PsycINFO News...

...is a quarterly publication from the APA (American Psychological Association) available for free from their website: PsycINFO News. As the people behind the PsycINFO database, no-one is better enabled than them to offer the latest updates and the best tips and tricks. It also has an optional RSS feed to help you keep up-to-date with the latest issue.

Ideas and suggestions for improving the library service...

...are always welcome, so please let us know, no matter how big or small your idea is. For example, you might have noticed that the library now has 'Argos-style' paper-pads and pencils next to all of its Library Search machines, making the task of jotting down the shelf number much easier. Well, this arose from a student suggesting it. If you have any ideas to share, please fill out the online feedback form or let a member of library staff know.

Stop words...

…are found in all search engines, from library databases (such as EBSCO PsycINFO) to web search tools such as Google, Bing and Yahoo!. They are words which the search engine will ignore because they are simply too common. For example, ‘the’, ‘a’, ‘if’ and ‘but’ will not be searched for. Normally this poses no problem, but what if you are searching for a specific phrase, such as ‘children in care’ or ‘vitamin A’? Well, on some databases the use of speech marks resolves the issue e.g. “children in care”, while others, such as Google, are clever enough to realise that the ‘a’ in ‘Vitamin A’ is a key component of what you are looking for. However, many databases, including those found on EBSCO, will ignore the stop word regardless of whether speech marks are included – there is no way to force the search engine to look for that word. Slowly but surely the people who make these search tools are recognising the problems this can cause and making changes – the Web of Knowledge database has recently abolished all stop words – but if you are using a search engine which hasn’t yet made this change, then the best advice is simply to find alternative terms or descriptions for what you are looking for.

New psychology books in Stratford library...

...added to stock during February 2012 can be viewed from this link: February 2012 new books list. Please note that it only lists items purchased for the School of Psychology.

Coinciding with the start of Semester B, there are a lot of new books to report this month. They include a new book by our very own Professor Irvine Gersch, "Dramatherapy with children, young people and schools", a couple of course readers compiled by Chris Pawson and a large mixture of other books comprising new titles, new editions, new e-books and the odd classic text.

All books, including e-books, can be found using Library Search.

The new library at Stratford Campus...

...is currently under construction. It is due for completion by summer 2013. To keep up-to-date with developments, check out its own webpage: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lls/news/stratfordlibrary/. Among other things, it features a 3D virtual flythrough of the completed library and live streaming video of the construction site.

The London 2012 Olympic Games...

...will have a significant impact on the whole of East London as millions of people descend on the area. However, with the exception of the precise duration of the Olympic Games (27th July to 12th August), the libraries at UEL will be open throughout the summer.
During the small period when we are closed, you will still be able to access all of our e-resources (such as e-books and online journals), you will still be able to get help from a librarian (via our online Ask-a-Librarian service) and, if you require somewhere quiet to study, you will still be able to visit other university libraries so long as you apply for a free SCONUL Access card from us in advance. For further information about our services during summer 2012, please see the Library & the Olympics webpage.

New psychology books in Stratford Library...

...added to stock during January 2012 can be viewed from this link: January 2012 new books list. Please note that it only lists items purchased for the School of Psychology.

New Year is often a quiet time for new books, so rather a short list of new titles this month (but just wait for the February list...!). New titles include 'David's box: the journals and letters of a young man diagnosed as schizophrenic, 1960-1971' and an e-book version of Billsberry's 'Experiencing recruitment and selection'.

All books, including e-books, can be found using Library Search (the new name for the catalogue).