New Library Website - subject portals

We recently redesigned our library website and we think it's much better that what we had. One of the enhancements that we like is our redesigned subject portals. They're web pages, as opposed to PDFs, and for each subject they contain:

A description of DBS subscribed databases for that subject (and a link to search them)
A link to relevant journals on that subject, from our A to Z
A link to our delicious site where subject-relevant web resources are bookmarked
A link to the database search page
A link to the library guides page
A customised search engine that searches web resources relevant to the specific subject. As an example check out the Anthropology search engine on the right of this page. A few of these may still be under construction, so be patient. If you can think of any websites/web resources that should be included in these search engines, do let us know

Meet the new blog...

The new library website has a number of enhancements. One of which is an internally hosted blog. This blog is hosted by Google and is external to the library website. More people look at the library website than the blog, so as our American cousins would say "do the math"! We'll keep this around for a while, but for DBS library news and views start looking at http://library.dbs.ie/blog.htm, which we'll try to fill with unbeatable ways to get rich and tips on how to stay young and slim or perhaps, instead, how to get more out of your library.

Ask a Librarian

As you may or may not have noticed, the 'Ask a Librarian' box has disappeared. That's not because we don't want you to ask us anything, but because we're moving it to the library website. What do you mean it's not there? I mean the new improved library website which will be appearing very soon, honest. We were basically testing proof of concept here, and though we love this blog, we realise that the library website gets more traffic - there's little point in having instant chat on a site that doesn't get much traffic (unless of course, you don't want people to chat to you...). Stay tuned all you loyal readers (me, my Auntie Mary and a three-legged dog in Copenhagen)!

Last chance to win a €50 HMV voucher!

Just a reminder that if you haven't already filled in our online questionnaire with your feedback on and suggestions for the new library website you'd better do so before the end of this week to be in with a chance to win a €50 HMV voucher.

Just click on the link on the main page or CLICK HERE

The winner will be announced next week

Welcome to DBS Library Website Week!

All this week (Oct 20-27th) we will be focusing on the new library website, highlighting some of the library's new online features and helping you get the most out of the library website.

Daily features of website week will be;

• a daily spotlight on one of the library's new online features


• a recommended website of the day


• some trivia, with a famous librarian of the day

There will also be a chance for you to have your say about the library website by filling in our survey questionnaire (either online using the link on the home page or filling in a copy in the library) and you could win €50 HMV voucher.

If you have any questions about any of the library's online facilities you can send them to laura.rooney@dbs.ie

So check in here throughout the week to learn more about what the library website has to offer ...

Update from the Library

Those of you who have dropped into this section lately will notice, posts have been a little sparse...

Through the summer DBS Library staff have been busy working on a number of projects aimed at improving our services.
Foremost among these is the creation of a NEW LIBRARY WEBSITE. The new site is due to launch shortly and will bring all the library's contact information, guides, services and products together in one easily accessible location. Among the features of the new site will be;

• An A-Z listing of all the library's subscribed journals (electronic & print) which will link directly to the online full text
• A federated search facility which will allow students to search all the library's electronic resources simultaneously (library catalogue, databases, ebooks, ejournals)
• Academic support tutorials including Podcasts and online guides

Keep an eye on the Library section in the student intranet or the Library blog for details of when the new site will launch.