital culture and media arts magazine. Every issue published since 1993 is available, and is fully searchable and browsable.

For access: click here, then on login in ‘via institution’, then ‘Click here to login through your institution’ (as below).

If you have used the platform before, you will see LJMU already listed as in the example below. Otherwise, use the ‘Find your institution’ function.

Finally, log in with your LJMU username (username@ljmu.ac.uk) and password.

Search, explore and let us know how you find the resource, either by filling in a reply below or via Library Chat.

 

 

Learn how to add books, eBooks, journal articles and web pages, plus notes, tags and filters too. Academic Liaison Librarians will help you through the process of creating a dynamic reading list that your students will love!

Register at one of our workshops below:

Monday 4^th November  11-12pm IM Marsh Campus: C112

Monday 4^th November 2-3pm  Byrom Street: Cherie Booth Building  BS/106/PC LAB

Tuesday 5^th November 11-12pm John Foster Building JF/107E/118/IT

Wednesday 6^th November 11-12pm  Redmond Building: RB/118/IT

Thursday 7^th November 11-12pm Byrom Street: Cherie Booth Building  BS/106/PC LAB

Thursday 7^th November 2-3pm Tithebarn Street: TB/114 IT Suite

If you cannot attend a workshop then please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for one-to-one guidance, to book a workshop for your team or to ask a question.

Further information including a user guide is available on the Library Services Reading List web page.

Monday 25^th February, 10-2pm, Careers Zone, James Parsons Building (Ground Floor)

Tuesday 26^th February, 10-2pm, Redmond Building (Ground Floor)

Our interactive Reading lists are:

• dynamic and effective
• quick and easy to use
• accessible via Canvas anytime, anywhere
• easy to personalise with tags / notes
• directly related to teaching and assessment
• clear to read (see below)

“The reading list system easily connects students to the module content, plus e-books are readily available and supports students as they work on their assessments. It also allows me to bring the books up in class to direct students to the key readings.” (Dr Nicholas Wise, Senior Lecturer, EHC)

 “In essence it is a communication tool that allows academics and librarians to support learners effectively.” (Dr. Clare Milsom, Director of Teaching and Learning Academy.)

 Academic Liaison Librarians will be on hand at the Roadshows to demonstrate the service and answer your questions.

Further information is available on the Library Services Reading List web page.