In this episode of Completely Shelfless, Jude is delving into the University Archive with Ruth and Matthew, finding out about the different exhibitions and collections that you can explore, and how the Archive helped the university celebrate our 50th birthday!

Listen out for some voices from the past as well – we’ve included four audio extracts from the archive for you to enjoy. 

Resources mentioned and archive clips used in the episode:

How to contact the University Archive

Clip at 8.08: Extract from Geoffrey Crowther’s inaugural speech where he gave the mission of the OU in 1969.

Clip at 9.29: Extract of an interview with Steven Rose, who was appointed to the professorship of biology at the newly instituted Open University in 1969. This clip is from his OU oral history interview talking about research at the OU

Clip at 13.19 : Extract of Jennie Lee appearing on an OU Open Forum programme talking about books from her childhood.

Clip at 14.57 : short extract from an Open Forum radio programme, first broadcast in December 1972.

Enjoying Completely Shelfless? Please let us know what you think by filling out this short survey

This month we celebrate Student Voice week by inviting students to ask us the questions! Patrice, Billy and Matt interview Manda and Jude from the Open University Library asking us a whole range of questions about what the library offers students (and staff!).

Resources mentioned in this episode

Borrowing at the Walton Hall LibrarySCONUL access schemeContacting the library helpdeskDisabled User SupportConvert a file with Sensus AccessReferencing and PlagiarismTraining & EventsAccess eresources using Google ScholarLibrary Access browser pluginCardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations Library Access browser extension

In this episode of Completely Shelfless Ute and Fiona chat to Alison and Claire from the e-resources team about how our ebooks get on to the virtual shelves and how you can get the best out of them.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Exploring ebooks -Library training session

Library disabled user support - Sensus Access

The science of alcohol - OpenLearn course

This month Fiona and Jude are finding ways to prepare and keep calm during the exam season, with lots of hints and tips for both exams and end of module assessments.  Completely Shelfless will be going on its holidays after this episode but we’ll be back in the Autumn!

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

OU Students Association - Facebook videos

Preparing for exams

Get ready for end of module assessments

Library resources (require OU login)

Hasson, G Mindfulness pocketbook:little exercises for a calmer life 

McIlroy, D. Exam Success

Strongman, L. Academic writing

Weiss, M. Presentation skills: educate, inspire and engage your audience

Drama online: Globe on screen

Drama online: LA theatre works collection

Naxos music library

StudentHome Help Centre - assessment and exams and wellbeing (this section contains a link to the Big White Wall, you will need your OU email address to register).

This month, Ute and Manda are talking to Verity and Nicky from the Students Association. Listen to hear about how student volunteers in the Association work with the library to support students in secure environments. Find out about other ways to get involved with the Students Association on or off-campus!

Links to resources mentioned in this episode

OU Students Association

Supporting Students in Secure Environments

To celebrate 50 years of the Open University we talk to Wendy and Matthew about how the library has changed over the past 50 years. Join us as we compare the library of 1969 with the library of today.

Resources and services mentioned in the episode:

The Library helpdesk

SCONUL access scheme

Some day I'll be a librarian

In this month’s episode of the Library’s new podcast ‘Completely Shelfless’ we talk to Chris and Dan about library support for research students and staff at the Open University. Find out about the amazing variety and reach of OU research through our open access repositories ORO and ORDO and how we make it open to the whole world.

Links to sites mentioned in the podcast:

Open Research Online (ORO), Open Research Data Online (ORDO), The ORB, OpenLearn, UK Data Service- dissertations and their data

Manda talks to Geri and Hossam about the support for disabled staff and students at the OU Library. From converting PDFs, to help with literature searching, discover how we can help you and how much thought goes into ensuring the library is open to everyone. 

Transcript for this episode:

Everyone gets a library transcript

 Resources mentioned:

Open University Library

Disabled user support

Improving your experience accessing online resources

 

Please note: some resources from this episode may require an OU login to access.

Our partridge has got his holiday hat on for this first episode of Completely Shelfless with Katherine, Fiona and Manda from the OU Library. Unwrap our 12 databases of Christmas and explore celebrations from around the world in December. Resources mentioned in this episode.

A question sometimes asked of librarians at the Open University who staff the library helpdesk. In this pilot, Manda & Fiona explore whether in fact they are robots & how you might tell. We sprinkle some useful tips & interesting resources in with some lighthearted banter. Follow this link for resources from this episode .