The idiom, "if at first you don't succeed try, try and try again," was first spoken to Scottish troops at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 by the Scottish king Robert the Bruce (Peck, 2020). Legend has it that Robert was inspired by a spider he saw while hiding from his pursuers in a cave. The spider kept trying to make a web and each time it improved on its previous attempt until it finally succeeded. This is exactly what I do with the many drafts of my assignments before I eventually complete the final draft ready to submit.

We're enhancing our databases!

Our EBSCO databases have received some exciting upgrades to enhance your research experience.

As part of UK Disability History Month, we are promoting our Accessibility Tools which enable you to adapt our collections to best suit your unique reading and learning needs.  

EBooks are a vital part of the learning experience, so it is important that our eBook platforms are accessible. 

Our main eBook platform, Kortext has some excellent features that can improve your reading experience: 

Read aloud  

UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) is an annual event observed each November-December, which focusses on the history of disabled people and the struggle for equality.

It is an opportunity to celebrate disabled people’s achievements and contributions to society and the progress that has been made towards becoming a more inclusive society. However, it also stands as a reminder of the inequalities and difficulties that continue to be experienced by disabled and neurodivergent individuals in the UK and throughout the world.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, the theme this year is “Awareness is key”.

The NHS defines ADHD as “a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.”

If you have ADHD symptoms, you may find the following resources in our collection useful:

Dr Jennifer Irabor, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Care Management, talks about the significance of Black History Month and how you can get involved with events throughout October.

Black History Month originated from educators in the United States. The initiative was embraced by UK political establishments and forwarded by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. In an interview Akyaanba spoke of the story of a black colleague’s child asking the question ‘why can’t I be white’? It is such experiences that fuelled the implementation of Birtian’s October Black History Month.