Discover your Library: staff and PG summer events

Posted on 03/06/2026 by Hilary

Join us on Wednesday 8 July at 2pm in the Library Nook for a relaxed and informative event for University staff and Postgraduates.

Explore our Reading for Pleasure collection, including a range of books and board games, and discover the wide variety of services available to you—some you might not expect! Try out:

  • PressReader – online access to newspapers and magazines normally behind a paywall… from Good Food and Men’s Health to the Washington Post and El Pais.
  • Kanopy – stream films, documentaries and TV series, from Wicked to Eraserhead.
  • LinkedIn Learning – want to learn how to code, improve presentations, write an impressive CV and much more? Access expert-led courses for professional and personal development.

You can also join a tour of the Library including a peek behind the scenes and the chance to view some treasures from our Library Archives. Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided, please bring your own keep cup.  Book your place here: https://unihub.bath.ac.uk/students/events/detail/1583609

This event introduces the Library’s Summer Sessions programme of drop-in Wednesday lunchtime activities for staff and postgraduates.  Running in the Nook from Weds 15th July to Weds 19th August from 12.30-1.30pm, join us for:

  • Mystery Summer Reads (15th July): Looking for your perfect match for summer? Take a chance in a blind date with a book! Drop by the Nook to take your pick from our mystery reads.
  • Silent Bookgroup (22nd July): Bring your own book or choose one from the Nook and get comfy for reading hour! No assigned reading, no pressure.
  • Genre Tasting Menu (29th July): Stuck in a reading rut? It happens to us all. Come along to get a taste for some of our recommended reads across different genres. You might find a new favourite!
  • Reading by the Lake (5th August): Summer = peak alfresco reading season*. Bring your own book or choose one from the Nook (we’ll have a selection available by the lake on the day!) Picnic blankets will be provided. *Weather permitting! Should the British summer do its worst, you’ll find us in the Nook.
  • Reading Quiz (12th August): Test your literary knowledge with our fun reading quiz!  Pick up a question sheet from the Nook and, once you’ve filled it in (no cheating! 😊), return it to us for a chance to win a prize.
  • Board Games (19th August): Discover our boardgames! From Codenames to Exploding Kittens, pick a classic or try something new. Play with friends in the Nook or choose a game to take home!

The Library Nook can be found at the back of Level 2 (the entrance floor) of the Library.

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Student Art in the Nook: A Spring Update 🌷

Posted on 22/04/2026 by Amelia

You might have spotted that we have some beautiful new artwork in the Nook! We are thrilled to be exhibiting pieces by one of our University of Bath Arts Scholars 2025/26 (Fine Art & Mixed Media), Eloise Lake, as part of our programme of displaying student art in the Nook.

Bloom Series
Acrylic on canvas
A3, 2026
Bloom Series
Acrylic on canvas
A3, 2026

Eloise is an MSc Management student with a lifelong passion for drawing and visual art. Working across digital and traditional media, she balances Procreate with observational sketching from everyday life. Inspired by Monet, Klimt, and Yoshitomo Nara, her practice explores perception and interpretation through experimentation with form and materials.

The Bloom Series was developed as part of the University of Bath Arts Scholarship, exploring a shift from precision towards expression through colour, texture, and intuitive mark-making.

Eloise Lake, one of our University of Bath Arts Scholars 2025/26 (Fine Art & Mixed Media) and MSc Management student

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous work with our UoB community, Eloise!

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Read Banned Books: Gain Forbidden Knowledge

Posted on 13/04/2026 by Amelia

Censorship has a long and storied history. The movement to shape people’s belief and values systems via the restriction of reading materials has been a potent political tool right up to the current day. The escalation of book bans in school and public libraries in the US has been well-documented in recent years; however, censorship is becoming an increasing issue for UK libraries too, with librarians reporting a rise in requests for the removal of LGBTQ+ books. In 2025, for example, a school library in Greater Manchester saw nearly 200 books removed from its shelves at the request of the school’s leadership.

Why does censorship matter?

Reading plays an essential role in developing our understanding of ourselves and others. Books provide windows into a multiplicity of different experiences and perspectives through the stories they tell, enabling us to foster empathy, build connections, and develop our critical thinking skills.

Without the freedom to read, we risk the erosion of democratic norms and the narrowing of diverse representation in our culture.

How can I find out more and how can I help?

A great place to start is the American Library Association’s ‘Unite Against Book Bans’ page. And we highly recommend watching ‘The Librarians’ on BBC iPlayer, a fascinating/ terrifying documentary that was recently screened by the Library, and which focuses on the heroic efforts of librarians to defend young people’s right to read. On this side of the Atlantic, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is leading the charge in support of intellectual freedom.

The resources in this Penguin Random House article, introduced by Karly Shepherd, a student at Baylor University and contributor to the excellent UnTextbooked podcast, are predominantly American in their focus. However, we can still draw extensive learnings from the experiences of those fighting book bans in the US – you’ll find a great summary from PEN America here.

…

And, lastly, here are some of our favourite banned books from the Nook…

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Set in 1940s Ohio, The Bluest Eye tells the heartbreaking story of Pecola Breedlove, an African-American girl who suffers abuse and neglect. As a result, she comes to believe that having blue eyes will make her beautiful and loved.

A profoundly moving classic that unflinchingly examines black girlhood, the cruelties of society, and internalised racism.

Banned for: depictions of sexual abuse, explicit language, and violence.

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Go Tell It on the Mountainchronicles fourteen-year-old John’s spiritual, sexual, and moral struggle towards self-invention. Inspired in part by Baldwin’s own experience of growing up Black in early 20th Century America, the novel is imbued with a rage that is at once unrelenting and compassionate.

Banned for: frank exploration of sexuality, racial themes, and critiques of religious institutions.

The Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman

Oseman’s beloved Heartstopper series tells the love story of Charlie, an openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player. They meet at their all-boys grammar school, quickly becoming fast-friends, and, as time passes, their attraction to one another becomes impossible to ignore. A joy!

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson

In a series of personal essays, journalist and LGBTQ+ activist Johnson delves into his experiences as a young, queer man of colour.  Told with poignant honesty, we journey through the formative chapters of his life, and though sections are intensely painful, the book resonates with queer, Black joy.

Banned for: LGBTQ+ content and sexually explicit material.

Check out our banned books display in the Little Nook and find more in the Nook collection

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Green Library Spark – 2026 Final

Posted on 01/04/2026 by ss5089

On Wednesday March 25th 2026, the library held its second Library Spark event. This year, we shortlisted six ideas that were specifically aimed at making the library more sustainable. Entries this year particularly highlighted emerging themes of recycling, energy waste, AI use, student-led initiatives and the overall atmosphere of the library.

This year’s winner was Manoj Rawat, who proposed his ‘Borrow a Sensory Kit’ idea. You can find out more about all of the entries by reading on.

Alongside details from the event, I’ve also shared some photos of the proceedings, taken by level 3 subject librarians David Stacey and Claire Bannister, and impact & engagement librarian Hilary Cooksley.

University Librarian Kate Robinson introduces the event, which is the first time that the event has been held as both an in-person and streamed event via Teams.

Regarding the ideas submitted, Kate said “I was very impressed by the ingenuity of the proposals and the persuasive presentations, both of which made judging very tricky! While there can only be one winner, we’re really grateful for all the fabulous ideas and we will try to implement as many as we can, for the benefit of all our community. Thank you to everyone who applied.”

This years judges were (from left to right): Benji Orford-Thompson (SU President), Kate Robinson (University Librarian), Mark Whiteley (Sustainability Team), and Junjie Shen (Green Libraries Representative).

Speaking on the proposals submitted, Junjie said: “Really impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and boldness of these ideas. We’re keen to explore how they could shape future sustainability work in the library”

The judging team watch Ruby Mohammed’s (pictured right) ‘Green Boost’ presentation, which proposed better environmental support and care of indoor plants in the Library, using LED and vibration systems. She also presented her proposal remotely.

Gautam Goyal and Pooja Thakur present their idea for the ‘Library Circular Supply Hub’, which is an incentive to combat end of term waste and to create a space to re-use stationery and printed materials in the library. Students would be able to drop off and collect resources and materials instead of throwing them away and purchasing or printing new ones.

Student presenters answer questions about their ideas from the judging panel. Throughout the event, the judges were asking questions relating to issues such as plausibility and function of ideas, cost, and impact.

With the event being held in a hybrid format for the first time, Manoj Rawat (pictured right) was able to give his winning presentation remotely. His ‘Borrow a Sensory Kit’ idea proposed a selection of upcycled sensory equipment that can be borrowed in the library and used anywhere in the space to help students with needs for these items to maintain focus on their studies.

‘Power Break Zone’ by Joy Ho and Zita Wong introduces stationary bicycles to the library space to help students move more during study periods. The proposed device has a dual function in that the energy generated can also be used to charge devices, which students also have a need for.

Yukta Chegu presents her idea: ‘Zero-Energy Super-Desks’, additions to existing library furniture to allow climate control within the library to save energy and help make the atmosphere more comfortable during hot weather. Involves heat-absorption technology that helps lower the ambient temperature in the building without needing to make any structural changes or use energy.

Arjun Kakkar proposes a shared resource hub. This includes calculators, chargers, unused exam resources, and unwanted stationery. This is intended to help students save money and produce less resource waste by having re-cycled materials available when needed. Items would be borrowed in the same way as other library items.

After the judges had finished deliberating, Manoj Rawat was announced as the winner of the £500 prize, with his loanable sensory kit idea. The winner and runners up all received a certificate to mark their participation in the competition.

On choosing a winner, judge Kate Robinson said: “The winning entry was one that we could action quickly and that could make an immediate and positive difference to the experience of neurodiverse students in their use of our busy library”

We’d like to thank our judges and contestants for taking part in the event, as well as those who were able to attend both in-person and online. This year, the Library Spark initiative was funded by the library, and organised by a team of library staff from various departments. This team included Sarah Ormes, Brooklyn Halladay, Clare Bannister, Sophie Sweeney, Hilary Cooksley, and David Stacey, with additional assistance from Matt Durant.

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Quiet study during revision and exams

Posted on 22/12/2025 by David :-)

Please be considerate to your fellow students during the revision and exam period by keeping noise to a minimum in the Library’s study areas on Levels 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Quiet study space is very popular at this time of year. We have more than 1,400 individual study spaces across all floors of the Library. Whilst these remain available for drop in use, we also have some bookable group work rooms for those who would like to study together. You can book these spaces in advance through Libcal.

To find out more about bookable (and non-bookable) spaces, both on and off campus, go to: Where you can study on campus and in the city.

Using e-books during the assessment period? Please remember to sign out or close your browser when finished, otherwise you might lock access for other readers if there are limits on how many can access the e-book at the same time.

You may find the following Library resources helpful:

  1. Find Past exam papers
    Browse and access past papers via our online database.
  2. Take a break!
    Taking a break can help improve memory, increase your energy, reduces stress, improve health, plus boost your performance and creativity. Keep an eye out for our ‘Take a break’ envelopes in the Library during revision week and the first week of exams.
  3. Managing exam stress and ‘Read Well’ themed reading lists
    We’ve created some themed reading lists of resources you might want to draw on for managing exam stress and reading for wellbeing. You’ll find a display on level 2 and can view the Skills and Wellbeing list on our Library Lists system.

Finally, our colleagues at the Skills Centre have a great deal of support on offer via the Support to prepare you for exams webpage. This include guides, blogs, 1:1 appointments, the Be Well app and much more.

Good luck with your exams!
The Library

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From Sketch to Sanctuary: the student design competition for our new Library Nook

Posted on 19/08/2025 by David :-)

Vision to Competition

Our Library’s vision for a dedicated new wellbeing space and reading for pleasure book collection on Library Level 2 dates back to a business case presented by Library staff in November 2024. Since then we have been working to make this a reality. See our new Library Nook webpage. We wanted to empower students through a co-creation effort, in part to give more ownership of the space and ensure it reflected the real requirements of students and staff.

In February 2025 we launched a student-design competition for placement students in the Faculty of Architecture & Civil Engineering to design this space. The competition brief outlined our maximum potential budget, CAD files for Level 2 of the Library were provided plus rationale for the Nook. The winner of the competition would go on to work with our Head of Library Operational Services and reps from approved furniture suppliers to refine this into a plan within our budget. Not everything would be possible and as the client there were some things we knew from experience that would not work as intended (e.g. bean bags!)

Gallery 1: the area at the back of Level 2 in need of development and ideal for a Library Nook

There is strong evidence of the benefits of reading for pleasure, particularly in the role it plays in promoting mental wellbeing – reducing stress levels, particularly beneficial for students dealing with academic pressures. The relaxed, welcoming space will counter student loneliness, encourage social interactions and a sense of community.  Refurbishment of the space with moveable furniture will also enable it to be used to host associated wellbeing focused events such as book groups or author events, further enhancing the student experience.

Reading for Wellbeing – Amelia Jedynak and Sarah Ormes, Nov 2024

The competition deadline was set in March 2025. The competition entries were judged by members of our Library Nook project team, plus Laura Green (Faculty Placements team) and Sara Biscaya (Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering). Four students entered the competition. They will each receive a certificate and book prizes at the upcoming ACE Placement Returners event (Autumn 2025). We would like to thank all of the students who took part – Annie Tang, Jessica Tapley, Charlotte Choi and Chadapaurn Si Khoman. All of the designs were of a very high quality and it was encouraging to us to spot common themes and ideas between them – be they related to colour schemes, flexible shelving options or other elements.

The timing of this competition was planned to coincide with funding bids for the Nook. We could not guarantee we would receive sufficient funding to proceed and so we encouraged plans that also considered incorporating some existing furniture. We are delighted to note that were able to top up our small budget with funds we successfully bid for from the Student Experience Fund and Alumni Fund. We could not have completed the project to the same standard without this investment.

Gallery 2: Summer time! It’s quiet on campus, the wooden wall panels have been added to the walls and work gets underway replacing the carpet. Only then can the new furniture and shelves be delivered

The Winning Design

The judges all felt that Annie Tang’s design was the best fit for the brief. There were lots of great elements – from colour scheme, selection of materials, attention to lighting and noise-dampening (acoustic panels). In addition Annie had thought carefully about costing of new materials and potential for use of existing furniture to save money if needed.

Gallery 3: Annie’s initial concept sketch and a selection of design images that followed

My initial design is inspired by a warm theme creating
a comfy home like atmosphere in a small area, comfy
enough to read and forget yourself in a book.

I decided to … use all
movable furniture for easy use and adaptability, as this
area of the library is next to the stairs and may have more
foot traffic on that side therefore I introduced decorative
soundproofing which comes in a oak wood, which
crested a more soft and comfy area for leisure reading.

For additional seating some softer furnishings … and
plants could be very cosy, and a protected area.

Annie Tang

Annie’s winning design

The seating arrangement was postioned and directed so
that the windows on the north side would always provide
natural light the the users and if possible some additional
house lights could be added.

Annie Tang

From Installation to Launch

The interim Nook space near the student lift and Reader Services on Level 2 will remain, rebranded the ‘Little Nook’. It will feature changing genre displays and a selection of loanable board games. The new Library Nook at the back of Level 2 will be formally launched on 29 September 2025. It is already accessible whilst still in development. We hope you enjoy this space!

The Nook nears completion…

There is more to come in the future. We wanted flexible, mobile furniture so we could easily adapt the space for different purposes – author talks and other wellbeing events. Keep an eye on our Library homepage and Instagram for news and highlights e.g. Friendship Day Reads.

One final, student-led addition to the Nook was also suggested by Annie:

Adding art or wall pieces drawn by the students may also
bring them more connected to this space. I believe that a
warm home like space like this will help mental wellbeing
and encourage a sense of community.

Annie Tang

Student art has been printed and framed for the Nook…
(L) Untitled concept art (2024) by Charley G (Psychology);
(R) Untitled (2023) by Sophie Peaucelle (Architecture)

If you would like to make recommendations for books or board games to go into the Library Nook, please either fill out a recommendation slip and post it in the wooden box in the Nook, or email us at library@bath.ac.uk We would also love to hear what you think about this new space!

Annie visits the completed Library Nook (L to R: Faculty Librarian David Stacey, Senior Library Assistant Amelia Jedynak, Impact and Engagement Librarian Hilary Cooksley, Annie Tang, Placements Administrator Hattie Timberlake).

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Library support for managing exam stress

Posted on 07/05/2025 by David :-)

Have you spotted our ‘take a break’ envelopes dotted around the Library?

Made in collaboration with the SU, these contain a variety of goodies to help you take a break from exam stress. This year’s envelopes include seed bookmarks which can be planted, colouring pencils to practice mindfulness, a tea or coffee sachet, a mood chart and stars to track your goals and a leaflet with useful tips.

Check out our book display on Managing Exam Stress and Wellbeing on Level 2. You can find more extensive Wellbeing reading lists on our Library Lists system. Many titles are available electronically as well as in print. We also have some new short reads, perfect for those much needed study breaks. Find lots more fiction as well as soft seating in our new Library Nook.

You may also find the Student Support during exams webpage very useful for wellbeing advice and the Be Well app.

Good luck with your exams from the Library!

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Supercharging AI exhibition in the Library

Posted on 13/01/2025 by David :-)

We’re happy to announce a new exhibition, #SuperchargedbyAI, a creative intervention about the effects of AI on our online lives. The University of Bath’s Library is one of 50 libraries in Europe to feature this exhibition. Explore all of the resources in our Library foyer, accessible 24/7, from Monday 13 January to Thursday 13 February 2025.

What is it all about?

AI-generated content, from chatbots to deepfakes, is becoming more prevalent online. New AI tools make it easier, faster, and cheaper to create text, images, videos, and more. However, these advancements also amplify existing online harms like scams, harassment, polarization, and bias.

AI is now being used to create fake news, mimic reality, and influence public opinions and behaviours in ways that are nearly undetectable. These AI models, trained on biased datasets, can reinforce stereotypes and have real-world consequences. How can we stay informed about this rapidly evolving technology?

The ‘Supercharged by AI: synthetic and out of control’ exhibition address the above issues through a range of interactive elements. It is paired with the Data Detox Kit’s new Essential Guide to AI, a free to collect hand out offering practical tips to help us navigate these challenges in our online lives.

Can I visit the exhibition?

Yes! We are encouraging all of our staff, students and alumni to explore the exhibition. We also encourage colleagues from other institutions and members of the public to visit. For more information on visiting us please check our guide for Library visitors. Please be aware we will be very busy during the assessment period which runs to 25 January. We then enter Semester 2. Members of the public wishing to visit the exhibition must do so during weekends. For more information see our campus map and guide to visiting the University.

Read more about this collaboration between @TacticalTech, @DensityDesign and @IFLA Find out more: www.theglassroom.org/supercharged-by-ai which includes a full source list. The project is kindly supported by the European Media & Information Fund (EMIF). @EMIF-Fund

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Springer 2024 e-books and protocols update

Posted on 12/12/2024 by David :-)

Our Library’s ebook collections have been further enhanced this year with more than 10,000 new ebooks from the following Springer collections. These are largely frontfile additions for 2024. Many more 2024 titles will continue to be released and become available up until the end of the year. Individual e-books can be found via our catalogue as well as link.springer.com.

Additionally, Springer Protocols for 2024 have also been purchased, with more than 3,000 new protocols already available.
Springer

By combining these latest ebooks with our existing Springer content, this gives us access to over 175,000 high quality scholarly ebook titles and more than 76,000 protocols. This is before you factor in thousands of items in full-text ‘preview’.  Follow the links below to search across the subject specific collections or search for individual titles by keyword on our Library catalogue.

*Lecture Notes in Computer Science – we have access to the full content: 1973-2024!

image

Posted in biology & biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, databases, e-books, economics, electrical engineering, engineering & design, humanities & social sciences, mathematical sciences, mechanical engineering, new resources, physics, polis, postgraduates, research, Science | Leave a comment

New student-designed Library floorplans

Posted on 05/11/2024 by David :-)

In collaboration with the Engineering and Design Faculty’s Placements team, the Library ran a competition over the summer for ACE placement students to re-design our 2D floorplans. This formed part of our wayfinding refresh while you were away. In our foyer you will see a new mural by Bristol artist Zoe Power, as well as new signage by the North, East and West staircases which replace our old lightboxes and indicate what’s on each of the floors. Our intention with the floor plans was to try a different approach to their design and introduce more physical floorplans on plinths around the floors, to help with wayfinding once you’ve reached your desired floor.

The winning design by Habina Seo has been adopted this Semester. Habina and the designers of the runner-up entries will receive an award from the Library in October as part of the department’s Returners networking and awards event. If you would like to see all the designs online, you can find them on our Library Floorplans page in pdf – for example Level 4. In person, you can currently find the floorplans on the plinths, Information Points and other locations around the subject floors (Levels 3-5).

Our winner, Habina Seo, receives her certificate and prizes from Faculty Librarian, David Stacey.

We particularly like the colour co-ordination with official Faculty/School colour schemes, the addition of simple iconography, re-orientation of the plans from a side-on to front-on view of the floors, the matching of the floor descriptions to wording on our new wayfinding signage and the more modern, streamlined style overall.

Several designs were entered into the competition and our runners up were a design by Tavishi Gupta, plus another by a group – Mathilde Catsamba, Orion Coelho and Alex Zheng. Habina and our runners up received a certificate and book prizes from their Faculty Librarian, David Stacey and Head of Library Operational Services, Matt Durant at the Faculty’s Returners event. David had provided a design brief and Library CAD plans. Laura Green from the Placements team co-ordinated the competition and submissions. The students had been given a month to work on and submit their designs, then Matt, David and Laura judged the entries.

Given the success and positive feedback to this competition, we are hoping to work again with Laura, Vicky Hill and colleagues to run another design competition in the future. For those interested in the Engineering and Design placement awards, we will soon have a digital display in our foyer of a selection of 2024’s short-listed and winning placement posters.

Why the refresh?

Our recent Library Spark competition for student ideas had 60 applications. 15 of these entries related to solving wayfinding problems (7 specifically about finding study spaces). In addition, a recent update to our ILEP (Independent Learning Environments Projects) received 210 responses (via in-person ‘structured chats’). As with a lot of the Spark entries these reflected the perception of lack of space in the Library, despite having 1,400 study spaces. Whilst we have found many of the more popular spaces fill up fast, there are lots of spaces in the Library that are underutilised even during peak times (for example the 115 seater Level 1 study area).

Awareness of the space options available and wayfinding may be part of the problem and also part of the solution. This is somewhat corroborated by our enquiry statistics and the volume of directional enquiries amongst these. Many pertain to finding specific spaces such as bookable workrooms. It can be tricky and time consuming to navigate the Library, particularly at peak times in Semester. We hope our new signage can help everyone. For more information on finding study spaces on and off campus, go to: https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/where-you-can-study-on-campus-and-in-the-city/


Please let us know what you think about our new floorplan designs, waytfinding signage and foyer mural in the comments.

Posted in engineering & design, service updates, space, study areas | Leave a comment