Engineering Pop Up Library

No time to visit the Library? We're bringing it to you!
If you're looking for quality information to use in your assignments and projects, or you want to know how to reference the books and journals you've read for your project, look no further: there will be a 'Pop Up Library' opposite the Coffee Dock on Monday 4th March. Come along between 10am and 11.30am, or between 12.30pm and 2pm, and we'll do our best to answer your questions. Everybody's welcome.  

If the App fits ...

Juggling assignment deadlines, group work, classes, exams? You may already be using apps to help you organize your study, but here are a few more that could be useful if you have an Android phone:

Assignment Planner - this free Android App by Gene Cahill promises to help you keep track of your assignments, and judging by the user reviews is doing it quite well too.
 
Assignment Planner can be downloaded from Google Play app store for free and if the ads running at the bottom bother you, the pro version for € 1.19 doesn’t have them.
The app allows you to sort assignments by due date or course, set reminders for approaching assignments' due dates, mark them when done and keep track of your grades.
If you feel like exploring more apps in Google Play below is a list that could make your academic life a little easier:

Babbel: for learning languages.

Merck PTE HD: periodic table of elements, with detailed and precise information.  A comprehensive tool that covers “from classification to element features to their history of discovery such as relative atomic mass, melting point and boiling point, density, appearance and additional properties for each individual element”.  A must have for Applied Science students.

Chemistry Helper: quick reference for chemistry students.
   
Math Formulae Lite: list of all important formulas in algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.

Perfect Ear: training tool with a set of exercises for ear training, a scale viewer tool, a pitch trainer tool, and instruments such as piano, guitar and bass.

Statistics Quick Reference: with all concepts explained and examples.

Physics Cheat Sheets: collection of physics cheat sheets and quick reference cards.

If you have an iphone or ipad, you probably already know about the education apps section of itunes - we’ll be reviewing some of the more useful apps in the coming weeks.

Computers in the Library

There is a new system operating on Library computers, whereby they will automatically log out after 15 minutes of idle time. This is to try and ensure that everyone who needs to can avail of a computer. With only 100 computers in the Library to serve a student population of almost 5,000, there is huge demand on pcs, especially at assignment times and coming up to exams.
Remember that if you’re working at a computer you must regularly save your work. If you’re going to be away from the computer for more than 15 minutes, the pc will log out and all belongings will be removed so that it’s free for someone else to use it.

For your entertainment....

Have you noticed the new material on our shelves? In December 2012, the Library ordered a broad range of DVDs, fiction and general interest books – some of which will be useful for your studies, but most of which are for pure entertainment. Examples include:


Mad Men
Avengers Assemble
Persian Fire
The Snowman

As some of you may be aware, the Library applies fines to items that are returned late. This is to encourage members to bring their books back on time so that others, such as their classmates, also have a chance to borrow the books during the semester.

The new stock recently added to our shelves was bought using money collected from fines. We hope you enjoy!

The New Library Website

The Library is changing its webpages on the morning of Friday 25th January.

We’ve re-designed them to make it easier to find information on all the Library has to offer. We’ve kept the search features you already know, but now we also have a search box on the right to let you search all of our resources no matter which Library webpage you’re on. We’ve updated details on using the Library, listed all of our resources in one section, and added content to support your learning, teaching and research.

Your feedback is essential! Let us know what you think using our online suggestion box or by emailing library@dkit.ie. We will be running drop-in sessions in the coming weeks to give you a guided tour of our new webpages. These will be advertised shortly; feel free to come along to one of them.

Tallman hijacks Writer-in-residence gig at DKIT

Hello all,

Ferdia Mac Anna here.

I am the newly appointed writer-in-residence at DKIT.

I am tall with invisible hair and peculiar outlook on Life.

Also, I believe that writing is a wonderful and creative and important endeavor and I am keen to encourage writers as well as beginning writers and indeed any kind of writer, to express themselves as much as possible whenever possible.

I write a Blog which you can visit by clicking here http://ferdiamacanna.blogspot.ie/

Happy Christmas
Ferdia

At busy times ...

As you will probably be only too aware, it’s assignment time and the Library is very busy at the moment. There are some things you can do to ease the pressure on yourself if you are finding it difficult to get a computer or a place to study:

1. The Training Room will be open at busy times if it is not otherwise in use. Just walk in and log on to a computer. 
2. Book a computer on the library catalogue page. Then collect your booking confirmation at the library desk. Remember, computers can only be booked for one hour, at least one hour in advance. 10 computers on each floor can be booked. 
3. Book a seminar room. The Anaverna and the Ferdia Presentation Room upstairs can both be booked for one hour at the library desk. Try and do this well in advance to avoid disappointment. 

You can also save time and avoid queues by:

1. Using the self-issue machine to check out books. Swipe your card, then the book using the DkIT Library barcode. Push the book so that it touches the back of the machine and desensitizes properly. You should get a receipt at the end showing the books you’ve checked out. 
2. Renewing your books online on the library catalogue page. If you encounter problems renewing, phone us at 042 9370310 and we will hopefully be able to help. 

Remember to save your work regularly if you are working on a computer. Computers left unattended for more than 15 minutes will automatically log out and any belongings left at them will be cleared. This is in the interests of fairness to make sure that everyone who needs to gets a chance to use a computer.