Important changes to authentication of library eResources

The Library is upgrading the system that handles authentication for our Library eResources (online journals, eBooks, electronic databases) on Monday, September 16.

The new system, Shibboleth, will provide increased security and reliability, and a more streamlined user experience. It is widely recognised as the industry standard for library resource authentication across the UK.

From Monday, you should still sign in to Library eResources as normal (i.e. via the University log-in page using your University log-in details).

While we are not anticipating any major disruption to eResources, there may be some temporary access issues while the migration is carried out. Some resources may also require users to undertake additional steps to relink to their personalised content (saved searches etc.)

Information for RefWorks users

As a result of the changes to our authenticaiton system, RefWorks users are required to perform a one-time relink of their personal RefWorks account when next logging into RefWorks. This relink is necessary to retain access to personalised content, including references, folders, and custom settings. 

A step-by-step guide to relinking your RefWorks account can be found here: Relinking Your RefWorks Account – A Guide For Users

Information for users with personal Elsevier accounts

As a result of the changes to our authenticaiton system, users with personal Elsevier accounts are required to perform a one-time relink of their personal Elsevier account when next logging into one of the Elsevier platforms. This relink is necessary to retain access to personalised content, including saved searches and reading history. The Elsevier platforms are:

  • Science Direct 
  • Scopus 
  • Knovel 
  • SciVal 
  • Engineering Village 

Please note that the relinking process will look different in each platform, it is therefore recommended that you use ScienceDirect where possible so that your experience matches the steps in the following guide: Relinking Your Elsevier Account – A Guide For Users

If you do encounter any issues, please report them directly to the Library eResources team at ertenq@gcu.ac.uk.

We will update this blog with further details as we progress with the system migration.

GCU London Library: Temporary Opening Hours January 2024

The GCU London Library will be open as follows over the listed two week period in January (Monday 8 January 2024 until Sunday 21 January 2024):

Day Date Time
Monday 08/01/24 9am to 7pm
Tuesday 09/01/24 9am to 7pm
Wednesday 10/01/24 9am to 7pm
Thursday 11/01/24 9am to 7pm
Friday 12/01/24 9am to 7pm
Saturday 13/01/24 Closed
Sunday 14/01/24 Closed
Monday 15/01/24 9am to 7pm
Tuesday 16/01/24 9am to 7pm
Wednesday 17/01/24 9am to 7pm
Thursday 18/01/24 9am to 7pm
Friday 19/01/24 9am to 7pm
Saturday 20/01/24 Closed
Sunday 21/01/24 Closed

 

GCU London Library: Festive Opening Hours 2023/24

The GCU London Library will be open as follows over the Festive period 2023/24:

Day

Date

Time

Monday

18/12/2023

9am to 7pm

Tuesday

19/12/2023

9am to 7pm

Wednesday

20/12/2023

9am to 7pm

Thursday

21/12/2023

9am to 7pm

Friday

22/12/2023

9am to 7pm

Saturday

23/12/2023

Closed

Sunday

24/12/2023

Closed

Monday

25/12/2023

Closed

Tuesday

26/12/2023

Closed

Wednesday

27/12/2023

Closed

Thursday

28/12/2023

Closed

Friday

29/12/2023

Closed

Saturday

30/12/2023

Closed

Sunday

31/12/2023

Closed

Monday

01/01/2024

Closed

Tuesday

02/01/2024

9am to 7pm

Wednesday

03/01/2024

9am to 7pm

Thursday

04/01/2024

9am to 7pm

Friday

05/01/2024

9am to 7pm

Saturday

06/01/2024

Closed

Sunday

07/01/2024

Closed

Technical issue [Scopus] – issue resolved

Please be aware that we are currently experiencing access issues to the resource Scopus.

We are currently working with the vendor to resolve this issue ASAP and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

UPDATE [14 November, 13:33]

This issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience, and our apologies once more for any inconvenience caused.

Level 4 closed 20 to 23 October 2023

Level 4 of the Sir Alex Ferguson Library will be closed from 5pm on Friday 20 October until 7am on Monday 23 October to allow improvements to power and USB charging provision at study spaces to be carried out.

There will also be some minor work carried out on Level 2 of the Library but the floor will remain open.

We thank you for your patience while this work is carried out.

 

Extended Weekend Opening Hours – Trimesters A & B

You asked, and we listened!

We received feedback asking us to extend opening hours in the library at the weekend to offer greater flexibility for students with caring or work commitments. We are delighted to say that from now on for Trimesters A and B, we will be open from 10am until 11pm on Saturday and Sunday. In Trimester C the library will be open until 6pm at the weekend.

https://www.gcu.ac.uk/currentstudents/essentials/library/usingthelibrary/openinghours

Research Cafés at GCU

Image of two people sitting and talking. Image contains three arrow shapes that contain text: 1 Join the conversation... Research Cafe, Relax and Renew; 2 Introducing... a new opportunity to share your research, 3 Nurture connections and generate ideas in a relaxed environment.

Image of two people sitting and talking. Image contains three arrow shapes that contain text: 1 Join the conversation… Research Cafe, Relax and Renew; 2 Introducing… a new opportunity to share your research, 3 Nurture connections and generate ideas in a relaxed environment.

Next week sees the launch of a series of Research Cafés at GCU. A Research Café is an informal opportunity for staff, students, and the public to meet and talk about GCU research. 

Each Café will have two contributors, who will each give a short talk and then lead a discussion about their area of research. The other participants – other researchers, staff, students, or members of the public – can join the conversation at any table, choose to change to another table, or leave at any time. Research Cafés are informal events that won’t bring any additional admin to contributors or participants – you need only turn up for the hour, and enjoy a free coffee, or tea, and biscuit!  

The Cafés are part of a wider University ‘research sandscape’ initiative intended to seed and nurture connections between researchers from different disciplines and encourage them to generate novel ideas for the Mission Oriented Research support call MORE@GCU.

The Cafés will be held in the Relax and Renew Space in the Sir Alex Ferguson Library and the dates and times for the first 4 are: 

  • Monday 31 October @ Noon – 1pm 
  • Wednesday 16 November @ Noon – 1pm 
  • Friday 2 December @ 10am – 11am 
  • Wednesday 14 December @ 11am – Noon