My library password has the characters: $ % @ as this makes the password more secure. I cannot use the self service equipment

I appreciate your comments about using "special characters" to make your password secure. You are obliged to follow our rules and they state...

... the library catalogue (which you use for renewing books and using digital resources off-campus) and self service machines cannot use special characters

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/faq/passwordtips

Please change your library password to comply with this requirement. All students are expected to use the self service equipment.

External Students

.. I have noticed that.. many students from different Universities are accessing the services at Luton. As a student I feel there is a question of security as we do not know these students...

Thank you for expressing your concerns. I would like to reassure you. The University of Bedfordshire is part of a co-operative scheme with most Universities in the UK, called Sconul Access. Students from other institutions apply for a card to use the resources in our University on a reference or loan basis (depending on their course of study). There is one kiosk pc which external users are allowed to use.

University of Bedfordshire students also take advantage of this scheme (particularly part time and distance learners). They can apply to use Universities near their home town if its more convenient for them to study there.

If you have any particular security concerns please raise them with security staff on duty

Binding Dissertations

I am a 4th year QTS PE student and have a question about printing off my dissertation. We have seen some past dissertation examples which are all printed onto good quality thicker paper. I was wondering if the library offers a service like this??

Thanks for your enquiry. Reprographics handles this type of work. Please visit the reprographics office at Bedford, Polhill (Schools Office - Copy Shop) and they will let you know if they can meet your specifications.

Saving files

I saved my work to the desktop when I was working in the iT Suite. I logged off and when I came back I couldn't find my files...

Oh dear. When you are working on the University network it isn't the same as working on your home pc. Saving to the desk top is only useful for that session. As soon as you log off the work is lost. Always save your work to your network space.

Different versions of Office

My new laptop has Office 2010, I can't open any of my files created at Uni on it.

If you are experiencing problems between two versions of Office (eg University Office 2007 new laptop Office 2010) you need to turn on the compatibility mode in Office 2010 - you can then use that to save documents in 2007.

We are advising customers not to save in RTF (not being fully supported by Word 2010 or future releases) as we believe they will lose formatting and other functionality from the document which may cause more problems than originally occurred from 2007 opening a 2010 document.

Microsoft advice at:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc178980.aspx

SPSS for MACs

The LRC has received several request for copies of SPSS for MACs. The answer is:

Need to use (may be installed already) or download boot camp from the Apple site to use windows applications and thus run our version of SPSS.

Marketing info from Apple at:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/compatibility/

We don't have any individual Mac licences as they are about £500 a go.

Noise at Park Sq

I live on campus and there are no quiet houses so I rely heavily on silent areas in the library for quiet study. However I am constantly taking it upon myself to hush students making unnecessary noise or just talking. Silent means silent. Please find a way to rectify this problem as Uni is not cheap

Thank you for your comments. I am sorry that you have been experiencing these problems with the Silent areas in the LRC. To be clear the silent area at the Park Sq LRC is levels 2 & 3, everywhere else is quiet to social learning noise levels.

If you are on level 2 or 3 and find the noise level unacceptable please report it to security. There are hourly security patrols. This helps keep noise levels down. Written Warnings are issued if appropriate.

The LRC is working constantly with the SU to find ways of maintaining the silent study environment on levels 2 & 3