New Study Skills section at Leamington LRC

All of the Study Skills books have been shelved together in a new section of the library and can be found at the following class numbers:

Study skills: 001.42

Writing essays and assignments: 001.43

Data collection & questionnaire design: 001.433

Exam technique: 001.5

We hope that you will find this new section useful. If you need any help to find the books you need, please ask any member of the LRC staff!

posted by Sophie

Journals for arboriculturalists!

The LRC has a range of journals covering different aspects of arboriculture.  They can be found on the shelves and the carousel behind Student Services. 

• Arboriculture Journal – International Journal of Urban Forestry
• Arboricultural Association Newsletter (www.trees.org.uk)- published four times a year
• Broadleaf – magazine of  The Woodland Trust – published twice a year
• Essential Arb
• Forest Life – by the Forestry Commission
• Forestry Journal – published monthly
• Quarterly Journal of Forestry – official publication of the Royal Forestry Society – published four times a year
• Tree News – published by the Tree Council (www.treecouncil.org.uk) – published twice a year
• Woodland Heritage Journal – published yearly

We also receive regular information from “The Tree Advice Trust” who provide an Arboricultural advisory and information service covering:

• Arboricultural Practice notes
• Tree Damage Alerts
• Assistance with Arboricultural reading

There are some copies of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry (Scientific Journal of the International Society of Arboriculture) from 2001 to 2007.

So as the nights draw in and the days get colder, pop into the LRC at Moreton Morrell and settle down with some interesting reading.

Posted by Cathy

Extinction: Where Will It Stop?

The 2009 edition of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species was released yesterday, and the news wasn’t good: out of 47,677 assessed species, 17,291 (36 percent) are threatened with extinction.

These include 21% of all known mammals, 30% of amphibians, 70% of plants and 35% of invertebrates. The breakdown of the endangered species’ status on the new IUCN list is as follows:

• Extinct: 809
• Extinct in the Wild: 66
• Critically Endangered: 3,325 (of these, 257 species are listed as “possibly extinct”)
• Endangered: 4,891
• Vulnerable (to extinction): 9,075
• Near Threatened: 3,650

Last year’s list assessed 44,838 species; information on more than 2,800 additional species has been added in 2009. This includes more than 1,300 previously unassessed dragonflies and damselflies, of which the IUCN recently completed a major new study.

Amphibians seem to be facing the greatest threat, with 1,895 of 6,285 assessed species in danger of extinction. One amphibian species, the Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis), has been moved from the IUCN’s critically endangered list and is considered extinct in the wild. This toad was only found in the Kihamsi Falls area of Tanzania and its population has crashed from a high of about 17,000 in recent years. Conservationists suggest that this is as a result of a dam being constructed upstream from the toad’s habitat, which resulted in a 90% reduction in the flow of water.

“These results are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Craig Hilton-Taylor, manager of the IUCN Red List Unit, in a prepared statement. “There are many more millions [of species] out there which could be under serious threat.”

For further information, visit www.iucn.org

posted by Kathy & Sophie

Books for Sale

Come and check out the variety of second hand books we have for sale in the LRC at the Moreton Morrell site – these cover a host of subjects including Accounting, Agriculture, Animals, Business, Construction, Crops, Engineering, Horses, Horticulture, Marketing – the list goes on. 

We also have a large number of fiction books for sale too – all starting from as little as twenty pence!!! 

Grab a bargain.  See for yourself – opposite the Horticultural section on the ground floor!

Posted by Claire

 

Building Construction Handbook

The Building Construction Handbook provides extensive coverage of building construction practice, processes and techniques, representing established procedures as well as those associated with recent amendments to the Building Regulations, British and European Standards and other related references. This approach, combined with the presentation of information in a highly illustrated and unique visual style, has proven this text to be a vital learning resource for thousands of building construction students, and an essential reference for professionals.

The sixth edition has been updated and expanded to take into account many aspects of the new and revised Building Regulations and associated Approved Documents as applied to working practice; in particular, construction requirements for conserving and economising energy and reducing atmospheric pollution (as this relates to Building Regulations Part L Conservation of fuel and power).

This new edition also develops existing topics, including adaptation of buildings to ensure compatibility for the disabled, further details of masonry construction, applications of steel reinforcement to concrete, steel framed housing principles, sound insulation and additional details of structural glazing. Throughout, reference to supplementary regulations and standards are provided for further reading, and where appropriate, design calculations are included. Online lecture resources are provided, with power point slides available for a selection of topics, featuring essential illustrations for use with presentations and handouts.

The Handbook is an invaluable reference for students. It consolidates several years of study material into one comprehensive volume, suitable for a wide range of building and construction courses, including NVQs in Construction and the Built Environment, BTEC Nationals and Higher Nationals in Building Services Engineering, Construction and Civil Engineering, as well as construction related undergraduate degrees (such as Built Environment, Civil Engineering, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Building, Architectural Technology and Facilities Management) and professional examinations.

Available from the LRC

This book is stocked at Moreton Morrell, Pershore and Rugby LRC’s. To check the availablity why not use the College AquaBrowser system? If you are unsure of how to use AquaBrowser you might fine this video tutorial helpful.

Working in the construction industry

If you enjoy being part of a team, or like to work with machines, you might want to consider a career in construction. Find out more on what skills you need, opportunities and how to get help in finding a job.

About the construction industry

The construction industry can offer jobs for all kinds of people aged 16 and upwards. You could find yourself building or repairing offices, houses, shops, roads and bridges. There are over 700 jobs in this sector. You could start at a junior level and work your way up to be a surveyor, manager or supervisor.

Jobs in the construction sector

A building project needs many people with lots of different skills. You could be a roofer, a scaffolder or a steel fixer.

You can train to be a crane driver, a road worker or a quarry operative. If you are good at sorting things out you could be a site manager, planner or office staff.

Advantages of working in construction

There are many advantages to working in construction. For example:

• excellent opportunities – there are still a variety of jobs available in the construction industry
• safety standards – many of the jobs are manual and good companies will always provide training to keep you safe and well
• equality – nearly 200,000 women work in this sector and there are good jobs for everyone
• good pay and opportunities – if you work hard you can move up the career ladder and could even set up your own business
• full training – you can train on the job or go to college; It’s your choice

More Information

To find out more information about a career in the construction industry why not visit the Construction Skills website.

New Codes of Practice on Equine Diseases for 2010

Each year, the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) updates and publishes Codes of Practice on:

Venereally transmitted bacterial diseases caused by the contagious equine metritis organism CEMO, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA); Equine herpesvirus (EHV); Equine coital exanthema (ECE); Equine infectious anaemia (EIA); Guidelines on Strangles.

Any of the above diseases can have serious consequences for horse and pony breeding. They can compromise welfare, disrupt breeding activity, cause economic loss to mare and stallion owners and are costly to deal with.

The Codes of Practice set out minimum recommendations for the prevention of these diseases and for their control, should they occur, during horse or pony breeding activities. The recommendations apply to all breeds of horse and pony, and to both natural mating and AI.

 Copies are available FREE from MM LRC, whilst stocks last. 

Download your own copy from http://www.hblb.org.uk/sndFile.php?fileID=58

posted by Steph

Book Swap

Engineering and motor vehicle e-books at the LRCs

The LRC now has 11 engineering and motor vehicle e-books that can be accessed via the library catalogue on the LRC Intranet pages or through the following the link: http://webopac.warkscol.ac.uk/vs/List.csp?SearchT1=engineering&Index1=Keywords&Database=1&BoolOp2=AND&SearchT2=motor+vehicle&Index2=Keywords&BoolOp3=AND&SearchT3=&Index3=Keywords&Year1=&Year2=&PublicationType=EBOOK&Price1=0&Price2=99999&Profile=Default&NumberToRetrieve=50&OpacLanguage=eng&SearchMethod=Find_3&SearchTerm1=engineering&SearchTerm2=motor+vehicle&SearchTerm3=&PreviousList=Start&PageType=Start&EncodedRequest=*09*2C1*2E*D6o*A3p*83QZ*A8*1C*9D*90j&WebPageNr=1&WebAction=NewSearch&StartValue=1&RowRepeat=2&MyChannelCount=

Here is a selection of the titles available:

Light and Heavy Vehicle Technology

 By M. J. Nunney

4th edition

 

 

ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook

 By David Hoyle

 6th edition

 

 

 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations : inspection, testing and certification

 By Brian Scadden

 6th edition

 

 

 Power Generation Handbook

 By Philip Kiameh

 

 

 

posted by Sophie

Theme week: Sustainability and the Environment

Green Week

19th – 23rd October 2009

 ‘Green Week’ – a sustainability and environment theme week – runs throughout this week. There will be information leaflets and display stands on the subject across all of Warwickshire Colleges’ sites. Activities on offer include:

•Design and decorate a sustainability t-shirt

•Name the college sustainability frog

Furthermore, students from Moreton Morrell and Pershore centres are invited to apply for the role of Sustainability Champion at: mhtml:http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/cms/content/public/intranet/college_information_and_support/student_association/sustainability_-_go_green/Sustainability_Champion.mht

For further infomation on Green Week and further resources and associated links, follow the links on th intranet: http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/intranet/default.asp?cNode=23689

You can find out more about what the college is doing towards recycling and take a look at the college sustainability policy at: http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/cms/content/public/intranet/college_information_and_support/estates/recycling_and_sustainability/web_info_dec_08/page_03.htm

posted by Sophie

FAWC’s new report on farm animal welfare in GB

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) reviews the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at markets, in transit and at the place of slaughter; and advises the Government of any legislative or other changes that may be necessary. It has just published it’s report on ‘Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain : Past, Present and Future’ (October 2009).

In this landmark Report, FAWC has examined the effectiveness of British policy on farm animal welfare since the Brambell Report in 1965 and sets out a strategy that will lead to improvements in welfare over the next 20 years.

The main conditions that FAWC believe to be necessary for ethical consumerism and improved farm animal welfare are:

i. The Government to act as the guardian of farm animal welfare

ii. Standards for a good life to be defined by an independent body

iii. Minimum welfare standards to be defined by an animal’s quality of life

iv. Stockmen to be educated and trained to a high standard about animal welfare

v. Welfare assessment to be valid, feasible and rigorous with independent audit

vi. The food supply chain to show due diligence with marketing claims verified

vii. Citizens to be educated about food and farming from childhood

viii. Animal products to be labelled according to welfare provenance to provide consumer choice.

To read the full report go to http://www.fawc.org.uk/pdf/ppf-report091012.pdf

posted by Steph

Want a fun day out during half term?

Manchester Science Festival 2009

From 24th October – 1st November, explore, discover and enjoy over 150 science events for both families and adults taking place at venues across Greater Manchester.

 

This year’s festival themes are Manchesticity, Mind and body, Our planet and beyond, and Bright ideas. The Festival programme is now available online at www.manchestersciencefestival.com and bookings can be made for events where numbers are limited – vistit the website to browse this year’s themes, use the search options or view the whole programme.

There’s walks, talks, workshops, shows, comedy, exhibitions and more all in the name of science. Enjoy!

Visit www.manchestersciencefestival.com for more information.

posted by Sophie

The Basics of an AquaBrowser Library Search

Performing a search in AquaBrowser Library is easy. Simply type one or more search terms (the words or phrase that best describe the information you want to find) into the search box and press the Enter key or click on the Search button.

AquaBrowser then instantly produces the results: in the center is a list of the most relevant findings; on the left is a word cluster of related findings; and on the right is a comprehensive menu of choices that allows you to point the search in specific directions.

posted by Tim

Say goodbye to the books?

THE FORMER LIBRARY AT CUSHING ACADEMY, NEW ENGLAND, HAS REPLACED ALL THEIR BOOKS WITH INFORMATION AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES!

In addition to desktop and laptop computers, they have installed flat screen TVs that project data from the internet and have purchased electronic readers giving access to millions of electronic resources.

Read more  in this article from The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/04/a_library_without_the_books/?page=1

What do you think? Add a comment…

Posted by Alison

Wind Farms : do you have a problem with wind?

Government legislation requires that by 2010 10% of electricity supply must come from renewable sources. Wind power is currently the most cost effective alternative energy and produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products. There are a number of websites outlining the facts and myths about wind energy and the impact wind farms have on the environment, countryside and wildlife.

 We are all too well aware of the need for alternative sources of energy, however, how would we feel if they impacted on our own backyard?

Currently there is a proposal to erect up to 6 wind turbines on farmland close to the villages of Knightcote, Gaydon, Northend and Bishops Itchington (http://www.starboldwindfarm.co.uk/).

With the very real prospect of windfarms being built in our local area, is it time we found out about the facts and myths of wind energy for ourselves and ask ourselves: are wind farms good or bad for the environment; is beauty is in the eye of the beholder; or are they just a blot on the landscape?

posted by Lucy