IT and Library services and support for students over the holidays

Information Services closes at 16:30 on Friday 22 December and reopens at 08:30 on Wednesday 3rd January.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Information Services.

Library opening hours

Hugh Owen Library opening hours over Christmas and New Year 

  • The Hugh Owen Library is open 24 hours until Saturday 16 December:  
  • Sunday 17 December until Thursday 21 December open 08:30-22:00 
  • Friday 22 December open 08:30 - 16:30 
  • Saturday 23 December closed until 08:30 on Wednesday 3 January 2024 

Iris de Freitas Room is open 24/7 from 22 December - 3 January 2024 
Here's how to get to the Iris de Freitas Room when the Library is closed 

The Hugh Owen Library will reopen at 08:30 on Wednesday 3 January 2024 and will be open 24/7 until Easter. https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/about/opening-hours/ 

Holiday Loans

Library books issued or renewed from Monday 11th December 2023 will be renewed until Monday 8th January. Requests can still be placed but items won’t be due until 8th January 2024.  Please email is@aber.ac.uk if you have any problems.

Studying in the Hugh Owen Library during colder weather

Level D (entrance floor) of the Hugh Owen Library is a warm space 24/7 so please do consider studying down on D if you are feeling cold.  If you are finding it colder to study on Level F (top floor), Level E (middle floor) or Iris de Freitas, especially if you are working later into the night or early mornings, please do consider wearing warmer clothes in these areas. Over the Christmas holidays while the rest of the Hugh Owen library will be closed, the Iris de Freitas Study room in the Hugh Owen Library remains open and warm 24/7 (from Friday 22 Dec 16:30 until 08:30 Wednesday 3rd Jan 2024 when the whole library reopens). Library opening times. 

Using other libraries during the holidays

Are you travelling away from Aber over the Christmas holidays? 

As an Aberystwyth University student you are able to apply for access to a number of other Higher Education libraries through the SCONUL Access scheme. This scheme allows you to continue your studies whilst you're away from Aber by using study spaces or library resources at a participating institution near you.  

It can take up to 4 weeks to process your application, so plan ahead and apply today: https://www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access 

Using computer rooms over the holidays

Details of computer room opening hours over the Christmas vacation may be found at http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/computers/rooms/ 

AberSkills

Do you want to improve your revision skills and find more resources on preparing for exams including dealing with exam stress? For a wide range of resources to help you in your studies go to the AberSkills webpages 

Blackboard Learn Ultra Student Guidance  

Support materials to assist students with Blackboard Learn Ultra are available on our webpages. The Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit have produced a Student Guide specifically for Ultra which can be downloaded 

Finding and accessing eresources and support for assignments and revision

 

 

Free Microsoft Office for all Aber students 

While you are a student at Aberystwyth University you can download Microsoft Office for free via your office365 account. 

How? Here are the instructions: https://faqs.aber.ac.uk/en/1391

Working from home and want to access the university resources?

Setting up a VPN connection on your computer will enable you to access the university resources as if you were on campus.  More details on how to set up: Virtual Private Networking (VPN)  : Information Services , Aberystwyth University

LibGuides: Find resources to support your subject

Li9bGuides: https://libguides.aber.ac.uk/home

The Library has subject guides that can help you find information for your studies. With LibGuides, you can discover information about:

  • electronic resources,
  • e-books,
  • key databases,
  • study skills
  • and much more, even when you're not studying on campus.

Library support for researchers

The Library guide for researchers https://libguides.aber.ac.uk/researchers provides information about services, guidance, and resources to support you at every stage of your research journey including:  

  • Finding resources during planning and literature searching phases 
  • Making publications or data Open Access 
  • Managing your references 
  • Helping with bibliometrics/altmetrics

Past exam papers online to aid revision

To access, go to https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/past-papers/ and choose the module from your department list. Past papers are available for most modules for the past 5 years. You will be asked to login with your AU username and password to view. 

If the past paper you want to view is not there, please request your department to make it available.  

Protect your IT account and personal data, never share your password with anyone 

A reminder that you should never share your passwords with anyone, whether in person, over the phone, or online. If you have any concerns or suspect that someone else may be using your account, please contact the Information Services Enquiry Desk as soon as possible: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/help/contactus/ 

Beware Cyber Security Threats over the Holidays

The Christmas period historically sees a large increase in phishing and scam email attempts. Please remain vigilant during this time, and ensure that you report any concerning emails using the new reporting method: https://faqs.aber.ac.uk/en/9366 

Your username and password give you privileged access to Aberystwyth University systems, many of which contain personal and sensitive data, and you have a responsibility to keep your credentials secure.  Compromised user accounts risk both your and others personal data and well as wider University digital services.

  • For advice on how to check if an email you have received is genuine, please see https://faqs.aber.ac.uk/en/394  
  • If your account is compromised it will be locked to prevent malicious use.  
  • If you think your email account may have been compromised or require further advice, please contact is@aber.ac.uk  

Final examination timetable - Semester 1

The final examination timetable for semester one is available on the timetabling web site. For further guidance regarding examinations, please contact your departmental examination officer