You said, we did

Posted on 13 May 2024 by thomascorrick

You said, we did!

The RSL team have been working hard to gather your feedback on the newly reopened library. You may have left a suggested on the feedback whiteboard, or maybe you had a chat with one of us. We received an eclectic range of suggestions and we took it all on board and are pleased to show you some of the cool new stuff you asked for!

(To those who requested it: Sorry, we won’t be getting an RSL cat any time soon…)

Vending machines!

Our new vending machines offer snacks, cold drinks, and hot drinks

There are now two vending machines in the vending area. Here you can purchase a variety of snacks as well as cold and hot drinks. Cards and cash are accepted.

Lids for drinks!

If you’re purchasing a drink from one of the vending machines, please help yourself to a lid from the counter.

Lids can be found on the kitchenette counter

Remember:

Drinking water and drinks contained in a KeepCup or another container with a sealable lid are allowed throughout the RSL. Other food and drinks are not allowed in the reading rooms or on the stairs. Cold food and drinks in sealed cups are allowed in certain spaces; please check the signage.

More seating!

We’re still figuring out some aspects of the new layout, but we’ve found the space to bring in more seating.

Extra tables can be found in the social study space and reading rooms

Laptop stands!

We’ve purchased height adjustable laptop stands for all reading rooms.

Feel free to grab a laptop stand and get settled in

Sanitary products!

There’s now free tampons and pads in all RSL bathrooms for those moments when you need them. Let a member of staff know if we’ve run out or are getting low.

A range of pads and tampons are available in all RSL toilets

Wellbeing goodies!

If you’ve been to the wellbeing room recently (situated on the lower floor, floorplan here) you might have noticed an increase in activities on offer: We’ve added in more of the things you have asked for: markers, chess set, uno, and even more paper for origami.

Think you can do better? Give it a go!

Don’t forget to pop into one of our Lego lunches which run in the Wellbeing Room 1300-1400 on Wednesdays.

We’re continually looking to improve the RSL, so please do drop us a line if you have any comments or suggestions: enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Wellbeing in the RSL

Posted on 7 May 2024 by rachelscanlon

We know Trinity Term can be very stressful with deadlines and exams.If you need a break you can always drop in to the Wellbeing Room. It has bean bags comfortable sofas and new nature inspired art. There are also a range of crafts and games available in the room to help you relax and refresh. Sometimes the room is booked for events, see someof the activities we have planned below, but you can drop in whenever the room is free. And it is always free for drop in between 2 and 5pm, weekdays.

Photograph of the RSL Wellbeing room showing a sofa bean bags and cushions.

Relax in our Wellbeing Room

Wellbeing Activities

It can be difficult to take time for yourself especially when you feel under pressure. To help manage your stress and give you something to add to your diary the Radcliffe Science Library has arranged plenty of wellbeing activities during the term.

: Book a place on origami sessions

: Build and create

: Stroll on a Nature Walk

: Try our Lego Lunch

Along with our usual Lego Lunches (Wednesdays 1-2pm) we have also organised some experts to lead sessions for students on yoga on 14 May 09-10am, and origami on 9 May 13.00-14.00 and 23 May 13.00-14.00. Spaces are limited so remember to book your place.

Nature Walks

Due to popular demand we are repeating our bird song nature walk, this time in a morning slot to better hear the birds.Book your place on the walk 9.15-10.15, 30 April. If you prefer a lunch time strioll why not join our walk on 13 May 1-2pm. We’ll be concentrating on bees this time with handouts to help us identify which types are in the parks!

Free Tea& Coffee

Sometimes activities and classes aren’t of interest, and you just want a good tea or coffee. No booking needed just pop into the vending area in the Radcliffe Science Library on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm, during term, and get yourself a cuppa. We’ll be serving complimentary tea and coffee every Wednesday in term. You deserve it!

To see the range of Wellbeing activities we are offering at the RSL check out our Wellbeing calendar. This shows all our activities both drop in and bookable.

Group Study Spaces in the RSL

Posted on 29 April 2024 by thomascorrick

Do you work better with others? Have a group project deadline looming? Need access to an AV suite?

The RSL has 5 group study rooms and a seminar room available for any reader to book for academic purposes!

You can book a room here.

Group Study Rooms

Photograph of a group study room featuring a desk surrounded by chairs and shelving, along with a monitor attached to the wall.

Group Study Room second floor reading room

Two of our rooms are equipped with screens, cameras, and microphones and all group study rooms have whiteboards. There is step free free access to all rooms and height adjustable furniture is available in selected rooms.

Group study room with Teams functionality

The booking page gives you a full breakdown of which facilities are available in each room.

Seminar Room

For Trinity Term the Seminar Room can be booked by groups from 9am to 11am. At other times it will be available as a drop in study space.

Seminar Room in meeting layout

You can book a room here.

You asked for more space so we’re providing it!

Welcome back to the RSL!

Posted on 22 April 2024 by lhoward

We hope you enjoyed your break! Welcome back to the RSL and to the start of the Trinity Term.

Radcliffe Science Library, students in library

Photo (c) John Cairns

A reminder of our opening hours for the Trinity Term:
From Monday 22 April to Friday 14 June 2024, the library will be open:

Monday to Friday from 9am to 10pm
Saturday from 10am to 4pm
Sunday from 11am to 5pm

You can find out more about our opening hours on our website.

Also a reminder that you can book rooms in the library for academic purposes. So if you have a group study session, a shared project or a tutorial, remember to book early to avoid disappointment.

New vending area

For the new term we have a new vending area in the library, as requested by you. Here you can conveniently purchase a range of snacks and hot and cold drinks to keep you going while you study.

It is open to all users of the Radcliffe Science Library – just pop into the vending area near the entrance. Both card and phone payments are accepted.

Food is allowed in most areas of the library, including the ground floor, the lower ground floor and all rooms except the Informal Reading Room and the Quiet Reading Room. Covered hot drinks are allowed everywhere in the library (please remember though to put a lid on your drink – these are available in the vending area). We also have food waste bins and recycling bins in the vending area and around the library for you to use.

Keep up to date

Remember to check our twitter/X and blog to keep up to date on what’s happening in the RSL.

Have a great term!

Join us for our weekly Lego Lunches!

Posted on 17 April 2024 by lhoward

Every Wednesday lunchtime, we hold Lego Lunches in the Wellbeing Room at the RSL.

Our Lego Lunches offer the perfect opportunity to unwind in the middle of your busy week, unleash your creativity and have some fun while you have your lunch. You bring the lunch, we bring the Lego!

Just drop in – no booking needed.

Every Wednesday, 1pm – 2pm, in the RSL Wellbeing Room, during term and vacation. See you there!

The Wellbeing Room can also be used throughout the week to relax, play games, do a puzzle, read a book or just enjoy some quiet time.

If you would like to find out more about the RSL Wellbeing Room, our Lego Lunches and other wellbeing events in the RSL, please email enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Students in Wellbeing Room at Radcliffe Science Library, University of Oxford

Photo (c) John Cairns

Discover the wellbeing events and facilities on offer in the Bodleian libraries here.

Reading and Writing Innovation Lab Workshop Series

Posted on 16 April 2024 by lhoward

Smart Ways to Speed up Studying

Reading and note taking are essential academic skills that you develop throughout your studies and research. But did you know that there is a whole range of devices and apps that can help you read and write more efficiently and keep all your notes organised? Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also opening exciting possibilities for researching and writing, but understanding the limitations of current AI tech and where it is appropriate to use these tools for academic work is challenging.

Illustration of digital devices including laptop, mobile phones, calculator, plus notebooks and pens

Credit: Image created by AI using DALL.E.-3 on Microsoft Copilot

To help guide you through the landscape of apps, websites, gadgets and gizmos, we are delighted to announce that the Radcliffe Science Library will be hosting the Reading and Writing Innovation Lab Workshop series in Trinity Term. This Workshop series consists of three 90-minute sessions:

Hardware and software for more efficient reading: Choosing e-readers, tablets and reading apps

An exploration of digital reading technologies, covering both hardware and software. Participants will learn about various strategies for effective digital reading and gain hands-on experience with tools. Topics include choosing the right e-reader, understanding e-readers versus tablets, using digital handwriting on devices, and optimising reading and note-taking workflows with tablets and apps.

When: 26^th April, 1pm – 2.30pm
Where: In person, Seminar Room, Radcliffe Science Library
Availability: Free. Booking required. Booking details HERE

Guide to the note-taking revolution: New tools for organising readings and reading notes

An overview of contemporary note-taking tools, including OneNote, Notion and Obsidian. This session offers insights into effective note organisation strategies and workflows. Participants will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with different note taking applications. This workshop will also delve into the integration of note-taking with planning tools, and the emerging trend of audio note-taking.

When: 3^rd May, 1pm – 2.30pm
Where: In person, Seminar Room, Radcliffe Science Library
Availability: Free. Booking required. Booking details HERE

Integrating AI into your Academic Practice Responsibly

A detailed look at the role of generative AI in academic practice. This workshop covers the process of assessing academic tasks for AI compatibility and choosing the most suitable AI tool. It also discusses the common tasks where AI is widely used in academia and the typical pitfalls to avoid. A useful session for those interested in integrating AI into academic work without compromising integrity.

When: 24^th May, 1pm – 2.30pm
Where: In person, Seminar Room, Radcliffe Science Library
Availability: Free. Booking required. Booking details HERE

These workshops will be presented by Dominik Lukes from the University of Oxford Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Reading and Writing Innovation Lab. The workshops are open to all University members, including undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and researchers.

All these workshops are free, but spaces are limited and pre-booking is essential. To find out more details and look at all the sessions, please visit our booking page.

Credit: Engin Akyurt, Pixabay

A new book display for April concentrating on wellbeing

Posted on 4 April 2024 by lhoward

With exams and deadlines fast approaching Trinity Term can be a very hectic time for students and staff. It’s important to take time for your own wellbeing and many people enjoy reading literature, poetry or non-academic works as a way to take a break.

We have a wide range of titles in our wellbeing collection in the Radcliffe Science Library and have highlighted a few of them in our book display this month. Pop down to the lower-ground floor and check out our display with titles covering a wide range of topics from harnessing the healing power of classical music to escaping escaping into the fantasy worlds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett to having a chuckle at the idiosyncrasies of British life with the irresistible humour of Bill Bryson (they do say that laughter is the best medicine…).

All of the books in the display are borrowable along with those in the Wellbeing Room. If there are any titles you would like added to the collection please contact rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Do you prefer to bolster your mental health or read a short story?

Book Display

Gaiman, N. et al. (2022) Chivalry. London: Headline.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark PN6700 GAI 2022 (WBR)

Oseman, A. (2019) Heartstopper. Volume 5. London: Hodder Children’s Books.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark PN6737.O84 OSE 2023 (WBR)

Babalola, B. (2021) Love in Colour. London: Headline.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark PR6102 BAB 2020 (WBR)

Haig, M. (2016) Reasons to Stay Alive. Edinburgh: Canongate.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark WM171.5 HAI 2016 (WBR)

Barker, M.-J. (2018) Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-Help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. 2nd Edition. Abingdon, Oxon; Routledge.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark BF575.I5.B37 BAR 2018 (WBR)

Pratchett, T. (2013) Soul Music. New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark PR6066.R34 PRA 2013 (WBR)

Bryson, B. (2016) The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island. London: Black Swan.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark DA632 BRY 2016 (WBR)

Hislop, V. (ed.) (2021) The Story: 100 Great Short Stories Written by Women. London: Head of Zeus, an Apollo book.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark PR111 HIS 2021 (WBR)

Hooper, N. (2021) The Unbreakable Student: 6 Rules for Staying Sane at University. London: Robinson.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark WM101 HOO 2021 (WBR)

Price, D. (2022) Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing our Hidden Neurodiversity.
London: Monoray.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark HV1570.23 PRI 2022 (WBR)

Garcia, E. (2022) We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.
First Harvest paperback edition. New York: Harvest, An Imprint of William Morrow.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark BF637 GAR 2022 (WBR)

Burton-Hill, C. (2017) Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day.
London: Headline.

Available as a print book from the RSL at shelfmark ML160 BUR 2018 (WBR)

Lower-ground floor reopens

Posted on 25 March 2024 by rachelscanlon

Thank you to everyone for your patience last week. The lower-ground floor of the Radcliffe Science Library has now reopened. Our group study rooms, study carrells and Wellbeing Room are now opan and ready for use.

Photograph of Group Study Room 1 showing a desk surrounded by 6 chairs with a screen on the wall.

Group Study room 1 is open and available for bookings.

Unfortunately there is still a small bit of work ongoing on in the lower-ground floor. The break out area and the staircase accessing it will be out of use for Monday and Tuesday of this week. (25 and 26 March).

We apologise for the inconvenience.

Radcliffe Science Library – Business as usual

Posted on 22 March 2024 by rachelscanlon

Thank you for your patience yesterday. The issue has been resolved and the Radcliffe Science Library is open as usual.

We’re in vacation, so our hours are

Monday – Friday – 9am-7pm
Saturday – 10am -2pm
Sunday – Closed

We apologise again for the inconvenience.

Image styled to look like a breaking news broadcast. The banner says Breaking News - Library Reopen

Created with PhotoFunia

The Radcliffe Science Library is CLOSED today

Posted on 21 March 2024 by lhoward

Unfortunately we have to close the Radcliffe Science Library IMMEDIATELY today, Thursday 21 March, due to a burst water pipe. We expect to open as normal tomorrow, Friday 22 March.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

Other Bodleian libraries are not affected, please try using one of the other Bodleian Libraries.

Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates.

Credit: Geralt, Pixabay

Science and Medicine

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Category Archives: RSL services