Monthly Archives: May 2023

Book recommendations for EDI and Wellbeing

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As part of the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) refurbishment we are planning several new developments for when the library reopens for Michaelmas Term 2023.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion projects

Silhouttes of many diverse faces layered over each other in a variety of colours.As part of its actions for supporting an inclusive culture the RSL is working on diversifying its portraiture and creating a space where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected when it re-opens in Summer 2023. You can still contribute suggestions for our inclusive portraiture list. See our previous blog post for more details.

Wellbeing room

Close up photograph of colouring in page with a heart at the centre. There are four different colouring pencils in the cornerOur wellbeing room will be a space to promote wellbeing, relaxation and mindfulness. It will have comfortable furniture and a relaxing environment. The room will contain, games, crafts and books to help with your wellbeing. See our previous post for more details.

Book recommendations

Close up photograph of book with pages folded into a heart shape.For both our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) collection and our Wellbeing collection we are looking for recommendations. We want you to have access to the books and activities that you want and need!

For EDI recommendations, please contact karine.barker@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

For Wellbeing recommendations, please contact rachel.scanlon@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

How to find the RSL

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The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is undergoing a refurbishment at the moment so the building is inaccessible. You may have seen the boardings outside on the corner of Parks Road.

We’ll be back in the RSL for Michaelmas Term 2023 but until then you can access our books, group study rooms and excellent staff in the Vere Harmsworth Library. You can view our map below or check out our video on how to find the VHL.

Map showing how to find the RSL in VHL

Map showing how to find the RSL in VHL

 

3D Printing Services – what can we print for you?

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The range of things that the RSL 3D printing service can create may be larger than you think.

We’ve printed pieces that have combined with traditional movable type for the Bodleian Bibliographical Press. The square block of type can now be freely rotated 360 degrees. It’s great to see old and new technology working together. The Bodleian Presses are still in use and you can see more informtation about them on our website.

Traditional printing block with Miller & Richard engraved into the top. In the centre are movable plates held with wood blocks and 3D printed sections in red plastic.For the Department of Zoology, we have printed GPS collars for deployment on domestic dogs in Ethiopia. This allowed tracking of domestic dogs in an effort to protect native wildlife.

Photograph of a dog in a field with a large 3D printed collarOur colleagues in the TSS lab needed new combs to help run their PCR tests. Their old combs did not allow for a reference ladder and were getting brittle and damaged. We successfully printed new combs for them significantly cheaper than if they went through a commercial provider. More details on their blog.

Photograph of red comb in gel for scientific testing.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss using the service, please contact rsl3dprinting@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Further information, including how to submit an order, can be found on the online guide.

InterLibrary Loan Service

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It may seem like everything is available through Bodleian Libraries but occassionally you may need a paper or book that you can’t find on SOLO. If you can’t find a particular item in SOLO you can order it for free through our InterLibrary Loan (ILL) Service.

Just fill out the online form and we’ll try and get a copy of what you need from another UK library: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/borrow/inter-library-loans.

Graphic of a stack of books piled high into the sky

For books the items can be ordered to the vere Harmsworth Library (VHL), where the RSL collection is currently located. For journal articles or individual chapters you can be sent an elctronic version.

Check out our Resource of the Month

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The RSL has a huge collection of physical and electronic materials. We have so much that we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of our items whether recently added or an existing collection item. The resources are recommended by our knowledgeable subject librarians who are excited to show off parts of the collection for their subject.

Text that says resource of the month over small images of books, computer equipment and scientific equipment

This month’s selector is:

Ollie Bridle

Photo of Ollie Bridle

Ollie Bridle

Ollie has selected JSTOR Global Plants.

Brief Description

JSTOR Global Plants provides high resolution, digitised plant specimen images from over 300 herbaria and plant research organisations around the world. Not only does the database contain almost 3 million type-specimens, it also includes an array of supporting documentation such as field notes, illustrations from Cutis’s Botanical Magazine and articles from botanical reference works.

Where possible, specimens are linked to published botanical literature available in JSTOR or to external resources such as the Biodiversity Heritage Library and Tropicos.

JSTOR Global Plants provides powerful search tools allowing you to identify specific species, collectors or specimens associated with a particular geographical area or herbarium collection. Images and accompanying metadata for specimens can be downloaded and saved as PDF files.

Close up of a red poppy with the text "Now's the time to brush up on your Latin" in large font. below it is the text "Jstor Global Plants".

Who is this useful for?

JSTOR Global Plants is an excellent resource for supporting research in plant diversity, taxonomy and systematics or plant identification at all levels.

How can I access it?

This resource is available through SOLO. To access it off campus use the VPN or sign in to the journal platform with your Single Sign On (SSO).

You can also set up a free account within JSTOR Global Plants itself. This allows you to save records you find to your own personal account for easy retrieval.

Text "Let your research flourish" over images of hand drawn plants

Group study rooms in the VHL

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There are two small group study rooms on the first floor (maximum 4 people each), and one on the ground floor next to the library desk (maximum 5-6 people).

They can be booked by any University of Oxford card holder.

To request a booking email vhl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk, phone +44 1865 272800, or speak to staff at the library desk.

Readers registered with the Bodleian Disability Services have priority for using the study rooms, so already confirmed bookings may need to be amended at short notice.

Exterior of Group Study Room 1

Group Study Room 1 – first floor

Group Study Room interior

First floor Group Study Room – inside

BrowZine for Research

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BrowZine is a tool that brings together online journals from multiple publishers and platforms. It allows seamless access to content licensed by the Bodleian Libraries including 1000s of articles and 100s of platforms. It has been integrated with SOLO so with one click you can

  • Download a PDF of the article
  • Go to the article on the web
  • View the contents page of the journal issue

Browzine logo

BrowZine is very convenient for browsing as it breaks down journals into familiar subjects. When you click on one of those subjects you will see a list of categories within that subject. So you can look at all the journals under Engineering and Technology or you can select a category like Chemical Engineering. There are more subcategories within that if you are researching in a specific area.

Screenshot of the Browzine Homepage showing a a list of subjects down the left side. "Engineering and Technology" has been highlighted. Most of the screen is full of covers of well known academic journals.

There’s a list of subjects on the BrowZine homepage such as Engineering and Technology.

Screenshot of Browzine Showing the subject "Engineering and Technology". Beneath that text is a list of categories related to engineering. On the right hand side is a grid of Engineering journals showing the journal cover and title.

Within Engineering and Technology there are subcategories including Chemical Engineering

Additional Features

But wait there’s more… If you set up a personal account on BrowZine you gain access to additional features. My Bookshelf can be used to track your favourite journals and you can save your favourite article in My Articles.

BrowZine has access to the electronic journals that University of Oxford subscribes to since 2005. For older articles and journals you can browse SOLO or just click on See All in BrowZine and it will open that journal in SOLO.