• Welcome and About Us

    About Us

    The Learning Centre is conveniently located on the ground floor of No. 1 The Square  

    Contact details are:

    West Lothian College Learning Centre
    Almondvale Crescent
    Livingston
    West Lothian
    EH54 7EP

    Tel: 01506 427601

    Email: LearningCentre@west-lothian.ac.uk



    Opening Hours  (Term Time)

    Mon, Tues, Thurs.  8.30am - 9.00pm

    Wed  8.30am - 5pm

    Friday 8.30am - 3.15pm

    Staffing

    Library staff are all part of the support team within the college. We have four members of staff:

    • Linda Hartley (Librarian)

    • Margaret O’Neill

    • Gail Wilson

    • Anne Logan

    • Facilities

      As well as our comprehensive collection of both printed and electronic books, magazines, and databases, the Learning Centre also provides a convenient place to study. This includes a dedicated Quiet Study space, space for group work and individual study. All these spaces are  equipped with charging and connection points.  Learning Centre staff are always on hand to help with any IT or information enquiries.

      • Computer Facilities

        The Learning Centre currently has 28 PCs and 20 laptops all with Microsoft Office and fast internet access. The college wireless network also allows you to use your own mobile devices, ie mobile phones, laptops to connect to the internet.  Our new individual and study booths are also all equipped with charging connection points.

        To login use your Office365 username and password, ie your student reference number and the first time you login  WLcDDMMYYYY!  you will be prompted to change your password.

        Once you have accessed the PCs you will have access to a printing allowance (£10.00)   

        Staff are always on hand to help with any IT issues you may have.

        A few of our PCs also have specialist software installed, for example, Sage Accounts and Payroll,  Autocad, Microsoft Project, Inventor and Revit.

         

      • Computer Booking System

        We have a computer booking system within the Learning Centre.  However, all computers are generally available for up to 2 hours without booking. If the Learning Centre isn’t busy, this time can easily be extended on request.  To ensure you have access to a computer when you want it you can book in advance either as an individual or for a group.  Up to 6 PCs can be booked for group work.  All bookings are done through the Learning Centre staff.  Our booking system also allows us to monitor use of our computers.

      • Support

        Learning Centre staff can help with finding relevant resources, computer access and basic IT problems. We offer guidance on Referencing, Research and Study Skills. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance.

      • Printing and Photocopying Facilities

        We also have photocopying, printing and scanning facilities.  From the PCs, use the print command as normal. To collect your prints or do any photocopying you will need to log onto the photocopier/printer using your Matriculation (student) number.  Monies will be deducted from your printing allowance to cover the cost of your work. Term 2021 -2022, you have  a £10 printing allowance, 5p is deducted for every single side of a black and white print, 10p for double sided and 10p for single sided colour and 20p for double sided. If you use up your printing allowance , we have facilities within the Learning Centre to allow you to top it up.

    • Student Handbook

    • Finding Information & Using the Learning Centre

    • Electronic Books

      Below are links to our main Electronic Book collections. You will need your OpenAthens username and password to access these books. Remember all these books are also accessible from the Library Catalogue.  Use the Click/Phone or Collect service to obtain the printed copies of books.

    • Online Resources

      As well as the books and DVDs you see in the Learning Centre we have an increasing amount of online digital resources. Below are details and links to these resources. Anything of particular relevance to your course will also be listed in your course area within the VLE.  Any problems with access please contact the Learning Centre staff.  Please note you will need your OpenAthens username and password to access some of these resources. If you do not have this speak the Learning Centre staff or contact lhartley@west-lothian.ac.uk or LearningCentre@west-lothian.ac.uk

      Remember the Learning Centre staff are there to support you in finding and using information. As well as the resources listed we can also pull on information from the public libraries and other colleges and universities.  Please do not hesitate to ask for help.

      • A - N The Artists Information Company URL

        Alternative insights into the visual arts with fast paced news, comment, debate....

      • Art and Architecture Image Bank URL

        The Courtauld Institute of Art provides access to a searchable database of over 40,000 images from the Courtauld, The Conway Library, and independent photographers.

      • British Library Business and Management URL

        The Business and Management Portal delivers high quality digital reports and other publications from the British Library’s collections to business and management researchers.  You will need to register to be able to access this resource.

      • British Library Social Welfare Policy URL

        The Social Welfare Portal provides a single point of access to our vast print and digital collections of research and information on policy development, implementation and evaluation.


      • British Library Sounds URL

        Listen to a selection from the British Library’s extensive collections of unique sound recordings, which come from all over the world and cover the entire range of recorded sound: music, drama and literature, oral history, wildlife and environmental sounds

      • Clickview URL

        Clickview gives access to hundreds of educational  videos and TV programmes. Your tutor may direct you to specific content or you can browse the content on your own.  Sign in using your college Office 365 email address and password. You will find the sign in button at the top right hand side of the screen.

        Alternatively google search clickview uk or use www.clickview.co.uk. to take you directly to the Clickview site and use the same usernames and passwords above.

      • Cochrane Library URL

        A series of healthcare databases..

      • Construction Training from JISC URL

        Videos, guides, learning and assessment activities,  this offers a full suite of resources to support competences required to obtain a qualification.


      • Library Hub Discover URL

        Library Hub Discover brings together the catalogue of over 80 major UK research libraries: national, academic and specialist.

      • Complete Issues URL

        This resource covers a wide range of topics such as Climate Change, Mental Health, Drugs, Alcohol and many other social issues in the form of Articles, Statistics and Related Web Links.

        Username:   westlothian

        Password:   westlothian

      • Curriculum Press URL
        Good information on Psychology and sociology 

        Username and password required. Available from Learning Centre staff.
      • Digital and IT Training URL

        Videos, guides, learning and assessment activities,  this offers a full suite of resources to support competences required to obtain a qualification.


      • Digital Commons Network URL

        The Digital Commons Network brings together free, full-text scholarly articles from hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide. Curated by university librarians and their supporting institutions, 

      • Directory of Open Access Books URL

        Directory of Open Access Books is a joint service of OAPEN, OpenEdition, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université

      • Education and Childcare JISC Resource URL

        Videos, guides, learning and assessment activities,  this offers a full suite of resources to support competences required to obtain a qualification.


      • Getty Open Culture URL

        J. Paul Getty Museum's Open Content Program makes freely available over 109,000+ digital images from the J. Paul Getty Museum and Getty Research Institute.

      • GoCitizen URL

        Practice online for the British Citizen test.  Sign up for free.

      • Google Arts and Culture URL

        Discover artworks, collections and stories from all around the world in a new way. Explore cultural treasures in extraordinary detail and easily share with your friends.

      • Guggenheim Art URL

        The Guggenheim offers art catalogues, essays on art history and more all freely available online

      • Hairdressing Training Resource URL

        Hairdressing Training provides exemplary step by step guidance videos, self evaluation tests, worksheets and guides relating to an expanding collection of hairdressing styles and techniques. All video content has been created by those who teach hairdressing in the UK FE colleges. These resources are openly available without the need for institutional subscription or login.

      • Health and Social Care Jisc Resource URL

         

        Videos, guides, learning and assessment activities,  this offers a full suite of resources to support competences required to obtain a qualification.


      • ISSUES ONLINE URL

        This is an excellent resource covering contemporary social issues such as poverty, equality, homelessness etc.

        Username:  Hartley

        Password:  9039

      • Jisc Ebook and Resources Hub External tool
      • Jisc Journal Archive URL
      • JSTOR URL

        Access to journals, primary sources and electronic  books covering all aspects of the social sciences. For free access to the full resource you will need to register with National Library of Scotland . Registration is free. Alternatively, you can search the database and access some their open access materials free and without registration. Registering details below:

        Registration Information

      • JSTOR Open Access Journals URL

        Growing collection of Open Access journals covering topical areas

      • Knowledge Network URL

        The knowledge network is available to students who go on placement within the NHS and selected teaching staff. Registration details are available from the above link. If you need any assistance accessing and using this resource please speak to the Learning Centre staff.

      • National Learning Network URL

        Funded by the UK Government to support learners and organisations in the post-16 sector, the NLN Materials represent one of the most substantial and wide-ranging collections of e-learning materials in the UK - hundreds of small, free, flexible 'bite-sized' episodes of learning.

        To easily share the resources with learners, sign-in or register, then select a resource and click the collect button. If you're new to XtLearn, click here for an introduction.

      • National Library of Scotland - Digital Resources URL
      • News Library - Newspapers for Schools URL

        Access to over 140 UK newspapers

        One-stop-shop for researching leading UK national and regional newspapers.
        Username:   library@west-lothian.ac.uk
        Password:    Student2017
      • Open Education Resources Page

        Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, ebooks audiobooks, streaming videos and films that are all available free to everyone.

      • Directory of Open Access Journals URL

        DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals. DOAJ is independent. All funding is via donations, 40% of which comes from sponsors and 60% from members and publisher members. All DOAJ services are free of charge including being indexed in DOAJ. All data is freely available.

      • OAPEN URL

        The OAPEN Library contains freely accessible academic books, mainly in the area of humanities and social sciences. OAPEN works with publishers to build a quality controlled collection of open access books, and provides services for publishers, libraries and research funders in the areas of deposit, quality assurance, dissemination, and digital preservation.

      • Oxford Open Journals URL

        The Oxford Open series is a new flagship open access (OA) journal series from Oxford University Press (OUP). Journals in this series will further OUP’s mission to support excellence in research, scholarship, and education. This will be achieved by providing additional high quality, broad scope, fully OA venues for researchers to disseminate their work.

      • VOGUE URL

        A searchable archive of American Vogue, from the first issue in 1892 to the current month, reproduced in high-resolution colour page images.

      • VADS URL

        VADS: free art and design images for education

        vads.ac.uk
        The VADS image collection provides over 100000 art and design images free for use in education, drawn from university and college art collections, museums..
      • West Lothian Council Library - Digital library URL

        e-Books, e-Talking books, e-Magazines and digital resources accessible 24/7.   All free of charge using your public library membership card.  Definitely worth a look.

    • Study Skills

    • Harvard Referencing

    • Social Information File

      This resource offers links to various organisations relating to particular health and social issues.  Just click on the topic below for more information.

    • Student Information A-Z

      • Student Information A-Z URL

        New to the College? Feeling Confused? Need Information?  Use this guide to help answer those questions e.g Where do I find the College holiday dates? Can I Borrow a Laptop from the College? How Do I report Absence? etc


    • Digital Literacy

      This section brings together a collection of resources to support and develop your IT abilities.

      • Your Student Email and Account and Signing In File

        A brief explanation of the format of your student email, creating your own password and using your account. Your matriculation number is your student number, an eight digit number 

      • Using Teams: A short video File

        Created by Diane Mitchell from the College Workforce Development Team, an excellent resource covering the basics of using Teams in a brief and easy to use manner.

      • Microsoft Teams for Students URL

        Free for students

        Get started watching the video to see how you can use Teams for group work.

        • Group work - edit documents real-time in 1 click
        • Chat securely with anyone at your university - just ask for their name not phone number
        • Get job ready skills as you use as Microsoft Teams integrates the entire Office suite into a single hub.

      • Using Microsoft Office for Students - You Tube URL

        You Tube video help to use Office 365

      • Microsoft Office 365 Courses for Students URL
      • Introduction to One Drive URL

        Introduction to OneDrive

        OneDrive provides you one place to store, share, and sync your work or school files. It is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files and gives you the ability to access them from anywhere and on any device.


      • Introduction to Powerpoint URL

        PowerPoint is a presentation application that creates a slide show of important information, charts, and images to display during a presentation. Recent advances in PowerPoint include subtitling on slides, Presenter coach, and other enhanced interactive features.

      • Connecting Scotland URL

        Useful videos from Connecting Scotland covers:

        How to choose a device and internet

        How to use your device

        How to stay safe online

        How to do things

        Computer terms and jargon.

      • Digital Literacy: Ethical Computing URL

        Short videos covering various aspects of ethical computing:

        Protecting Your Online Data

        How Your Online Data Is Used

        Turning Data into Knowledge

        Importance Of Your Online Data


      • Skills in the Workplace : ICT In The Real World URL

        Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an important part of the workplace. Word processing, computerised spreadsheets, email communication and web-based research are just some of the tasks performed every day. In this programme, various employees demonstrate the skills required to be competent in their positions, including using computers effectively in an office, researching a business project, presenting information, types of digital documents, and the use of spreadsheets and databases for decision making and data storage. Understanding the basics will equip viewers with the knowledge and skills essential for work in the modern workplace.

      • Learning My Way URL

        Learn My Way has free courses for you to learn digital skills to stay safe and connected. Subjects covered:

        Using your computer or device.

        Online basics

        Office programs

        More internet skills plus information on finding jobs, health, money and public services online.


      • BT Skills for Tomorrow URL

        Free courses to help you develop your confidence and develop your digital skills. A mixture of short videos, games and courses covering many aspects of using digital devices safely and effectively. Covers basics for beginners and digital wellbeing  Broken down into  two sections, Home Life and Work Life, so also includes sections on getting a job and launching a business.

      • Technology Guides from Digital Unite URL

        Our award-winning range of 400+ how-to guides covers a whole host of digital topics. Written by subject matter experts and updated daily, the guides are perfect for supporting others with digital skills or improving your own knowledge.

      • Young Scot - Digi Know URL

        Whether you use websites and social media or chat to your pals online and do a bit of shopping... Find out why it's important to keep yourself and your data safe with 'Digi Know?'

      • Be Internet Awesome URL

        Helping young people to be safe confident explorers of the online world -- American but may be some useful materials.

      • Mind Yer Time URL

        Designed by children and young people from the Children's Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament, Mind Yer Time has been created to support everyone who loves social media and screen time. We've got positive tips, stories and information for children and young people, to help you use your screen time positively!   Some of the topics covered:

        Digital Rights, Health and Wellbing, how to cope with Bullying etc


      • Internet Matters URL

        Supporting families online

        Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.


      • Barclay Digital Eagles URL

        Build your digital Skills with Digital Eagles.

      • Scottish Digital Academy URL

        Provides high quality, digital skills learning programmes to develop and grow capability, aligned across the Scottish public and third sectors.

      • Scotland's Essential Digital Skills Toolkit URL

        Digital Skills Toolkit

      • SQA Digital Skills URL

        A range of learning guides. You can work through the guides at your own pace using the 'Play' and 'Pause' buttons.

        You may find it helpful to print out the documents below which give step-by-step instructions to getting online using a PC or tablet. 


      • AbilityNet URL

        Free Resources

        Get the most from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone


    • Subject Hub (A TO C)

    • Subject Hub (D - F)

    • Subject Hub (G - L)

    • Subject Hub (M - P)

    • Subject Hub (Q - Z)

    • RESEARCH SUPPORT DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

      • Return of College Library Books (After COVID Lock Down) File
      • Learning Centre Support Page

        Hi

         

        We wanted to try and support you with your studies through this difficult period when you are not at College.

        Use the link below to access online resources that may help support your research   If you struggle to find information or access the resources, the Learning Centre staff are still available to help via our Learning Centre email address:

        LearningCentre@west-lothian.ac.uk

        We've also included some good basic information on referencing and help with how you approach and carry out your research.

         

        Please do not hesitate to contact us as we will do our best to respond to every enquiry we receive.  For example you may have problems accessing the online resources, forgot your username and password, you may have found a journal articles via google but can only see the abstract, not the full article. We can help with these and other types of enquiry.

      • Research Support File
      • Ebsco HE/FE Collection of Electronic Books URL

        In response to the Coronavirus we have been given  temporary access to this collection of electronic books.  Hope they are of some use.

      • Harvard Referencing File

        Notes on how to use microsoft word to help with your referencing.  (A short video below if you prefer a demonstration rather than notes)

      • Harvard Referencing using Microsoft word URL

        A short video from Anglian Rusking University on how to reference using the Harvard system

      • Harvard Referencing URL

        A excellent resource for information.  Straight forward question/answer format

      • Study Skills Handbook URL

        This book is recommended to all first and second year uni. students.  Well presented, easy to read information.

      • GOOGLE SCHOLAR URL

        As the name suggests Google for scholars  - you .  Provides you with access to more academic journals etc.  If you find information and you are only provided with an abstract contact the library team.   They may be able to get the full article for you.

      • PUBMED URL

        Primarily aimed at life sciences and biomedical topics.   Sport and beauty therapy students may also find this useful.

      • Edinburgh Napier University URL

        For all those matriculating students, remember you have access to your destination university library.  As you know, more and more library resources are available online so you may still be able to find that book or journal to support your  work.  We've provided a direct link to Napier here but also try the other universities.   If you have forgot your username and password, let us know and we may be able to help.

      • INSTITUTUTION of Mechanical Engineers URL

        All HNC and above level Mechanical Engineers can access this resource.  See details within you own moodle course area on how best to use this service.

      • Online Research Skills ClickView Video