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NEW Covid-19 (Coronavirus) notice of service availability

Library News

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Library Helpdesk by webchat, email and phone

Monday, 19 July, 2021 - 08:55

Phone service at the Library Helpdesk has resumed. You can reach us through our 24/7 chat to a librarian service, email and by phone. 

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) notice of service availability

Monday, 12 July, 2021 - 10:42

The Open University is currently limiting access to campus for safety reasons. The welfare and safety of our students, staff and visitors is our top priority.

An illustration of a person's hands typing on an open laptop, next to a cup of coffee, a notepad, and four pens. The background shows a blue-coloured bricked wall.

New Publishing Deal with Taylor and Francis

Thursday, 8 July, 2021 - 14:45

We are thrilled to announce that we have recently invested in a new Read and Publish deal with Taylor & Francis! 

A person is sitting at a desk with their hands typing on an open laptop. They are sitting next to a window and the sunlight is shining through it.

Providing Library Resources to Students in Secure Environments

Wednesday, 7 July, 2021 - 10:46

The Open University has been providing world-class education to students in prison for over 40 years. 

Pride Flag

Pride with the OU Library!

Wednesday, 26 May, 2021 - 14:10

Come and celebrate Pride 2021 with the OU Library!

Fingers typing on a braille display keyboard

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2021

Friday, 14 May, 2021 - 16:41

Thursday 20 May 2021 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, an international event to raise awareness of digital access.

A picture of various journals that are featured on PsychiatryOnline, alongside a description of the database.

New Resource: PsychiatryOnline

Friday, 7 May, 2021 - 12:48

We now have access to PsychiatryOnline - a collection from American Psychiatric Publishing, a Division of the American Psychiatric Association.

Being a librarian was something I always wanted to be, without knowing it! Librarians are teachers, researchers, advisors, and (in my case) data heads all in one, there's so much I can get involved in every single day.

Celebrating National Librarian Day 2021

Friday, 16 April, 2021 - 11:14

Today, on Friday 16th April 2021, we are celebrating National Librarian Day! It's a chance to be thankful for all the knowledge that librarians possess. 

World Autism Awareness Week 2021

Friday, 26 March, 2021 - 09:36

We are celebrating Autism Awareness Week, to help increase awareness and acceptance of autism.

BrowZine shown on different devices

Discover scholarly journals and stay current with BrowZine

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 - 09:54

BrowZine is a Library-subscribed service that allows you to browse, read and follow scholarly journals. 

Drawing of a computer on a desk with notebooks and coffee

Easy access to Library content

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 - 09:49

The Library Access browser extension makes it easier to access Library-subscribed resources as you do your searching across the web. 

Screen shot of Anthropology Resource Library video database

New resource: Anthropology Resource Library

Wednesday, 13 January, 2021 - 09:54

The Anthropology Resource Library provides comprehensive, multimedia resources for the study of anthropology, including the largest collection of ethnographic videos and previously unpublished archival field materials.

JoVE homepage showing a scientist in a lab

New resource: JoVE Unlimited

Wednesday, 13 January, 2021 - 09:34

For the next 5 years, we have access to all of JoVE's Education and Research content which provides video demonstrations of tools and techniques used by scientists in laboratories around the world.

Intermittent issues accessing Nexis UK and Lexis Library

Thursday, 24 December, 2020 - 14:49

Some people are unable to get into the Nexis UK and Lexis Library databases

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O'Reilly (Safari ebooks online) technical problem 11/12/20

Friday, 11 December, 2020 - 17:06

Delayed response to enquiries - 09/11/2020

Monday, 9 November, 2020 - 15:59

Due to technical issues with Open University systems there may be a delay in responses to email enquiries sent to the Library Helpdesk

Issues accessing JSTOR

Friday, 16 October, 2020 - 16:32

Currently you may be unable to view the JSTOR Browse Collection page and search functions are unavailable.

Photo of Benjamin Zephaniah

Celebrating Black History Month

Thursday, 1 October, 2020 - 08:13

We are celebrating Black History Month with Archives, resource lists and poetry! 

Newspaper with laptop

Accessing Times Higher Education (THE) 30/09/2020

Wednesday, 30 September, 2020 - 14:29

Lunch with the Library event 5 October at noon

Hello to all our new and returning students!

Thursday, 24 September, 2020 - 08:47

Welcome to a new academic year OU students! The team here at the OU Library is looking forward to helping you with your studies – whether you’re brand new to the OU, or are taking the next step towards completing your degree. 

Image of a laptop and mobile device showing shelves of books

NEW Library training session: Reference management tools – an introduction

Friday, 28 August, 2020 - 08:41

Let’s get digital! Build your digital skills

Friday, 14 August, 2020 - 16:07

Library Services and OpenLearn have revised and refreshed the Badged Open Course (BOC), Digital skills: Succeeding in a digital world.

Library Search linking issues - 6th July 2020

Monday, 6 July, 2020 - 14:28

Update 7th July 2020: this has now been resolved and all links are now working.

We are aware of an issue currently affecting links to resources from Library Search.

Multicoloured Pride flag

Learning about PRIDE Month with Library Resources

Friday, 19 June, 2020 - 09:23

The library has a wealth of online resources for exploring LGBT+ history and we've picked out a few to share with you. OU login required.  

Smiling person with laptop, taking notes

Keeping up with Coronavirus

Thursday, 28 May, 2020 - 09:55

Librarians are always concerned with citing the best sources and in times where info overload is a concern, knowing where to go for reliable information is important. We have created short, accessible videos to help point people in the right direction.

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I (The Ditchley Portrait)

New purchase - State Papers Online

Tuesday, 12 May, 2020 - 08:20

The library has just licensed State Papers Online a collection of original manuscripts of government from Henry VIII to the death of Queen Anne. Widely regarded as the single most important research resource in this area

Help us improve our website

Wednesday, 22 April, 2020 - 15:39

We want to learn more about who uses our website, why they use our website and what their experience of it is. This is part of a project to help people find what they need more easily by improving the organization and labelling of the website.

The OU Library Building Image

Improvements to Library Search

Monday, 20 April, 2020 - 18:22

The OU Library is always trying to improve the results you can find in Library Search. To this end we have been working with Ex Libris (the company that provides Library Search) to give you an improved service.

Issues logging in to Library Search and Athens resources

Wednesday, 15 April, 2020 - 10:12

Update from Openathens: [Apr 15, 10:27 BST] All services are now functioning but we will continue to closely monitor to ensure no further issues occur.

Drawing of medical gloves

A helping hand: OU Archive's donation to the NHS

Friday, 3 April, 2020 - 10:08

Protective wear items, including aprons and gloves, have been donated to the NHS to help protect staff treating patients in and around Milton Keynes during the current pandemic.