We Call them Electronic Resources - What's in a Name?

"Where do you keep your E-Resources?"

We talk about "Electronic Resources" and assume our staff and students know what we're talking about.  However, we had a query last year which made us wonder if we're using the right term!  

"Where do you keep your E-Resources?"  

Unpacking the question revealed that this wasn't an enquiry as to where they might be found on our website, but rather, where we physically kept them.  (Right!)

So how should we introduce our electronic resources?  Let's start from the known, move to the unknown.  You use Google. You use Wikipedia.  And IMSLP.  Maybe even Google Scholar and Google Books.  They are all free sources of information.  You don't always know how authoritative they are, or if they retrieve the best information.

Our electronic resources are paid-for, quality sources of information.  We subscribe on our staff and student community's behalf.

Access is via our website, or via our virtual learning network.

• Website access - click here (scroll down, click on Electronic Resources.  There are also E-Journals.)
• Our virtual learning network (a bit like the schools Glow network, but just for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) is called Moodle, with a parallel system called Mahara for shared information.  Once you've signed up to Moodle, you'll be able to access the Library's Mahara page - that is where you'll find our Electronic Resources. 

Elevator Pitch - The Whittaker Library at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Another round of freshers' tours over!  We're running late induction sessions between Monday 30 September and Friday 4 October at 3.30 pm

If I was given the length of an elevator ride in which to tell you about the Whittaker Library, what would I tell you?

Three things!

• We're a friendly, helpful library staff, and there are subject librarians to offer subject assistance in music, drama and dance.
• The printed library guides are also available on Mahara.  If you've signed up for your Moodle account, then you'll be able to find Mahara and the Library group.
• Course reading lists are on Moodle itself, under the modules you're studying.

Vital links:-

• Moodle sign in here
• Library and IT pages here - for electronic resources, the catalogue and much more.

SPACE - open-source 3D design software

SPACE - a place to spread your wings

We thought our technical students and staff might be interested in open-source software called SPACE.

SPACE is 3D design software developed for performing arts students.  More about it here ...

In addition to the user guide and the software itself there are also a series of resources available from Jorum that can be built into a Moodle course as learning resources on using the software, building virtual environments (such as stage venues), lighting setup, etc.

Spotted by our educational technologist, Gordon McLeod, who  says he could build a course in the new version of Moodle (our virtual learning network) on using SPACE, if our community thinks it would be useful.

Researchers' use of academic libraries

This report, published by the Research Information Network, can be read online here. It's also accessible:-

1. Via the RSAMD Moodle VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)
2. In the Whittaker Library catalogue, so you can always come back to look for it by keywords later.)

If you like this, you may like to check out the RIN A-Z of Project Reports. Hours of relevant reading matter.