service improvements

New to Library Search – Citation Trails

Mitchell Dunkley

A brand new feature has been added to our Library Search service for February 2019.

Citation Trails allow you to explore a topic and collect material by following a chain of articles that cite each other. This new search feature enhances serendipitous discovery and will hopefully help you to better understand the academic context of your sources.

Citation trails work in two directions:

  • Cites – Articles that this article cites.
  • Cited by – Articles that cite this article.

Citation trails can be found by clicking on the Cites or Cited by links that appear below individual Library Search item records:

Citation trails can be accessed via Library Search item records.

Selecting a citation link in the item record opens up a page that lists the records that match the type of citation your have selected: Cites or Cited by. The following example below lists the articles that “The genetic theory of adaptation: a brief history” record cites:

Citation trails list potentially useful reading material linked to your original search term.

As you connect to other item records’ citations, you can view the trail by clicking on the View your citation path link. A pop-up box showing the number of citations in the current trail appears next to the link:

Previous linked citations can be viewed by selecting “View your citation path”.

From the citation path, you can return to a previous citation in the trail by selecting its individual record. To display your original search results, select the Search tab.

We hope that this additional citation tool will be useful when searching for academic content and enhance your experience of our online Library Search service.

Library Search – new features!

Mitchell Dunkley

Two new features have recently been added to our online Library Search system.

Saving Library Search searches between sessions

You can now permanently save searches and filters you run, between Library Search sessions, to the cloud by using either a Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive account. Previously Library Search would only allow you to temporarily save items from a results page during a single session, although RefWorks can be used to export citation results from the service.

You can save a search, including any filters or facets you have selected to refine your search, by clicking on the small star icon as shown below:

The small star icon is located in the Library Search box itself:

You will then be given the option to permanently save the search by using a Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive account (you can also rename your search should you wish to do so at this point):

You will have to select one of the software options (either Microsoft or Google), sign in to your preferred provider and allow Library Search to connect to your personal drive account.

Once your Google or Microsoft account is linked to our Library Search tool, and you are correctly signed in to either of the drive accounts, you will be able to view permanently saved searches whenever you use Library Search.

You can view your saved searches in Library Search by clicking on the large star icon as shown below:

The number of saved searches is noted in small text next to the large star icon:

If you are not signed in to your Google or Microsoft drive account whilst using Library Search, you will only be allowed to temporarily store results in a single search session or export results to RefWorks (as before).

TinyURLs

When wanting to copy a Library Search result link, you can now take advantage of shorter URLs (provided by TinyURL) generated by the online service. These shorter URLs have replaced the long, encrypted Permalinks Library Search formerly created.

To save a Library Search result record, you click on the Permanent Link icon as shown below:

The Permanent Link icon is one of the actions available for you to select for each individual Library Search result. Once you have selected the Permanent Link option, Library Search generates a TinyURL which you can copy to create a permanent link to the citation record.

We hope that this new functionality will improve Library Search’s usability for DMU students and staff searching for electronic journal articles, e-books and other online library content.

“Library fines slashed to cut financial burden on DMU students”

“Library fines slashed to cut financial burden on DMU students”

Richard Partridge

Thanks to DSU for highlighting the changes that we introduced to our fines and lending policies from 1st February. 

You can read DSU’s article here and our original blog post from January here

To recap, from 1st February 2018 our fines policies on ‘normal’ loans changed. If you renew or return a Normal loan book, DVD or CD that is overdue and NOT reserved by someone else, we will no longer be charging penalty fines. Fines will only be charged on items that are in demand and reserved by others, or short/special category loans.

Fines will still be charged for:

  • Items that have been reserved by other users (we’d like these back promptly please so that we can pass them on to others)
  • Laptops and Short Loan items (which are high demand items)
  • Inter Library Loans from other libraries (because we are charged penalty fees if they are not returned on time)
  • Replacement costs will be charged for items which become seriously overdue, so please continue keep your loans in date
  • Historical charges for transactions up until 31st January 2018

We’ll be introducing further improvements to our lending policies this summer, including automatic renewals for material not required by other users. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your feedback on these improvements via our usual channels

 

Free boost! Secure device charging lockers in Kimberlin Library

Free boost! Secure device charging lockers in Kimberlin Library

Richard Partridge

*New service alert klaxon*

Need somewhere to charge your phone, tablet or laptop securely? With Kimberlin Library’s new ‘Battery Bank’ lockers we’ve got just the place to get you topped up.

Each locker contains a standard 13 amp socket and a double USB outlet, both with RCD circuit protection.

Lockers are numbered and require a £1 coin to release which is refunded when the key is returned and the locker is opened. Plug in your device using your own USB cable or charger, pop in a £1 coin, lock and you’re away.

Please keep your key safe! For security reasons a lost key may mean a delay in you retrieving your device and a lock replacement fee of £20. Please see terms and conditions posted.

 

We’d love to hear what you think of the new charging lockers, please drop us a line via our Feedback box or online