Please be aware that the Library’s system provider has scheduled essential maintenance from 11pm to midnight on Saturday 10 May.
The library Discover search and Resource Lists system may be unavailable for some of this time.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Library is upgrading the system that handles authentication for our Library eResources (online journals, eBooks, electronic databases) on Monday, September 16.
The new system, Shibboleth, will provide increased security and reliability, and a more streamlined user experience. It is widely recognised as the industry standard for library resource authentication across the UK.
From Monday, you should still sign in to Library eResources as normal (i.e. via the University log-in page using your University log-in details).
While we are not anticipating any major disruption to eResources, there may be some temporary access issues while the migration is carried out. Some resources may also require users to undertake additional steps to relink to their personalised content (saved searches etc.)
Information for RefWorks users
As a result of the changes to our authenticaiton system, RefWorks users are required to perform a one-time relink of their personal RefWorks account when next logging into RefWorks. This relink is necessary to retain access to personalised content, including references, folders, and custom settings.
A step-by-step guide to relinking your RefWorks account can be found here: Relinking Your RefWorks Account – A Guide For Users
Information for users with personal Elsevier accounts
As a result of the changes to our authenticaiton system, users with personal Elsevier accounts are required to perform a one-time relink of their personal Elsevier account when next logging into one of the Elsevier platforms. This relink is necessary to retain access to personalised content, including saved searches and reading history. The Elsevier platforms are:
Please note that the relinking process will look different in each platform, it is therefore recommended that you use ScienceDirect where possible so that your experience matches the steps in the following guide: Relinking Your Elsevier Account – A Guide For Users
If you do encounter any issues, please report them directly to the Library eResources team at ertenq@gcu.ac.uk.
We will update this blog with further details as we progress with the system migration.
The changes to the referencing style is minor – the way to reference books has been simplified.
You now reference most ebooks and print books in the same way – if an online book looks exactly like the printed book, it has a cover, title page and page numbers, then use the printed book guidance.
If a book is online only and doesn’t have page numbers then use the ebook guidance.
The new edition has expanded guidance on the key principles of referencing and avoiding plagiarism, including new sections on collecting evidence to use in your work; reading, listening and taking notes; and using other people’s work in your writing.
There are new reference examples to follow for Tik Tok, blog posts, Zoom and Teams, recorded lectures and online seminars.
You will need to update your selected style in RefWorks. If you are unsure how to do this you can watch our Getting Started with RefWorks video here (jump to the Citation View Settings section).
Search for Cite Them Right, 12th ed – Harvard (GCU:CTR) or find it in the Institutional styles list.
If you need help with this or anything else in the library please email us library@gcu.ac.uk
The library is happy to announce access to a new online resource, BioDigital Human.
The BioDigital Human platform is a medically accurate, virtual map of the human body—composed of over 8,000 individually selectable anatomical structures, 600 simulated health conditions, and a toolkit to map and visualize data.
Users can find BioDigital Human directly on the Library’s Discover platform, by searching for BioDigital Human in the Database A-Z or by clicking here.
You can find guidance on how to use BioDigital Human here. Initial training for staff in key departments will take place on June 7 with further online training courses starting in September 2024; more information will be distributed ahead of time.
This new resource will be replacing the Anatomy.tv resource. Access to Anatomy.tv will cease on the 26 June 2024. Any academic staff currently linking to Anatomy.tv on their module resource lists will be contacted individually by the library team.
If you have any issues accessing the database, please contact the Electronic Resource Team at ertenq@gcu.ac.uk
We are currently experiencing access issues with RefWorks Citation Manager. When users try to open the citation manager add-in in Word, they may see a blank screen, as displayed below:
IT services are aware of this issue and are currently working on a resolution. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you are experiencing any other issues with online resources from the library, please contact the team via email at ertenq@gcu.ac.uk
Our guest blogger, Mr Danny Gallacher, is a Lay Governor on Glasgow Caledonian University’s Court. On National Genealogy Day he talks about his links with the University and the history of our Glasgow campus site.
I thought my family links with GCU were many and varied. I am a Lay Governor on Court, an alumnus of the University, my daughter is also an alumnus, my son works here and my grandkids attended the University nursery. I was surprised to discover other links that go much further back in time whilst conducting some family history research. I learned that the campus was previously the site of a major railway station, Buchanan Street Station at the west end of the campus, and also the City Poorhouse at the east end of the campus. My family had connections with them both.
We are currently experiencing access issues to Scanned material that loads using Kortext Reader on Resource Lists. This is due to unexpected downtime from the platform provider.
The provider is working to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
We will provide an update to this post with further information as we receive it.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
[UPDATE 29.02.24, 12.07]
This issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience, and our apologies once more for any inconvenience caused.
If you are experiencing any other issues with online resources from the library, please contact the team via email at ertenq@gcu.ac.uk
A screenshot of the new user interface
The Resource List vendor is rolling out a new User Interface for Leganto (the Resource List system). The Library is currently reviewing the new interface in preparation for the switchover.
The Resource List vendor is introducing a new user interface to improve the user experience for students, academics, and librarians, aimed at enhancing the learning journey resulting in a cleaner and simplified interface.
The new user interface will be available the week beginning Monday 24th June to coincide with the GCU Learn course rollover for the 2024-25 academic year.
You will notice a change to the look and feel of the Resource List system but most of the functionality will remain the same.
Any lists that are already on the platform will still be available in the new user interface. In June, all existing resource lists will rollover to your new module codes as normal. Staff will not need to take any action unless they are creating a new list or updating their existing list.
All links from GCU Learn will remain active.
Staff will still be able to invite colleagues to collaborate on lists, add library content to their list, as well as freely available online content such as videos and podcasts.
What has changed in the new User Interface?
The new interface has been redesigned to have a simpler and cleaner look. For academic staff, there have been some developments to simplify user interactions with the platform, such as consolidating workflows and rebranding sections.
Some changes you might notice are that the List Advisor is no longer available in the new interface, the way to view list analytics has changed, and that the ‘My Collection’ section has been renamed ‘Favourites’.
Can I preview the new User Interface?
Yes, you can see how your resource lists will look in the new interface by following the steps below:
Will training and guidance be available for staff?
Yes, staff guidance and how-to videos are now available on the library website.
We will be holding Resource List training sessions on various dates between July – October. To sign up for a training course, please look out for the Creating Module Resource Lists sessions on the Library Events Calendar.
How can I find out more?
We’ll continue to update this blog as we review the new interface but if you’d like more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Resource List team at resourcelists@gcu.ac.uk
The GCU London Library will be open as follows over the listed two week period in January (Monday 8 January 2024 until Sunday 21 January 2024):
| Day | Date | Time |
| Monday | 08/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Tuesday | 09/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Wednesday | 10/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Thursday | 11/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Friday | 12/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Saturday | 13/01/24 | Closed |
| Sunday | 14/01/24 | Closed |
| Monday | 15/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Tuesday | 16/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Wednesday | 17/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Thursday | 18/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Friday | 19/01/24 | 9am to 7pm |
| Saturday | 20/01/24 | Closed |
| Sunday | 21/01/24 | Closed |
The GCU London Library will be open as follows over the Festive period 2023/24:
Day |
Date |
Time |
|
Monday |
18/12/2023 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Tuesday |
19/12/2023 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Wednesday |
20/12/2023 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Thursday |
21/12/2023 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Friday |
22/12/2023 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Saturday |
23/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Sunday |
24/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Monday |
25/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Tuesday |
26/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Wednesday |
27/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Thursday |
28/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Friday |
29/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Saturday |
30/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Sunday |
31/12/2023 |
Closed |
|
Monday |
01/01/2024 |
Closed |
|
Tuesday |
02/01/2024 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Wednesday |
03/01/2024 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Thursday |
04/01/2024 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Friday |
05/01/2024 |
9am to 7pm |
|
Saturday |
06/01/2024 |
Closed |
|
Sunday |
07/01/2024 |
Closed |