Library support

Manage your preferences

The Leeds Beckett website is designed to enable you to manage your own privacy preferences. By clicking on 'Cookies' below you can manage what data the site collects about your browsing. This will only maintain if you are on your own device or using a synched version of your chosen browser. If you are using a shared or public machine without synching your browser then there is no need to change the preferences.

Our site is built with accessibility in mind and we seek to adhere to the WACG AA levels of compliance for digital accessibility. To support that we have provided instructions on managing animations below.

Cookies

Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable you to use all the different parts of leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Without them services that you have asked for cannot be provided. Necessary cookies can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us understand how people are using our websites, so we can improve them and provide a better user experience. We also sometimes get our approved partner companies to analyse how people are using Leeds Beckett Websites and they may set their own analytical cookies in order to do this.
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies allow us to provide you with online adverts that are the most relevant and useful for you.
For more information please view our Privacy Policy

Animations & Interaction

The Leeds Beckett University website occasionally uses animations to page elements and animated gifs to add impact to pages. If you wish to stop them from playing for accessibility purposes or for personal preference then please see the guidance below. Please note that browsers sometimes change how they operate, so please refer to your browser help files to find their latest information.
How do I turn off animations?

Chrome

Chrome users will need to use browser extensions. Animation Policy from Google will help you set your own preferences.

Microsoft Edge

There is currently no way to disable animations within Microsoft Edge. Users of Edge (Chromium) browser can install the Chrome extensions above and use them.

Internet Explorer

To stop animations on a single page you can just press the 'Esc' key. This will stop the animation on that page. If you wish to restart the animations you need to refresh the page. To permanently disable the playing of animated GIF images, open Internet Options > Advanced tab. Under the Multimedia section, uncheck the Play animations in webpage check-box, click Apply and Exit and then restart your computer.

Firefox

Type about:config in Firefox address bar and hit Enter to open Settings. Search for the image.animation_mode flag and change its value from Normal to None. Once you restart Firefox this will disable animations.

Developing your students' academic skills

The Library Academic Support Team can support you in developing your students’ skills in:

Information and digital literacy
Academic communication
English as an Additional Language
Maths and statistical analysis
Using IT

For all these areas, the Team provides academic skills support to students through our Skills for Learning brand - sessions embedded in the curriculum, website guidance and material, a programme of generic online events and one-to-one support with Academic Librarians and Academic Skills Tutors.

We can provide Skills for Learning in-curriculum sessions for your students on a variety of topics to help develop their academic and professional skills.

Sessions are tailored to your module or assignments and allow your students to contextualise academic skills within their course content. Our Course Planning page contains examples of how this has been done within Schools.

You can request a session using our booking form*:

Requests for the 2025/26 Academic Year

*Please note we require a minimum of two weeks’ notice for timetabling and preparation.

Our in-curriculum offer consists of sessions of up to 60 minutes in length delivered by an Academic Librarian or Academic Skills Tutor. These are scaffolded by independent study materials in MyBeckett for students to access in their own time. The sessions can be provided face to face or online, or if preferred we can just provide MyBeckett material without a scheduled class.

Available sessions are listed below, or you can use the booking form to request interconnected bundles of sessions on key topics such as academic writing, dissertation success or international student support:

Session	Learning outcomes	Suggested timing
Academic English / English as an Additional Language	After working through content, students will be able to: explain the key features of the type of English required for success at university; evaluate a sample of written Academic English, using valid criteria; reflect on their Academic English / EAL skills and identify strengths, areas for improvement and appropriate support / resources.	After first 3 weeks of course / module
Accessing, Evaluating and Using News Sources (Current and Archival)	After working through content, students will be able to: use news sources appropriately in their assignments; identify and locate news publications and archives available via LBU Library; create a set of search terms and carry out keyword searching to find relevant news articles for their subject; assess the credibility of news sources.	At beginning of research project / independent study / dissertation
Critical Reading	After working through content, students will be able to: explain what critical reading is; understand why it matters; identify a range of techniques for reading critically and efficiently.	3-5 weeks before essay deadline
Critical Thinking / Working	After working through content, students will be able to: understand the importance of critical thinking and what it means in a university context; apply a framework for critical analysis to a text; deploy strategies for critical note-making, reading and writing.	After first 3 weeks of module
Designing Posters with Publisher	After working through content, students will be able to: create a background; add text / image / table / graph / chart; link text boxes; manage master pages.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Essay Writing	After working through content, students will be able to: explain the purpose of essay writing; understand how to write and structure essays; include critical thinking and apply theories/concepts in essay writing.	3-5 weeks before essay deadline
Finding and Using Information Sources / Literature Searching (can include subject-specific information sources, e.g. company data, market research, legal information, standards, maps, statistics, primary sources, etc.)	After working through content, students will be able to: identify the key sources they can consult for their subject area; create a set of search terms for their research topic; identify appropriate information sources; carry out keyword-based and citation-based searching; analyse the search results to position their research.	At beginning of research project / independent study / dissertation
Good Academic Practice (incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Academic Honesty)	After working through content, students will be able to: demonstrate knowledge of academic honesty; understand the University's principles for responsible use of generative artificial intelligence; identify inappropriate academic practice and how to avoid plagiarism.	After first 3 weeks of course / module
Introduction to Excel	After working through content, students will be able to: edit or format data; use formulas; create graphs and charts.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Preparing for Your Dissertation or Major Independent Study (focuses on the structure of dissertations and strategies for managing a project - does not include finding information)	After working through content, students will be able to: structure and organise dissertations successfully; consider effective strategies for planning your time and managing your project; learn strategies for reviewing and editing a dissertation/independent study.	At beginning of research project / independent study / dissertation
Presentation Skills	After working through content, students will be able to: effectively structure and use visual aids in a presentation; use body language and tone of voice appropriately; deliver engaging presentations in face-to-face or online environments.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Referencing Skills (focuses on the rationale behind referencing and creating in-text citations and reference lists - does not include writing skills)	After working through content, students will be able to: define referencing and explain its importance to academic honesty and communication; create in-text citations and referenced entries to relevant sources; understand how to create a reference list or bibliography in the appropriate referencing style for their course.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Reflective Writing	After working through content, students will be able to: explain the purpose of reflective writing; understand how to write and structure reflective writing; include critical thinking and apply theories/concepts in reflective writing.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Report Writing	After working through content, students will be able to: explain the purpose of report writing; understand how to structure and write a report effectively; include critical thinking and apply theories/concepts in report writing.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
SPSS Software Training	After working through content, students will be able to: enter data; transform variables; run tests. Suitability: students with a basic understanding of research methods and statistics.	Before students start their data collection
Systematic Reviews	After working through content, students will be able to: understand the definition and purpose of a systematic review; scope out their chosen topic and develop an appropriate research question; create an appropriate search strategy including selection of appropriate databases; understand how to carry out and document the literature search for their systematic review.	At beginning of research project / independent study / dissertation
Understanding and Acting on Feedback	After working through content, students will be able to: understand the importance of responding to feedback and becoming an independent learner; understand the different types of feedback students may encounter at university; develop strategies for actioning feedback and taking knowledge forward to the next assessment.	After first feedback has been received
Using Microsoft Word for Longer Documents	After working through content, students will be able to: format a dissertation or longer report; create a contents page; insert table of figures / charts / graphs / tables, section breaks and page breaks, headers and footers, and advanced page numbering.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline
Writing a Literature Review (focuses on how to structure and organise literature reviews - does not include finding information)	After working through content, students will be able to: explain the purpose of a literature review; structure and organise literature reviews successfully; include critical thinking and apply theories/concepts in their assessment.	At beginning of research project / independent study / dissertation
Writing a Research Proposal	After working through content, students will be able to: outline the purpose(s) of writing a research proposal; describe the typical structure and features of a proposal; demonstrate an understanding of the steps that make up the process of producing an effective proposal.	3-5 weeks before assessment deadline

Students can develop their academic skills on their own, or seek support and guidance, by using the following resources:

Our online subject guides encourage students to become self-reliant in their Library research and digital literacy skills.
The Skills for Learning website has a wealth of information and downloadable material on topics such as academic writing, research skills and statistical analysis.
Throughout the year there are Skills for Learning open workshops that students from any course or level can attend. These include webinars, online academic skills drop-ins and Study Cafés where students can work remotely alongside peers. Students can find more information and book onto the events on MyHub.
Students can book half-hour Skills for Learning appointments with Academic Librarians or Academic Skills Tutors who can help with academic skills, such as academic writing, finding library resources and referencing, as well as maths and statistics queries, and support for students with English as an Additional Language. Appointments can be online or on-campus and can be booked on MyHub.

There are a range of short MyBeckett modules that students can work through to help them develop their academic skills. Each module can be completed at the student's own pace and can be revisited throughout the year. Links to all of the modules are on the Library website and students can self-enrol onto any that they would like to work through. We would also encourage staff to promote these by adding links on your own MyBeckett pages to the relevant modules for your students.

LBU Study Ready is an academic skills module for students planning to study at Leeds Beckett. It aims to provide students with a taster of the skills they would need to develop in order to become successful learners. There is no login for this module - prospective students can just click on the Access button in the LBU Study Ready box on the MyBeckett login page.

First Year Study Smart is a module students can enrol on once they are at University and aims to introduce them to the key skills and services they’ll need to reach their potential at Leeds Beckett. It has three sections, each explaining a different set of tools or skills:
1. Getting Started: finding out about the tools and technologies needed in the first few weeks of study
2. Key Study Skills: including learning online, time management and keeping on track
3. Research and Writing: the key research, writing and referencing skills needed to complete university assessments successfully.

Undergraduate Degree Apprentices' Study Smart is a version of the Library, IT and key skills induction specific to the needs of undergraduate degree apprentices.

Second Year Study Smart is a module to help with the transition to Level 5. Its three sections cover:
1. What’s Different in Your Second Year: students share experiences of their second year and tutors reveal their expectations for second-year students
2. Using Your Feedback: learning about what feedback means
3. Reflecting on Feedback: revisiting feedback received in Level 4 and completing a feedback action plan.

Final Year Study Smart is a module to help with the transition to Level 6, and in particular work on final year projects and dissertations. Its three sections cover:
1. Your Final Year: stepping up to the final year of study and beyond, and managing workload demands
2. Your Independent Project: understanding and managing a final year project
3. Developing a Project: how to approach the planning stages of a final year project, including organisation and note-making skills
4. Your Project Research: planning, conducting and analysing the research required for a final year project
5. Writing Your Project: tips on writing, re-drafting, style and language.

Postgraduate Study Smart is a Library, IT and key study skills induction module customised for taught postgraduates and gives tips and advice on what it's like to study at this level:
1. Getting Started: finding out about the tools and technologies needed in the first few weeks of postgraduate study
2. What's New: learning about the key study skills needed to be successful as a postgraduate, including reflection and independent learning
3. Research and Writing: the key research, writing and referencing skills needed to complete postgraduate assessments successfully.

Postgraduate Degree Apprentices' Study Smart is a version of the Library, IT and key skills induction specific to the needs of postgraduate degree apprentices.

Academic Honesty Tutorial provides information, videos and activities to introduce students to AI and to help them develop the skills they need for academic success.

International Students' Academic Introduction is an academic skills induction for new international students, signposting to further international support. All international students should be automatically enrolled, but any other student or colleague is welcome to self-enrol.

MyBeckett is the University's virtual learning environment. Support materials for staff using MyBeckett and other systems such as Pebblepad and Turnitin include:

MyBeckett student guides are also available on the Library website alongside other student IT support and advice.