Library Skills: synchronous (live and face to face) training guide

• Sources of alternative support
• Example template for Out of Office email

Sources of alternative support for the skills trainer / librarian to share with the referral / triage contact or cover contact may include:

• Relevant asynchronous resources and materials, which may include our generic Library Skills online support, and a link to our scheduled programme of bookable sessions, which may be used by the alternative contact responding to requests. (Note: Scheduled programme normally runs from October to early July, to align with the Researcher Development Programme and owing to lack of availability of trainers in the summer months).
• Relevant subject guide/s.
• Guidance on requesting resources for reading lists.
• Suggest a new book or resource form.
• Request a new reading list in ReadingLists@UCL

In addition to the LCCOS out of office e-mail template, the following is suggested.

Note: Although accessibility guidance suggests having hyperlinks from meaningful text, it is advisable also to include full URLs in the message in case the user receives emails only in plain text format.

I am on leave until _________.

The following links and information may be helpful in my absence.

Book suggestions and reading list

• Guidance on requesting resources for reading lists https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/readinglists/essential-resources.
• Suggest a new book or resource https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/finding-resources/suggesting-new-book-or-resource: Please use this form to suggest a purchase for the library or to notify us of a title on a reading list:
• General or reading list queries may be sent to xxxxxxx@ucl.ac.uk in my absence.

Skills training and literature searching support

• Subject guides https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/subject: Information about subject specific resources is available on the library subject guides:
• Library skills training programme https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/training: Live online and face to face bookable skills training sessions for literature searching (including database demonstrations and systematic approaches to searching), referencing, reference management software (Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero) and more. New dates are released every term.
• Library skills online guidance https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/skills
• Queries related to literature searching or library skills training sessions may also be sent to xxxxxxx@ucl.ac.uk to reach colleagues that may be available to help during my absence. I can also access queries through the mailbox.

Please email xxxxxxx@ucl.ac.uk with any queries at any time and your query will be forwarded to the individual or team best able to help.

This guidance has been agreed by: Angela Young, Lindsay Ure, Kate Cheney, Anna Di Iorio, Michelle Wake.

Please contact us if you have any comments or suggestions for improvements.