Welcome to Academic Year 2018/19
A very warm welcome to all new and returning students, academics, researchers and staff. If you are new to Trinity, the Library website and this video provide a good overview of what we offer. Library staff are here to help – whatever your query, drop in to the dedicated service points throughout our libraries, email us at library@tcd.ie, or get in touch via Facebook and Twitter. A big ‘thank you’ to the S2S mentors who are giving our very popular undergraduate tours.
Starting on 10th September, our HITS Programme will take place over three modules including taster sessions on Citation & Plagiarism, Critical Thinking, Literature Reviews and EndNote. Our Subject Librarian Team are happy to arrange tailored information skills student workshops or one-to-one research consultations.
Today marks the launch of a new set of Library borrowing entitlements for staff and students. We have listened to your feedback and our revised system makes it simpler and more generous. You can learn more about the new rules on the Library’s borrowing webpage.
The Library will also be launching a dynamic 3D mapping tool in the coming weeks to help readers navigate Library spaces and pinpoint the exact location of any item that piques your interest. Here is a taster of what to expect.
Another new facility now available in the Manuscripts and Archives reading room is self-service photography following a successful pilot in 2017.
The Library is very happy to be part of Schrödinger at 75 events, led by Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry. In 1943 the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Erwin Schrödinger delivered three ground-breaking public lectures entitled What is Life? at Trinity College Dublin. As part of the celebrations, the Library has curated an exhibition in the Long Room, which you can also view online.
A major burgeoning issue for the Library and College’s research community is how to respond to the Open Science mandate. This is a complex issue, with multiple implications for research. This interesting and thoughtful piece is perhaps a good place to start; it not only captures a lot of the complexity, but also provides an interesting US perspective on the ‘more aggressive’ European response. We are working with the Dean of Research on how best to advance this issue for the University – look out for a series of events in the new calendar year on ‘Unboxing Open Scholarship’.
A big ‘thank you’ to those of you amongst the 2500 respondents to the survey of E-journal Access and Use over the summer. The survey is part of an independent, strategic review by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of the Irish Research eLibrary (IReL), which currently provides Trinity students, researchers and staff with access to over 30,000 e-journals and databases.
Trinity’s latest MOOC (massive open online course) on the Book of Kells will be launched in early October. This is wonderful news – if Trinity doesn’t create a MOOC about the Book of Kells, who should? Led by academic colleagues with Library staff, the course explores themes from the making of the manuscript, its history, art, theology and influence in modern and contemporary society. Nearly 1000 people have registered for the free MOOC before it is even officially announced!
Finally, the glories of the Long Room have been captured in a new Thames & Hudson pocket-sized visual tribute by the photographer Harry Cory Wright, with my personal introduction as College Librarian. Please enjoy the ‘most beautiful room in Ireland’ - as a reminder, every member of Trinity’s community is welcome to visit the Long Room and the Book of Kells exhibition for free.
With all good wishes for the coming academic year,
Helen Shenton
Librarian and College Archivist
The Library of Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin