Accessing academic resources when University is closed
Published on 13 December 12
Although it's important to take a break over the Christmas period, we know that many of you have deadlines coming up soon, so here are the resources you can rely on over Christmas.
Even though the University will be closed from December 21st and re-open on January 2nd, you will still have access to the University's online resources.
“I found accessing academic resources during the Christmas period fairly unproblematic. The short loan collection in the library is available for a longer period of time, meaning you have constant access to important texts throughout the period the University is closed. With an increasing number of texts digitised by the library I found continuing my research throughout December and January relatively simple.”
Jack, MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies
Library
The Main Library on Burlington Street is open 9am to 5pm, every day between Monday 17, to Monday 31 December, except for 25 and 26 December (Christmas and Boxing Day). It is also closed on 1 January 2013. It will re-open, 24 hours a day, from 2 January. See the full open times for all of the library sites here.
Even when the physical libraries are closed (or if you're away from Manchester) you can still access millions of articles, journals, images, and digitised books through the electronic resources.
You can also get telephone support with using these resources by calling the Helpdesk on 0161 275 7388, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Blackboard
You can access all of your course materials on Blackboard, as usual, by logging in to My Manchester and clicking on the Blackboard tab.
Stuck on a particluar problem? Don't forget that you can also use the email and online forums in Blackboard to talk to coursemates wherever you are in the world, meaning you can get good advice from your peers quickly, and move on the the next infuriating problem!
My Manchester
All of the portlets in My Manchester will be available over the Christmas closure, including the Crucial Guide Live and askme help and support resources.
Peer-to-Peer support
One of the most useful resources is your fellow students. Keeping in contact with real, live human beings who are also working hard is an important way to stay sane and focused when it seems like everyone but you is roasting chestnuts by an open fire.
Arrange to meet up for coffee or lunch and keep to your agreed appointments. Get together with a group of friends and cook dinner for each other.
If you're working from home, or away from Manchester, make appointments with friends to break up the working day. Set a time to finish each day and stick to it - even if you haven't completed everything you'd planned.