Welcome to all our new and returning students!

Find out about Library and IT services. Come to one of the brief
presentations on Level 1 in the Information Commons week beginning 20 September, at 11am, 1pm, 2pm or 3pm. These are followed by optional tours by student ambassadors and demonstrations of equipment. Just turn up - there is no need to book. Student ambassadors and staff are also on hand at our other Library sites to help you find your way around. You can find more information for new students at www.shef.ac.uk/infocommons/students/gettingstarted and www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/new.html

Wireless Network Connection

Wireless connection is now available in the RHH library’s reading room. In order to connect to the eduroam wireless network you may need to synchronise your password.
If you need assistance connecting your laptop to the network please go to: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics/wireless

New Virtual Learning Environment: pilot with the School of Clinical Dentistry

The University has acquired a new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
called Blackboard 9.1, this will eventually replace the current MOLE.

A pilot project which will go live in September will involve the School of Clinical Dentistry, led by Dr Chris Stokes, and the Library.

The Library’s part of the project will be to work together with staff in the School of Clinical Dentistry to explore ways in which Library services such as Information Skills Tutorials and Resource Lists can be provided in the most effective way, making best use of the capabalities of the new platform

Oxford Medical Handbooks Online

Oxford University Press and OVID have each provided a facility to try out the Oxford medical handbooks online. The trial will last for a month so please have a look at the handbooks on both sites and let us know what you think and especially let us know which site you prefer.

Click on: http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/cdfiles/trial.html

THIS TRIAL HAS NOW ENDED

Health Statistics

Do you know that:

9% of men drink more than 51 units of alcohol per week;

the 5 year survival rate for cancer of the prostate is 77%;

28.2 million patients saw an NHS dentist in the 24 month period ending 31 December 2009;

11.278 million NHS sight tests were carried out in England last year?

The Library has updated our health statistics web page, bringing together international, national and local statistical web sites. If you are looking for information on the prevalence of a particular disease you may find this to be a useful resource.

Connect by clicking here:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/hsl/healthstats.html

or by following the link at the right hand-side of the screen.

Frances and Vic

QR Code Competition

During October/November 2009 the university library ran a competition (sponsored by JISC) to win an iPod Touch. Students were asked to comment on the library blogs, suggesting ways the library could use QR codes to support services. The range of responses we received has given the project group plenty of food for thought and they would like to thank all for your participation.

The lucky winner, Dami Bakare (a third year dental student), was drawn out of a hat by Paul Tobin, President of the Student Union, before Christmas and was presented with his prize early this week.

To read more about QR codes - what they are and how to use them - take a look at the library news page and have a practice with the codes found on our blogs. Any further comments about the library's use of QR codes are always welcome or if you'd prefer to email suggestions you can contact us at library@sheffield.ac.uk.

For more photos of the presentation have a look at our Flickr photostream and check out the article in Forge Press.