Connect@UCB

This semester all UCB students have access to a new service from the library. Connect@UCB is an online help desk which you can visit to get support in finding useful information. Simply log on during the advertised hours and a member of staff will be available to help with your enquiry - perfect if you're unable to make it into College!

The desk will initially be open each weekday from 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm.

To access Connect@UCB, you will first need a Wimba Pronto account - information about this software and getting a free account is available from UCBOnline.

A user guide for Connect@UCB is available from this link.

TripAdvisor's Top 25

London has been well and truly overlooked in the recent TripAdvisor awards. The results do not bode well for the Olympics, now just 2 years away, and it would appear London need to substantially up their game in order to provide the standard of accommodation expected.

Top of Trip Advisors list was Rudding Park near Harrogate, which was also voted 6th in the list of Best Luxury Hotels in the World! Manor Coach House in Worcester was placed 2nd. The full list of 25 can be found here

Cherry ripe...

The previous posting lead me here... Yes, for a mere £30 a year you can rent your own cherry tree! For that, you will receive 6 newsletters in the year updating you on the progress of the crop, a blossom walk to enjoy in the spring along with your own personal (human?!) point of contact! The site claims that the average tree's yield is something like 20 kilos and considering you pay upwards of £6 a kilo in the shops on average, it looks like this is pretty good value, assuming you are able to get to the orchard of course!

Summer is icumen in?

Well, it may not seem like it at the moment, but Summer is theoretically upon us! and food festivals are taking place around the country as we speak. The Hampshire Food Festival began just yesterday (July 8th) and continues to the end of the month; but if you head a little further south you could check out the seafood village at the Dorset Seafood Festival (11th - 13th July). Alternatively, if you're planning a northerly trip this weekend, how does the Pontefract Liquorice Festival sound? Enjoy the famous Liquorice Day in the Town Centre, and sample fresh locally produced, and international Liquorice products.

If you're looking for something to tickle your taste buds next weekend, Saturday (19th July) is the first ever National Cherry Day... The culmination of 'CherryAid', a Foodloversbritain.com campaign to save the British cherry industry. There will be events up and down the country including demonstrations, orchard walks and cherry tastings at selected Marks and Spencer stores.

And talking of cherries... Actually, I think this warrants a separate posting!

All in the Method

Thought it was about time I did some new postings! I have an event to publicise, a resource to promote and some free journals to give away! This one is concerned with the resource which is called, simply ‘Methodology’. Not only is it free, but it’s also very useful for anyone interested in research methods or looking at qualitative/ quantitative research and statistics. Methodology is actually run by SAGE, so the journals section will link purely to their publications, but all other sections are totally unbiased. I’ve put a link to the site in the relevant link area to the right.

Ludlow Day

The event is another of those from the Institute of Hospitality: Heart of England branch. It takes place on Saturday 28th June at the Ludlow Food Centre. Starting at 11am, the day will include coffee, and pastries on arrival, a presentation by Production Manager George Rizzardini on the start-up, progress and future developments of the centre , plus lunch and a days programme of events incorporating tours of the production kitchens, dairy, and coffee shop. The price of the event is £12, and to book you need to fill in the booking form which can be found here.

Link Journal

Lastly for now, I’ve got half a dozen or so copies of the latest issue of Link (The HEA: HLST publication). This issue is number 21 and all the articles are Scottish-related, covering topics such as Quality Assurance; Enhancing graduate attributes and Engagement and empowerment. Please come to the Subject Librarian office if you would like a copy