Self Service - Coming to a Library Near You!

Aungier St library's self service will be launched on Monday, 4th October.

The library has installed two self service machines which will enable users to borrow and return library books and DVDs without queuing at the main Service Point. These machines use the latest technology available and DIT is the first to install them in Ireland. They also fully integrate with the new smart ID cards introduced by Information Services for students this September. The combination of Self Service and smart ID card is another first in Ireland for DIT.

The new system uses a touch screen menu with clear prompts to help users to borrow and return books themselves. Library staff will be on hand to help users with the new system. The system should speed up waiting time for our users and give staff at the Service Point more time to help students and academic staff with research, ordering books, InterLibrary loans, and answering queries.

There'll be prizes for students who are early users of the self service machines - 3M is sponsoring an iPod Touch and the library is offering a €100 One4All voucher - so come in next week and give them a go to be in with a chance to win!

Opening Hours from 20th September 2010

Aungier St library's opening hours from 20th September will be as follows:
Monday to Wednesday: 9.30am - 9.30pm
Thursday & Friday: 9.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Details for the other DIT library sites are available on the opening hours page on the library website.

BASIS: Business Access to State Information and Services

Wouldn't it be handy for business people to have a one stop shop where they could access all government information about regulations, grants, and support all in one place?
BASIS is a government website that aims to provide business users with a single access point to Irish government information and services.
The information is delivered with a consistent look and feel and focuses on the needs of the business community. Information and services on the site are organised by "life events" in a business, e.g., Starting a Business, Funding, Taxation, Closing/Selling a Business.

New Loan Period for Library Books Introduced from Today!

Why are the books you need always out on loan?
Are you tired of waiting for library books to be returned?

DIT Library Service is now introducing a better, fairer system of lending to undergraduates:
• To ensure a faster turnaround of our book stock,
• To reduce waiting times for students and
• To achieve a ‘better value’ return on cost for the collection as a whole.
From September 6th 2010, undergraduate students can borrow 6 Main Collection items at any one time for 14 days instead of the current 28. This will bring DIT Library Loan policy in line with university and institute policies throughout the country and achieve a fairer system for our own users in DIT.

Berg Fashion Library - free trial

The Library has organised a free trial of the Berg Fashion Library from Oxford University Press until October 5th. Access has been set up by IP address so you can start using the site now at www.bergfashionlibrary.com. {Please note that access is from within the DIT Network only and remote access is not possible.}
The Berg Fashion Library is the first online resource to provide access to interdisciplinary and integrated text and image content on world dress and fashion. It covers all regions of the world, with content from pre-history to the present day contributed by internationally renowned scholars. Researchers at all levels in anthropology, art history, sociology, theatre and cultural studies as well as the fashion and textile industries should find material of interest in the Berg Fashion Library. Do try it out and let us know what you think.

New ALCID Cards 2010-11 available

ALCID is a co-operative access scheme between the Libraries of DCU, DIT, NUI Cork, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, RCSI, RIA, TCD, UCD, UL, Mary Immaculate College, Mater Dei, St Patrick's College Drumcondra and St. Angela's College Sligo.

The ALCID scheme is open to full time academics, academic related staff and registered students studying at Masters level or higher. The card enables users to access the collections of each of the participating libraries, without formality,for reference and study purposes. Material can not be borrowed under this scheme. Find further details and an application form HERE

Searching Sage Journals

Take a look at the free Sage Journals Online database which allows searching to abstract level in more than 560 Sage journals across 50 disciplines. Aungier Street Library has quite a number of Sage journals in hardcopy - particularly in the media and communications areas - so using this database as an index could prove useful. The Library can, of course, also order papers we do not stock through the inter-library loan service on your behalf. Select Sage Journals from the A-Z list of databases on the library web pages.

Hospitality and Tourism Complete

The Library has recently upgraded its Hospitality and Tourism Index to Hospitality and Tourism Complete. This gives users full text access to over 500 publications including periodicals, company and country reports as well as books. Lots of useful material here for business staff and students.