SHUSH!

Your Information Services Academic Support team at Avenue campus supporting the School of the Arts and the School of Applied Sciences is now as follows:

Kate Chapman, Academic Support Manager (Schools of the Arts and Applied Sciences): Kathryn.chapman@northampton.ac.uk, 01604 893167 (Monday - Wednesday AM)

George Payne, Academic Support Manager (Schools of the Arts and Applied Sciences): George.payne@northampton.ac.uk, 01604 893176 (Wednesday - Friday AM)

Fiona MacLellan, Academic Librarian (Schools of the Arts and Applied Sciences): Fiona.maclellan@northampton.ac.uk, 01604 893012

Helena West, Academic Librarian (Schools of the Arts and Applied Sciences): Helena.west@northampton.ac.uk, 01604 893177

Della Smith, Information Services Assistant (Schools of the Arts and Applied Sciences) – please contact Della with your book, CD and DVD requests: Della.smith@northampton.ac.uk, 01604 893101

As of the 10th February the old Mailman system for accessing student emails will be shut down. 

To prevent loss of email access all students currently using Mailman need to:

•  Setup your free Windows Live account
• Forward any emails you want to keep from Mailman to your new Windows Live account
• Start enjoying the vast array of tools available via Windows Live

This new account is your official University email address, and all electronic communications from the university will come via this email account (including those from NILE).

We have recently acquired two new databases: International theatre in video and Dance in video.  As their names suggest both offer video footage of documentaries, plays and dance productions.   Both databases are available on campus only, and allow three simultaneous users so if you’re struggling to get into either of them please be patient and try again a short while later. 

To access the databases you will need to log into MetaLib (via the library subject resources pages) and then select “images and multimedia” from an appropriate subject listing.  (more…)

An article on the BBC technology pages caught my eye a while back discussing the potential for a real life invisibility cloak.  A material has been developed that bends light around 3D objects, and therefore makes them seem invisible.  This is one of many exciting new material types that scientists have discovered or created, if you’re interested in exploring the world of materials in more detail why not try accessing Materia.  Which is a database providing free access to knowledge and information on different types of material and developments in materials technology and how they can be used for architectural or design purposes.   To use the database you will need to register for free. 

Robert Hirsch, a photographer, critic and writer for many prominent photography journals and magazines, has made available the full text of some of his articles via his webpage Light research.  Article topics include exhibition reviews, ‘why people make photographs’ and photographic truth.  The articles may be of interest to artists and photograpy students as well as anyone with a passing interest in photography.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has made available some of its popular audio recordings.  Discussions and lectures from scholars, art critics and museum staff on the exhibitions within the museum as well as on related topics are freely available from 2005 onwards.  Downloads available include offerings from the popular “brown bag lunch series” as well as “conversations with contemporary artists”. 

Another museum offering free audio recordings is the Tate Britain, which as part of a past exhibition has made available some clips from the audio cassette-magazine Audio Arts, which was established in 1973 by Bill Furlong.  Most have transcripts available and quite a few also have audio files available, including interviews with artists such as Damien Hirst, Gilbert & George, Joesph Beuys and Howard Hodgkin. 

An article on the BBC website caught my eye; it features Northampton’s very own Greyfriars bus station!  The article airs two opinions on the bus station, firstly that it’s a blot on Northampton’s architectural heritage and should be demolished and secondly that it’s important and in years to come will be a visual aid in the towns history.  So what do you think should it stay or go?  (more…)

Personal security: is this something you take for granted, assuming bad things only happen to other people, or are you security conscious and never leave your bags unattended?  Many people who are security conscious with their belongings seem to have a mental block when it comes to computer and internet security.

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Ok, so you’ve read a great book and you want to read another one, yet the author hasn’t written any other books…what do you do? 

Well there’s a book produced by LISU (Library and information statistics unit) called Who else writes like which gives avid readers ideas of other authors to try, however its a book not many people are likely to have on your bookshelves at home.  So how else do you find another book, you could ask friends and family, join a reading group and share ideas with other like minded people, or you could try this fabulous website i’ve just discovered Readers corner.  This allows you to search for an author you’ve enjoyed and gives a list of different authors you could try reading as well.  The rest of the website is a mine of interesting information as well, such as sequels to books and award winning books.  Why not take a look and see if you can find something you want to read over the weekend!

The following news item may be of interest to bibliophiles BBC News.  (more…)

What do the Gateshead Millenium Bridge, the Laban Dance centre, 30 St Mary Axe (AKA the “gherkin”), and the Scottish Parliament building have in common? 

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