//14,000+ words seems like A LOT, but we’re all in the same boat ⛵️@LINCLibrarian gives his advice for tackling those 14,000 words! @GCWLibrary 📚 https://t.co/WjSfh8ivp1
— UoL Student Life (@UoLStudentLife) June 17, 2020
//Talis Reading lists has upgraded to a ‘New List View’ today (ahem, Wednesday 16th January 2019). This is designed to improve usability for all users, which includes images of the front cover widely considered as the most obvious change. Here is an example of the ‘New List View’, if you would like to take a look:
//Autumn is fast catching up with us and teaching is well underway. New business books have recently been shelved for the first time in the library. These may be of some interest to you, covering a good range of subjects. October promises to be a busy month for new books arriving in the GCW, so watch this space! Or posts…
New books for @UoLBusiness from @GCWLibrary including James Gustave Speth’s The bridge at the edge of the world: capitalism, the environment, and crossing from crisis to sustainabilityhttps://t.co/A5woG8wBei pic.twitter.com/YJTZ1TmePd
— Daren (@LINCLibrarian) October 8, 2018
//Over the past couple of weeks the FAME database has been experiencing some connectivity issues.
I’m pleased to announce that we have now a working URL via the steps below:
(or go to Fame from the Databases section of our website http://guides.library.lincoln.ac.uk/az.php )
//We will be joining the SCONUL virtual out-of-hours enquiry service, based on the OCLC QuestionPoint service. The service allows libraries to offer a 24 hour, 365 days a year enquiry service, meaning that there will be a integrated chat and e-mail provision. As an interesting aside, I have embedded a video about how a library used the service in compiling digitised photographs of early 20th century Filipino coffee shops.
//Now the summer has arrived (or almost) it’s time for a refresh of the Business & Law Librarian blog. I hope you like it. I’ve gone with the blend of a metropolitan skyline at night (Brisbane, if you’re wondering) and of course, a library-themed background. Studying for the future leitmotif. I like it as it looks fresh and colourful (well, I would say that as I designed it!)
//Sometimes there are little gems that are impossible to overlook and not include on the blog. This time it’s Dr Liz Tynan’s slides from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia about writing a journal for publication during or after a PhD warning that for most researchers “publish or perish” is a stark reality. But it helps the PhD candidate in the examination process. It also hones your skills as a writer. Practise, practise, practise your writing skills. Nougats of advice include the direct simplicity of conveying complex ideas with the ‘scientific method’ where “smooth transfer of information from researcher to audience” succeeds or “bad writing can slow down or prevent the publication of good research”. Even Charles Darwin who changed the course of evolutionary theory with the publication of Origin of Species struggled with the writing process: “a naturalist’s life would be a happy one if he only had to observe and never to write”. The author must engage not distract the reader with writing errors. I also like the presentation itself, clear, precise and uncluttered.
//For anyone interested in using Refworks, the referencing software, you may be wondering about where to download some helpguides, or receive a paper mountain of step-by-step how to guides. In the interests of the environment (last month was the hottest April on record) I thought it was a good idea to highlight where to find even better help if you have any questions (you can, of course, email refworks@lincoln.ac.uk). On the Refworks webpage (library.lincoln.ac.uk > resources > Refworks) at the top right-hand corner of the screen you will find a link to the Refworks Community, ideal for the inquisitive reference organiser where an assortment of videos is stored.
//We’re often asked about strengthening our print book collection by purchasing more copies and make them more available, such as placing them on short-loan or supplementing a title by acquiring an ebook. I use a New Library Books for Business School Talis reading list as a news bulletin to keep students and staff aware of our latest additions, either as new titles or as additional copies. It is interactive containing the past three months’ worth of newly acquired books that support the Business School, and is updated every week to illustrate what new titles and additional copies are available in the Library, so it’s worth checking out the Business Librarian blog regularly.
//
The scoring model and credit limit system on our database, FAME, is more predictive system which incorporates recent economic data (2010- 2013) and credit scoring analytics. The credit score measures “the likelihood of company insolvency in the next 12 months” which is then transformed into a credit limit based on the financial strength of the target company. The credit limit recommends “the total amount of credit outstanding at any one time on the target company” that is based on a portfolio of 3,833,672 companies covering:
Each development sample was statistically analysed to determine the most predictive parameters to be used in each scorecard. The final credit limit is obtained after adjusting the initial credit limit according to the financial health and default risk of a Company. Scores and limits are market leading based on more recent economic data statistics and analytics so is judged more predictive and accurate than the previous model. New parameters in the scorecard include:
There’s also a webinar from Ray Ruffels (who might sound like an airline pilot making an announcement) who is the Director of Information at Jordans.
//Owing to student demand for a more flexible service, Martin and I are splitting the Wednesday morning drop-in service to one-hour slots from 10-11 every Wednesday and Thursday mornings (the original drop-in session was 9.30-11.30 on Wednesdays). They will still take place on the ground floor of the Business & Law building near the Book & Latte cafe, but with me leading the Wednesday session, and Martin the Thursday session.
//Owing to student demand for greater flexibility around our drop-in sessions taking place at the Business School building, Martin and I will be delivering separate 1 hr sessions on the ground floor, opposite Starbucks (the Book & Latte) from 10-11am on Wednesday (Daren) and 10-11am on Thursday (Martin). Although we support different subjects we are keen to meet any student in the Business School with a library-related query such as researching the library databases, Harvard referencing and essay writing (such as essay planning, how considerate research relates to structuring and assignment, etc).
////Courtesy of the on-screen recording software Camtasia, I’ve recorded a presentation with an embedded video which includes my overdubbed narration. This presentation will be rolled out during the Freshers’ Week in a few days’ time to various subjects I support.
//The time has finally come to create a work-related Twitter account to relentlessly publicise the Business Librarian blog and its content. 180+ posts and counting since its inception in 2011. As you know, I blog regularly throughout the working week and would like to (shamelessly some might say) generate more hits. Join me in my quest to promote the University Library to Business School students @LINCLibrarian.
In addition the great joy about setting up a work account is that I am able to link to subject-related journals, magazines, newspapers and organisations that I’ve been familiar with for several years in my role as subject librarian for Accountancy and Finance, Advertising and Marketing, Economics, Events Management, International Business, Modern Languages and Tourism.
