Nominations are now open for the Students’ Union Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Award scheme and can be completed on the student portal. They will remain open until Tuesday, 1st April, and you can nominate multiple times. It’s a great time to think about all the amazing contributions from different departments and services.
We wanted to take a moment to share why we, the Information Services team, believe we deserve your vote for the Outstanding University Team, Service, or Department category. Please note that we are down as ‘Library and Information Services’ in the category.
Why you should vote for us
Happy to Help
Our library and IT staff are the heart and soul of our services, always ready to assist with a smile. Whether you need help navigating the library building, finding the perfect book for your research, or sorting out any tech issues, our team is here to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Our out-of-hours staff, provided by Norman, are always available to assist you with any queries or issues, ensuring you have support whenever you need it. Our UniDesk Self Service Portal offers a huge database of resources and the ability to log a call for any IT or library-related issues, ensuring you get the help you need quickly and efficiently.
Library Resources
At Stirling, students can take advantage of a diverse array of library resources designed to support their academic journey.
- We offer a variety of study spaces to suit your needs, whether you prefer a quiet corner for focused study or a collaborative area for group work.
- Our vast collections include over a million e-books, over 300,000 print books, and almost 200,000 journal titles.
- Our LibGuides are a fantastic resource, providing curated information on various topics, from specific academic subjects to research skills and library services. These guides are designed to help you navigate our extensive resources and make the most of what we offer.
- Throughout the year, we host a range of book displays and reading lists to keep things fresh and exciting. During Dissertation Week and Skills Week, you’ll find specially curated displays to support your research and skill development. These displays are just one of the many ways we aim to enhance your learning experience and provide you with the resources you need to excel.
IT Resources
At Stirling, students have access to a wide range of IT resources designed to support their academic needs.
- From your very first day, our IT Wizards are always on hand to help you get connected to eduroam, the university’s Wi-Fi network, ensuring you stay connected wherever you are on campus.
- We offer a variety of software via our streaming apps service, AppsAnyhere, along with Office 365, which can be downloaded onto your own devices.
- For those in need of a laptop, we provide short-term laptop loans for up to 48 hours and 4 weeks and long-term loans.
- Additionally, our LinkedIn Learning platform offers thousands of top-quality training courses from certified instructors, covering everything from software skills to professional development.
Library and IT Workshops
We offer Library and IT Stirling Essentials Workshops designed to help you get the most out of your studies. These informal workshops cover a range of essential skills, such as navigating our digital learning spaces like Canvas, learning how to use RefWorks, exploring our library’s vast resources or getting guidance on word processing long documents. Our library and IT teams collaborate to provide these workshops, ensuring you have all the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Wellbeing Activities and Resources
Our library is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of students and staff through a variety of activities and resources.
- We have a dedicated Library Wellbeing Space on level 2, equipped for mindfulness, quiet relaxation, and browsing our extensive collection of wellbeing-related books and magazines.
- You can also unwind with our library blankets, get creative at the Lego station, or take a break with our library jigsaw.
- We also host a range of engaging activities, such as the Silent Reading Group every Friday, and book displays for events like Wellbeing Week, Blind Date with a Book, and Stress Awareness Week.
- Our book swap in the wellbeing space and the library book fairies who leave books for you to find add an element of surprise and joy to your library visits.
- Additionally, our virtual library wellbeing space offers downloadable colouring sheets and virtual jigsaws for those who prefer to relax from the comfort of their own home.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to study, a way to de-stress, or a bit of fun, our library has something for everyone.
Engagement Activities and Resources
We are passionate about engaging our community through a variety of activities and events. Our library hosts vibrant book displays and curated reading lists for significant occasions such as LGBT+ History Month, Women’s History Month, Green Week, Black History Month, and International Women’s Day.
These displays and reading lists are designed to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and encourage learning. These engagement activities are just a few examples of how we strive to create a dynamic and inclusive library experience for everyone.
So, as you cast your vote in the upcoming RATE Awards, remember the invaluable contributions of the Information Services team and our amazing staff. Let’s celebrate our dedication and commitment to making our university a better place for everyone.