*URGENT* Library system maintenance, 5-6 September, 2008

The Library System will be unavailable from 9:00 pm Friday 5 September, 2008, due to necessary system maintenance.

Service is expected to be restored by mid-afternoon on Saturday 6 September, 2008.

The following services will be unavailable:

• NEWCAT
• Database access
• SuperSearch
• MyLibrary
• Self Checkout units
• Circulation
• Requesting/holds/bookings
• Telnet access
• Payment of Library fines

For more information please see staff at the Loans Desk. Apologies for the inconvenience and short notice.

A new library joins BONUS+

Murdoch Unversity Library has joined BONUS+.

There are now seven libraries participating in BONUS+: Deakin University; Murdoch University; University of Ballarat; University of Melbourne; University of Newcastle; University of Technology, Sydney; and Victoria University.

Over 4 million items are now available in the BONUS+ catalogue.

SuperSearch unavailable Thursday 21st August

Due to system maintenance SuperSearch will not be available on Thursday 21st August 2008.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Children’s Book Week Displays

The Children’s Book Council of Australia have announced this year’s winners. See: http://cbca.org.au/winners.htm

Books are chosen in the following categories:

Older Readers
Younger readers
Early Childhood
Picture book of the year
The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

Huxley and Ourimbah Libraries have put up some great displays with all the winning books available to view.

Come in and have a look and …

Display at Huxley Library	Display at Ourimbah Library

… enter the Trivia contest!

Both libraries are also running a trivia contest about children’s literature from past and current winners. All are welcome to participate, both staff and students, with great book voucher prizes from The United Campus and Co-Op Bookshops.

To enter, just fill out the entry forms available at Huxley and Ourimbah Libraries, as well as at The United Campus Bookshop, Callaghan and The Co-Op Bookshop at Ourimbah.

New trial – On Examination

Trial available until 12th September 2008.

On Examination provides medical professionals with current and relevant online revision courses. The question library includes thousands of internationally relevant questions in two resources: Basic, for students in the early part of their training, and Advanced, for students preparing for final exams.

It includes:

• High quality questions with explanatory answers based on typical exam themes.
• Detailed score analysis so that you can gauge your performance against your peers, and also recognise your strengths and weaknesses.
• Adapted learning which personalises the site to your educational needs.

Go to: On Examination trial
Enter Institutional Access code and follow the steps to register.

Tell us what you think of this database via the evalution form, or use the Comments link on this post.

Proquest downtime Sunday 17th August

Due to system maintenance, Proquest databases will be unavailabe for approximately 12 hours starting at 12 noon on Sunday 17th August 2008.

Library Survey – coming soon!

This year’s Library Client Survey will kick off next Monday 18th August and will continue until Sunday 31st August.  We value your honest feedback, so please tell us what you think is important and how we are doing.

The online survey will be available from the Library home page, or, if preferred, paper copies will be available in all the Libraries.

Everyone who completes the survey is entitled to get a voucher for a free coffee at one of the listed campus cafes.

Fill out your name and address on the back of the coffee voucher to go in the draw to win one of several Coles/Myer gift cards. There will be a prize draw on each campus with prizes totalling $500.

More information

Living Library

For a week in September 2008 we are running a living library. The living library will give staff and students of the university the opportunity to share their life experiences and interests by being a living book for 30 minutes.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a living book please email the following address: LivingLibrary@newcastle.edu.au

For an example of a Living Library click on the following web address:
http://www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/Home/GoldfieldsLivingLibrary/tabid/93/language/en-US/Default.aspx