A Celebration of Books… and Copyright!

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Posted by David on 18 April, 2019

For those who love books (and who doesn’t?), 23 April is World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, an annual UNESCO event promoting books, reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

World Book Day is a great time to rediscover the thrill of reading for pleasure, and QUT Library has plenty to choose from when it comes to recreational reading, including free access to collections of ebooks and audiobooks that can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet.

When it comes to the slightly less fun but equally important issue of copyright, the Library’s Copyright Guide contains a lot of useful information. See, in particular, the section on copyright as it applies to study and research.

Finally, some World Book Day trivia: UNESCO chose 23 April because it’s a significant date in world literature. William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), and historian Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died on that date in the year 1616.

World Poetry Day 2019

Posted by David on 21 March, 2019

“Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.” So said eighteenth-century English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. If Shelley were alive today, he would no doubt be gearing up for World Poetry Day, an annual global celebration of poetry in all its forms.

Declared by UNESCO in 1999, WPD aims to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry; to support linguistic diversity through poetry; and above all to remind us that poetry is a living and vibrant mode of expression—as is evident from contemporary spoken-word forms such as rap and hip-hop, not to mention the popularity of poetry slams.

If you are looking to explore the world of poetry, QUT Library is an excellent resource. Our extensive selection of print and e-books has something for all tastes, from the ancient Homeric epic The Iliad to the works of contemporary poets including Queenslanders David Malouf, Ellen Van Neerven, and QUT Creative Writing lecturer Sarah Holland-Batt.

And check out the Library’s video streaming service, Kanopy, to see poets and poetry come to life on the screen: there are documentaries, filmed performances, and more!

Curious encounters with science, the arts + technology – Curiocity Brisbane 15 March – 3 April 2019

Posted by Catherine on 18 March, 2019

“Take a break from reality and immerse yourself in Curiocity Brisbane – a brand-new series of science, art and technology experiences spanning the Brisbane River. For 20 days starting in March, one-of-a-kind installations, pop-ups and interactive spaces crafted by local and international artists, technicians and makers will be on display and free for everyone to explore.” https://curiocitybrisbane.com/

The experiences are on both sides of the river including one on the lawn of Gardens Point Road, just near P Block. Why not start your journey there and make your way around to the other experiences? You can take your time to explore as they’re open 24/7. Are you coming to GP campus to do some study in the Library? Leave a little earlier and take in some experiences on your way in. Who knows, it may just inspire you to create your own experience for next year’s event.

QUT Library can help with inspiration too. Search for art installation or art AND technology or art AND science and use the filters on the left to limit to Creative Works to see online images of past exhibits, art or installations from former QUT students, staff and external artists.

Longer library opening hours

Posted on 22 February, 2019

Extended opening at Gardens Point Library for Semester 1

From Monday 25 February to Friday 21 June 2019 the Gardens Point Library will be open:

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

(* with the exception of the mid-semester break, Saturday 20 – Sunday 28 April)

Services and study spaces

QUT students and staff will have extended access to all study spaces including study rooms, library collections (including the Course Reserve collection), and the 24-hour computer lab located on Level 2. QUT’s Wireless network is available to all QUT students and staff with a current QUT Access username and password.

HiQ will be available from 7am to 10pm weekdays, and 9am to 5pm on weekends. Self-help services available throughout the extended opening include:

borrowing via self-checkout
printing, copying and scanning from self-service printing stations.

Click here for building access details and further information

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.

Proud to celebrate Pride

Posted by Sandra on 19 September, 2018

QUT Library is celebrating Pride month with a display of LGBTIQA+ literature at Kelvin Grove library.

We have a selection of LGBTIQA+ children’s and young adult literature in our collection and many of our librarians are members of QUT’s Ally Network.

Allies are QUT staff trained to understand sexuality and gender issues and to provide ‘safe zones’, support and referral for staff and students who identify as LGBTIQA+.

At this weekend’s Brisbane Pride Rally & march QUT staff, students and supporters will be marching under a University Unity banner. Join with your work mates, friends or family and march to demonstrate acceptance, unity, inclusivity and support for the LGBTIQA+ community.

The parade kicks off at 10am on Saturday 22 September 2018. Gather from 9:30am at Brunswick Street between Ann Street and McLachlan Street. After some short speeches, the march will make its way down Brunswick Street through the Valley to New Farm Park, and the Fair Day festivities.

Australian Reading Hour

Posted by Catherine on 14 September, 2018

Australian Reading Hour

What is Australian Reading Hour? Australian Reading Hour is an initiative supported by the Australian Government, Better Reading and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund to encourage all Australians across the country to pick up a book and read for one hour on your own or with your children. It is being driven by libraries all across Australia to promote the benefits of reading.

What are the benefits of reading? Well, it helps to increase literacy and numeracy skills and has a positive and significant effect on your work. Reading reduces stress by 68%, relieving stress more quickly than listening to music, going for a walk or having a cup of tea, and we all know that tea fixes everything 😉. The more leisure books people read, the more literate they become and the more prosperous and equitable the society they live in becomes. Reading a gripping novel causes positive biological changes in the brain that can last for days. Who knew that indulging in your fave author or book genre could have a positive effect on society and yourself? When tested for empathy, readers of narrative fiction achieved significantly higher than other groups. With a bit more empathy, our world would be a more harmonious place to live.

Children who know adults who read for pleasure take it for granted that reading is valuable and reading is closely linked to increasing our understanding of our own identities. It was found by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research that reading to children six to seven days a week puts them almost a year ahead of those who are not being read to. So reading to children and encouraging them to read is setting them up for success in life. Isn’t that what every parent wants?

Sounds good. When is it? It’s on Thursday September 20 2018, and the hour and reading material are your choice. Find more information and to register your interest on their website, go to https://www.readinghour.org.au/.

I don’t have a book to read for leisure at the moment. Do QUT Libraries have anything? Yes! QUT Libraries have more than just your textbooks. There are great fiction novels in print and online, for adults and children. Check Quick Find today.

But I prefer non-fiction. That’s okay. QUT Libraries have that covered too. We have autobiographies, biographies, commentaries, self-help books plus a whole lot more. The choice is yours! 😊

Don’t forget, when searching in Quick Find, you can limit your results to books and ebooks only.

What the world needs now…

Posted by Sandra on 3 September, 2018

The Brisbane Writers Festival begins this month with a plethora of events and activities happening around the city.

This year’s theme is What the world needs now and in keeping with that, QUT Library wants to celebrate with a little bit of understanding and history.

We thought we’d put the spotlight on some of our own Brisbane authors, and showcase what it was like growing up here in Brisvegas. If you didn’t start your life here, get a great picture by reading some of our top Brisbane author picks:

Rebecca Sparrow (2003) The Girl most Likely: A Novel

Nick Earls (1996) Zigzag Street

David Malouf (1975) Johnno

Nicole Watson (2011) The Boundary

If fashion is your passion, don’t miss out on seeing QUT’s Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Professor Suzi Darbyshire who will be chairing an ‘in conversation’ Brisbane Writers Festival event at the State Library with author of The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger on Friday 7th September.