Microsoft

I have just bought a laptop and require access to Microsoft Office for my studies.  When at a previous university they were able to give out the software of Microsoft Office to their students for free.  Does the Uni of Beds have access to something like this?

The University has just got the necessary licences etc to offer Microsoft 365 to students. Are you on Campus today? (Mon 12^th) if yes let me know when and where and I can arrange for a member of staff to talk you through the process. The information should be on our website by the end of this week.

Remote access to Library Catalogue and DISCOVER

 cannot use the Bedfordshire digital library service with my student ID and my BREO password. I've entered both correctly and still cannot access it. I need to use it for finding the journal sources for my assignment. Could you please ask this for me to the university? 

Since the middle of December we have been having issues with logging into Discover via the link on BREO and Library catalogue renewals (Library sign page). We believe it is to do with changes to the auto fill options on Chrome but it may apply to other browsers.

Below are things you can do to try to resolve the issue:

1.Turn off the auto fill option in the browser and try again

Settings, show advanced settings, password and forms, uncheck auto-fill. (Chrome)

2.If this doesn’t work please try a different browser if you are using Chrome, to see if that helps.

3. Otherwise you may need to clear their browser cache?

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache

3. You could also try to use Discover via:

http://library.beds.ac.uk/record=b1501299~S10

Select the 2nd link Alternative access to DISCOVER (Via UK Access Management Federation)

4. Or try the Discover search box at :

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

SocINDEX

I am currently undertaking a literature review and have been advised to look at SocINDEX. I have looked through Discover and can't see any information about whether it uses this database or whether it requires a subscription. Please could you let me know if and how I might be able to access it? 

Thank you for your enquiry. You can access SocINDEX via the library catalogue there is advice here

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/applied-soc-studies/core-ab-indexes

SocINDEX is one of the world's most comprehensive and highest quality sociology databases with more than 2,035,000 records covering all aspects of sociology, social work, social welfare, children and young people, criminology and more.

It links you to the catalogue here:

http://library.beds.ac.uk/record=b1181646~S20

Always try the catalogue if you can’t find what you want on DISCOVER as some databases are not included for reasons outside the University’s control

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/digital/discover/databases-not-in-discover

You will find a raft of on-line support for your subject here:

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/applied-soc-studies

Library catalogue problems

I am writing my dissertation and cannot sign into the library. 

I am trying to search for an article which I have previously looked at but every time I try to login it says I can't. I am also trying to renew my books.

Thank you for your enquiry. I am sorry that you seem to be  having problems logging into the library catalogue or DISCOVER. I have checked your library account and there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with it

Please try the following:

1.You may need to turn off the auto fill option in your browser and try again, by going into:

Settings, show advanced settings, password and forms, uncheck auto-fill. (Chrome)

2. If this doesn’t work please try a different browser (if you are using Chrome) to see if that helps. Try Firefox or IE

3. You may need to clear your browser cache; instructions here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache

If you are still having problems please ring 01234 793189 during staffed hours for advice

DISCOVER Bookmarks

I have been saving books on the online library catalogue over the last few evenings on my account, but when I view saved items the majority have disappeared. Apart from those this evening.

On my DISCOVER account, all bookmarks are present throughout my research. I thought this would also be the case with the library catalogue.

Could you please advise or clear up my confusion?

Thank you for your enquiry. Firstly, I see from your email that you’re using DISCOVER’s folder feature to save bookmarks. All the records on the library catalogue are also on DISCOVER so you can save book records from there directly. This will save you the bother of going to two different websites; one search covers all the catalogue and the education resources.  And the bookmarks will be saved to your personal account permanently, unless you actively delete them. There is a filter feature on the left-hand menu that lets you limit results to books only, if your search expression retrieves thousands of results (having trawled journals or newspapers). When you want to activate a reservation to an item, DISCOVER will link back to the catalogue so you pick the site you want it sent to etc.

The library catalogue’s save function is session-specific, even if you sign in. When you click on the View Saved button, you have the choice to export the items or view/reserve them. In a session, a user might tag (or ‘save’) items to cherry-pick titles to Reserve (for collection when they are next on campus, for example). To use an online shopping analogy, you might select a product on the Argos or M&S website one day and a browser cookie will keep it tagged for a limited period, but it won’t stay in the shopping cart indefinitely.

The catalogue’s Export saved record feature lets you push a session’s records into a referencing management system, like the university’s preferred system (RefWorks). An RMS lets you securely save reference data and gives you extra features (like folder management or inputting into Word documents). And it is a stable, web-based system so you can securely save your records. But, again, that is something that you can do within DISCOVER so it is a rarely used feature on the catalogue.

A member of staff at the Academic Liaison Librarian drop in

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/studyhub/drop-in

would be happy to give you extra help with using RefWorks (and/or DISCOVER) to manage your references securely; the Word plug-in is particularly handy for assignments. These web pages would also be of value

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/digital/discover

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/a-guide-to-referencing/RefWorks_Intro

Alumnus Membership

I am currently studying a Masters at the Institute of Education, London, and as a previous student at the University of Bedfordshire I am just enquiring to see if I can still access the University's library. 

If you could please clarify this for me I would be extremely grateful. 

Thank you for your enquiry. As an Alumnus you may apply (free) for reference access to UoB Learning Resources. Please follow this link, read the information and complete the application process.

http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/libraryservices/alumni

If you wish to borrow materials there is a small membership fee of £30 per year. Neither membership would allow you to use our student PCs but you may bring in your own devices or use our “kiosk” PCs, and log on to EDUROAM with your Institute of Education credentials, UoB guest WIFI

You may wish to check with the Institute of Education whether they  are part of the Sconul Access scheme. If they are I would advise you to use that route as you would get free loans

I hope that helps

Library Catalogue and DISCOVER -Problems with logging on

There have been several reported problems with students logging onto the library catalogue or DISCOVER. Help needed

Please try the following: 

1.You may need to turn off the auto fill option in your browser and try again, by going into:

Settings, show advanced settings, password and forms, uncheck auto-fill. (Chrome)

2. If this doesn’t work please try a different browser (if you are using Chrome) to see if that helps. Try Firefox or IE

3. You may need to clear your browser cache; instructions here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache