Computing and Engineering Blog

Exam time again.

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:06:12 -0400

Next week is the start of the Summer exam timetable: The library can help you in a number of ways.

We have extended our opening hours at St Peter’s Library for the exam period . We will be 24/7 from 19.30pm Tuesday 7th May for approx 3 weeks. Check out the library website for more information.

Find a space to revise, we have a number of Quiet spaces suitable for revising , look out for the posters which direct you to these spaces or ask the St Peter’s Library staff where these spaces are. We also have a Silent Reading room , this is a technology free zone and is open only during staffed hours.

Not sure when your exam is and what you need to do. Check out this link Examination Timetables for all information on everything exam related .

If you need help on how to revise or other study skills this is the link to the study skills website Also on the study skills website are links to useful guides on revising.

Always go into your exam prepared. Have you got a pen, pencil, eraser, ruler. If you have to use a calculator is it working. Forgot your pen or pencil, ask at the library helpdesk as you can purchase pens and pencils from the library.

Happy revising and Good Luck in your exams

New books in the library

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:29:49 -0400

The library now has a number of new books for computing and engineering students.

We now have the Mechanics of Materials for Dummies, this book covers subject such as material behaviour, stress, fatique and movement. It also covers key mechanics concepts and contains helpful tips on solving problems.

The 3rd Edition of CMOS: circuit design, layout and simulation is also now available. This book covers the BSIM model and analog/digital circuit blocks.

ACM: Learning Center

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:06:31 -0400

The Association for Computing Machinery has excellent information resources and events for staff and students in the subject area of computing and engineering on their Learning Center webpage :

The latest Learning Webinar from the ACM Learning Center is on the subject of Engineering Software as a Service and covers Software as a Service (SaaS), the topics are the synergy between SaaS and Agile and frameworks like Ruby on the Rails. The presenter is David Patterson of University of California. The webinar is open to all and takes place on Wednesday 8th May at 6pm GMT.

Click on the ACM link to find out more.

Referex : A collection of Engineering books available online

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:30:38 -0400

Need Engineering information for an assignment or research and need to access it quickly . Have you looked at our Referex online collection of Engineering books. The books are accessed via Discover on the library website, login into Discover, click on the A-Z link and then Resources. Scroll down to the Referex links. There are 2 collections Electronics & Electrical and Materials & Mechanical. Some of the books also cover computer engineering subjects such as Wireless and Embedded Systems

This is a small example of the books that you can access

Looking for Engineering journals

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:21:52 -0400

Did you know that the library has a package of Engineering journals on the Emerald database. There are 3 main areas for Engineers, Mechanical & Materials Engineering , Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Operations & Logistics Management . Some of the journals in these areas are Multi Discipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, Sensor Review & Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management.

How do you find these journals . Click on Discover on the library webpage, sign in , click on A-Z and then Resources, scroll down and click on the link for Emerald.

Where to get help with your assignments during the Spring vacation

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:54:56 -0400

If you are going home for the Spring Vacation and you find you need help to find information for your assignments while you are away, check out the library website for how we can support you .

We have a Help section that has guides and tutorials that will help you use our resources to find the information you want. Click on the Help link on the library website, then the Skills for Learning section where you will find tutorials on how to use Discover to find journal articles.

There are also a good range of e-books for Computing and Engineering on the library catalogue, which you can read online or download for the day. Use the Finding and Evaluating information section in the Skills for Learning to access tutorials which tell you how to search the catalogue for e-books and also the Study skills section for information on how to reference your work.

If you need to contact us for further help, the details are at the bottom the the library webpage.

Keep Calm and have a good Spring Vacation

National Science & Engineering Week 15th March -24th March

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:04:05 -0400

As part of the National Science & Engineering Week there are a variety of events going on. These events also continue throughout 2013. Check out the following links to events that are taking place around the UK.

The Ig Nobel Awards Tour 2013 4th April IET Savoy Place, London

In the North East From 27th-28th April is the Maker Faire at the Centre Of Life in Newcastle, which is a showcase for invention & creativity for all ages.

Also the British Science Association website has good links to events going on all over the UK celebrating all areas of Science , i.e Engineering, Psychology and Sociology. Including information on the British Science Festival which is taking place in Newcastle from the 7-12 September 2013.

Find out more about the winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:48:19 -0400

Want to find out more about the winners , who are they , what have they done to win this prize. Click on the names of the winners and you will find profiles or books written by them.

Louis Pozin , Tim Berners Lee , Vint Cerf, Robert Kahn, Marc Andreessen

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2013

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:39:40 -0400

Louis Pozin, Robert Kahn, Vint Cerf, Tim Berners Lee and Marc Andreessen are the recipients of the first Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. They where chosen for their groundbreaking work from the 1970’s and to the present day which led to the Internet and the Worldwide Web become the global communication phenomena it is today.

ACM-Association for Computing Machinery

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:55:31 -0400

Have you checked out ACM’s website for up to date news , blogs , featured items etc on all aspects of computing. Of particular interest is their Learning Webinars , on April 23rd this features a talk by Google Vice Pesident Vint Cerf about the ”Internet’s Future Social Implications: Upheaval or ‘Trek’s’ Promise”

It is free to register and previous Learning Webinars are also available to view.

Mechanicals - Participatory Event in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne - NewcastleGateshead

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:59:44 -0500

Mechanicals - Participatory Event in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne - NewcastleGateshead

Library Roadshow at David Goldman Bld 28th Feb

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:56:35 -0500

Come and meet your liasion librarians Lynne & Angela on Thursday 28th 11-3 in the foyer of David Goldman Building for Adventures in Conservation

New Engineering book

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:34:45 -0500

The library now have in stock the Engineers Data Book .

This book is available in print or online Click on the book to find more

IEEE Xplore Digital Library training for Off-Campus Students

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:58:40 -0500

The librarian for Computing & Engineering has organised an advanced training session delivered by a trainer from Contentonline on how to get the best out of IEEE Xplore Digital Library for on campus students and staff.

The training is going to be filmed and will be available to off-campus students as soon as possible after the training on the 14th Feb.

IEEE Xplore Digital LibraryTraining Thursday 14th Feb 2pm

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:53:03 -0500

The librarian for Computing & Engineering has organised an advanced training session delivered by a trainer from Contentonline on how to get the best out of IEEE Xplore Digital Library.

The trainer will also show you any exciting new features coming soon to IEEE Xplore Digital Library and will answer any questions you have at the end of the session.

All Computing and Engineering students and staff are welcome to attend.

The venue is the Prospect Building Rm007 Lecture Theatre at 2pm

Changes to Discover Log in

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 07:25:03 -0500

How you login into Discover has changed.

The login is now at the top of page and is called University of Sunderland login.

This then takes you to the MySunderland login box for you to enter your UserId and password.

Assignment Etiquette- Collecting Assignments

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:42:39 -0500

Collecting assignments or feedback from the library can be just as easy as handing in assignments . There are just a few things you need to remember to help you.

Your lecturer has told you your marked assignment is at the library to pick up. Important: When an assignment is returned to us it will be 24hrs or more before the assignment is ready to collect, we have to put the assignments in order and check if we have received all the assignments back.

Always check out the Assignment services blog on the library website or on Mysunderland (on mysunderland, click on me, assignments to collect) before you come into the library this will make sure you will not have a wasted journey to collect your assignment.

On the blog choose your subject i.e. computing, which level you are and the module code i.e. CET202 . The module details will tell you that the assignment is ready to collect and the date that the library will hold this assignment till. Due to space issues assignments are normally only kept for 4 weeks (this time is extended during vacations)

Once you have found out that your assignment is ready to collect, there are a couple of things you need to know and bring to the library desk for you to pick up your assignment. First you need to know the module code, secondly we need some form of identification. Your Campus/library card is your best proof of identity but we will accept other forms i.e a driving license.

If you have come to collect your assignment and it is not there , don’t worry, it may be that your assignment has gone to the external examiner or the lecturer still has it. In this situation it is your lecturer who you need to contact.

Assignment Etiquette- Handing in work at the library

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:22:40 -0500

When you are handing in or collecting your assignments there are a number of things you need to remember to make this as easy as possible for you.

Handing in your assignment

You will need to fill in the cover sheet for your faculty. Computing and Engineering the coversheet is the Faculty of Applied Science. Important details you need on the cover sheet are your name, your student ID, the module code, module title, lecturers name and handin date. Always make sure your details are clear on all the cover sheet copies by pressing hard on the top sheet as these copies are the Faculty and library receipt.

If you are handing in any CD’s, USB’s or DVD’s with your assignment they must be attached to your work in some way and you must have your details written on whatever you have handed in (the librarydesk does have CD pens which you can borrow for this purpose). The library helpdesk also sells CD wallets and polypockets if you need them. Try and have everything filled in and attached before you are ready to handin any work. The library desk is open from 8.30am Monday to Friday

The library will stamp your cover sheet with the time and date and give you a receipt. This is your proof you have handed in your work. The library staff will also staple your work to the cover sheet if this is needed.

At times the library helpdesk can be very busy as we will may have more than one handin that day. Give yourself plenty of time to handin before any deadline time and please be patient, the library staff will try and deal with everyone as quickly as possible.

We are here to help

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:05:00 -0500

Assignments, where to find resources.

If you are doing assignments at the moment and need to find research papers, or just to read up on a subject such as Software engineering check out the library website .

For books search the library catalogue, we have books in print and available on line

For research or conference papers click on Discover.

If you need any further help ask at the library helpdesk or contact your librarian for Computing and Engineering lynne.robinson@sunderland.ac.uk

Discover resources online to help you over the holidays

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:50:17 -0500

If you need books or journals over the holidays check out our e-books on the library catalogue and Discover for online journals . For Engineers we also have a range of e-books available on the Referex database on Discover . Go to A-Z , then Resources on Discover and scroll down to the Referex link, click on E-book search and search by collection or subject.