Stay Cool on Australia Day

Posted by David on 24 January, 2019

The Australia Day holiday next Monday is the last public holiday before the academic year officially begins, and it’s going to be–as we say in Oz–a scorcher!

If you find the weather a little too warm for beaches and barbecues, and you’re keen to start preparing for Semester One, you’ll be happy to know that QUT Library (Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove branches) will be open for business from 9am to 5pm. Feel free to come in and use the computer labs, borrow a book, or maybe visit a HiQ service point for assistance with… pretty much anything!

If you are planning to stay at home this Australia Day, the Library’s wide selection of ebooks and online videos will keep you entertained while you relax in air-conditioned or fan-induced comfort. There’s plenty of Australian content to help you get into the spirit of our national day (even though the official date is January 26th).

Come sundown, it’s time to venture outdoors and head to Southbank for the Australia Day Fireworks. No sunscreen required!

It’s Christmas time, and there’s no need to be afraid…

Posted by Sandra on 18 December, 2018

Around the world and across Australia the Christian celebration of Christmas is in the air (and on our screens, in our ears and along our streets).

For many it’s a time to catch up with friends and family, to have some time off work or study, to go to the beach, and to relax with a good book.

With such a vibrant international staff and student community at QUT we thought we’d provide a quick guide to Aussie Christmas protocols to help those who aren’t so familiar with the Aussie yule time traditions.

Do the Brisbane City Council Christmas lights tour – wandering through the suburbs and strangers’ backyards to see the houses and streets decorated for Christmas
Eat a hot roast lunch with heavy puddings served in scorching temperatures (you can replace with seafood and salads, but many don’t)
Play a backyard cricket match after lunch (over the fence is six and out, and you can’t get out on the first ball). Alternatively, collapse into a chair and vow never to eat again.
Head to the beach– possibly the best way to spend the day.
Watch on as uncles and father’s make their way to the hospital emergency department on Christmas afternoon after “demonstrating” how to ride a child’s new skateboard.

We know for many, having Christmas in Summer is just plain weird, but whatever you get up to over the break you can still access all of our QUT Library resources online, including a range of Christmas-themed books, eBooks and videos from children’s literature to Christmas cooking, to streaming Christmas movies.

All campus libraries will be closed from Saturday 21st December until Tuesday 2nd January. Have a safe and relaxing break – we’ll see you in the new year.

Brisbane City Council Christmas parade

International Human Rights Day

Posted by Sandra on 9 December, 2018

On Monday 10 December we celebrate International Human Rights Day. While it will be celebrated in different ways by different people, the message around the world is the same.

This year the Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70. The document, which proclaimed the inalienable right to which all human beings are entitled — regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, is the most translated in the world.

A really lovely representation of these principals, and a great way to share them with a younger audience is the illustrated edition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s published by the United Nations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

QUT is heavily involved in research into the area of human rights. Here’s some of our most recently published works about the current challenges and issues in the area — available in QUT’s ePrints repository.

O’Brien, Erin (2019) Challenging the Human Trafficking Narrative: Victims, Villains, and Heroes.

Kauli, Jackie & Thomas, Verena (2018) Communicating the law: A participatory communication toolkit for human rights defenders in Papua New Guinea.

Huggins, Anna & Lewis, Bridget (2018) The Paris Agreement: Development, the North-South divide and human rights.

Mann, Monique, Warren, Ian, & Kennedy, Sally (2018) The legal geographies of transnational cyber-prosecutions: extradition, human rights and forum shifting.

#StandUp4HumanRights

Summer Reading

Posted by Catherine on 3 December, 2018

You’ve finished all the course readings for your studies for the year or you’re winding up those work projects and now, it’s time for you to do some recreational reading and have a little ‘me time’.

QUT Library has fiction and non-fiction books for all ages for your recreational reading needs. Discover a new author or genre that you’ve never read before. This summer could be a great opportunity to venture into your first graphic novel or a new Christmas themed children’s book from our wonderful curriculum collection at Kelvin Grove.

We have ebooks and audiobooks too, so if you’re on a summer break, it’s not too late get some holiday reading fun. Use the ebook databases to browse our collections today (details can be found here).

Time to get out of here?

Posted on 22 November, 2018

The Library has plenty of travel guides to plan your well deserved break

Whether you are heading off on a road trip, flying interstate or internationally we have got you covered. There are loads of guides at the Kelvin Grove Library as well as online that you can access from anywhere.

Here are some quick links for some travel guides:

Or just type in the destination of your choice and add the words ‘travel guide’ here on our Library homepage

If you are on campus you can also browse the collection at the Kelvin Grove Library on the 3rd floor in the 915 call number area.

Whatever you do we wish you well for a safe holiday break!

A Portrait of the Artist: Nick Earls on William Robinson

Posted by David on 19 November, 2018

Prolific Brisbane novelist and short-story writer Nick Earls has turned to non-fiction to celebrate one of Australia’s most significant living artists in William Robinson: A new perspective.

Commissioned by QUT’s William Robinson Gallery at Gardens Point Campus, Earls’ enlightening and often humorous chronicle of Robinson’s life and work comes in an attractive hardcover edition, available at the Gallery and at the QUT Bookshop.

William Robinson: A new perspective was launched in tandem with the Gallery’s currently showing Nature Imagined exhibition, featuring Robinson’s visionary renderings of the landscapes of South East Queensland.

For a more interactive experience,The Cube (Gardens Point Campus) is displaying selected Robinson landscapes digitised at high resolution, allowing you to zoom in on the details and gain insights into his techniques.

Want to learn more about William Robinson and his work? Keen to sample some of Nick Earls’ fiction? The QUT Library is an invaluable resource.

The Invincible Spirit of Queenslanders (Portrayed through their built environment) – 100 Years of ANZAC

Posted by Catherine on 2 November, 2018

11 November (Remembrance Day) 2018 marks the 100^th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice – the agreement that led to the end of the First World War (1914-1918).

The Cube at QUT Gardens Point is hosting a free digital exhibition from 2-11 November to commemorate the Queensland soldiers and families who answered the call from the British to join the First World War. It incorporates their stories and images to bring to life their journey to the front, repatriation and the return home.

There are also stories of events and places that helped to shape Queensland to be the place it is today. More information is available at http://www.thecube.qut.edu.au/cube-screens/2018/anzac.php?short.

There is also a curated display in Old Government House at Gardens Point from 11 October to 11 January 2019 and is also free. http://www.ogh.qut.edu.au/whats-on/2018/invincible-spirit.php

On the 11 November, there are events all over the country and state that you can attend to show your support. Find out more at https://anzac100.initiatives.qld.gov.au/.

QUT Libraries have a whole host of material on the First World War if you want to do your own investigations. For the school teachers among you, there are kits available to share with your classes.

Lest we forget.

The Invincible Spirit of Queenslanders – Portrayed through their built environment

All set for Exams with extended Library Opening Hours

Posted on 31 October, 2018

Extended Library opening hours

Gardens Point Library has extended opening hours for the Semester 2 exam period.

Up until Friday 16 November 2018 the library will be open:

Monday – Friday: 7am-2am
Saturday – Sunday: 9am-2am

More information about services and spaces during these hours can be found here

A couple of last minute exam tips:

Selected past examinations papers can be browsed directly at QUT Readings: Examination Papers.
There are useful guides to help you prepare for exams on your Digital Workplace/HiQ

Good luck from everyone here at the QUT Library!

Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

Posted by Catherine on 17 October, 2018

The Brisbane International Film Festival is on now and runs until the 21^st October. “BIFF 2018 celebrates contemporary international and Australian screen culture with new release features and documentaries, shorts programs and retrospectives, alongside screenings with live music, conversations, panel discussions and more.” https://biff.com.au/festival-details/

There are multiple venues in and around the City and you can sign up to their BIFF e-news emails for discounted tickets.

Cinema going not your thing or not within your budget? QUT Libraries has a wide selection of online feature films, documentaries, TV series, news and more as well as DVDs for you to take home. Use the How to find… Videos and DVDs guide to find something new today.

National Nutrition Week

Posted by Catherine on 16 October, 2018

National Nutrition Week

(14-20 October #NNW2018)

Over two decades ago Nutrition Australia initiated healthy eating week with the aim of promoting greater vegetable intake in Australian homes and diets. National Nutrition Week’s theme for 2018 is Tryfor5. That is, try to eat 5 serves of vegetables a day! Eating vegetables has many health benefits and coming into exam period, you want your mind and body to be at their peak so why not try out a new flavour sensation?

On their website, they have lots of recipes for you to try – Australian favourites, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner recipes to inspire your mind and tantalise your tastebuds. http://www.tryfor5.org.au/australia-s-favourite-recipes 😋

The Library has recipe books to inspire you to be the next Masterchef or the master of your own menu. There are cook books for those who are intolerant of certain ingredients and those who want to try something new or a new take on an old favourite. Take a look in Quick Find today.