The Library offers a wide range of services at our campuses in Chester and Warrington and at the Faculty of Health and Social Care Education Centres in local hospitals. We hold extensive collections of books and journals (in printed and electronic format) to support University teaching and research, plus the audio-visual and IT resources to help staff and students prepare learning materials and produce assignments and dissertations.

Recent Submissions

  • Back into the light: The unveiling of Chester Royal Infirmary’s stained-glass windows at the University of Chester

    Griffiths, Sarah; Chatterton, Claire; University of Chester; Open University (UK Association for the History of Nursing, 2023-12)
    On 7 June 2023, the University of Chester’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society (FHMS) Historical Society hosted an event at the University’s Wheeler Building, when four stained glass windows from the former Chester Royal Infirmary were unveiled in their new home
  • The Influence of COVID-19 Disease on Pre-Analytical Blood Sample Haemolysis Rates in Three Acute Medical Units: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

    Makhumula-Nkhoma, Nellie; Teggert, Andrew K.; Young, John, S.; University of Chester; Teesside University; James Cook University Hospital (IFCC Communications and Publications Division, 2023-04-18)
    The COVID-19 pandemic impacted delivery of health services. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 disease on pre-analytical blood sample haemolysis by modelling the daily haemolysis rates variations pre and post COVID-19 infections. Ethics approval was obtained prior to study commencing. Interrupted Time Series data analysis was conducted on UK National Health Service Acute Admissions Unit 25-month (1 February 2019 to 28 February 2021) biochemistry (total and haemolysed) blood sample dataset. Interruption was set on 23 March 2021, the start of the first UK lockdown. Daily haemolysis rate (% samples haemolysed) data were fitted with a spline curve to determine influence of haemolysis rates on short or medium-term temporal trends. Linear regression was performed so as to determine long-term temporal trends pre- and post-intervention. There were 32,316 biochemistry blood sample results: 19,058 pre and 13,258 (342 days) from the post-intervention period. Overall median daily haemolysis rate was 7.3% (range: 0-30.6%), 7.7% pre-intervention versus 6.5% post-intervention (p<0.0001). The proportion of haemolysis cases negatively correlated with the number of samples processed (rho=0.09; p=0.01). The pre-intervention slope was -1.70 %.y-1, y intercept 9.04%; post-intervention slope was -1.88%.y-1, y intercept was 10.2%; with no difference in either the slope (p=0.87) or intercept (p=0.16). There was no association between short-term variation in haemolysis rates with changes in practice due to COVID-19 disease and the disease itself. The negative correlation between haemolysis rate and the number of samples processed highlights the importance of continued venepuncture practice to facilitate haemolysis rate reduction.
  • Macclesfield Baths and Washhouses and its patrons in the nineteenth century

    Griffiths, Sarah; University of Chester (Cheshire Local History Association, 2021-12-31)
    The East Cheshire market town of Macclesfield had grown to become the leading centre of the English silk industry by the mid nineteenth century and this resulted in severe pressure on the town’s inadequate services. One element of the national campaign to improve sanitary conditions in urban areas was the public baths and washhouses movement from the 1840s, which resulted in the Public Baths and Wash-houses Acts in 1846 and 1847. Macclesfield’s Baths and Washhouses opened in January 1850 and it was one of the first provincial towns after Liverpool to provide such facilities. This article will therefore explore the national baths and washhouses movement, the impact of industrialisation on living conditions in Macclesfield, the history of the town’s Baths and Washhouses in the nineteenth century, the people active in its development and the range of motives which may have encouraged their support for this early addition to the public services for inhabitants.
  • The Fall of the House of Wynnstay: The 1885 Election in East Denbighshire

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (University of Wales Press, 2021-06-01)
    This article discusses the 1885 election in East Denbighshire when the Williams-Wynn family of Wynnstay lost the parliamentary seat that the family had represented for over 170 years. The election took place amidst the backdrop of legislative changes to corrupt practices, the electorate, and changing constituency boundaries. Conservative and Liberal party organisation in East Denbighshire is discussed.
  • The role of the local newspaper during World War One: An important link between the home front and the battle front

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (Chadwyck-Healey, 2018)
    This article discusses the role of the local newspapers during World War One and argues that it provided a link between the home front and the battle front, in particular as a reminder of the home front, keeping up morale and encouraging recruitment, providing war news and descriptions of wartime experiences, helping to send gifts to soldiers, alleviating boredom, and creating a community of soldiers.
  • Trabant: Go with the legend

    Lowe, Austen; Stone, Mark (Drystone Radio, 2018-11-18)
    "The car is that mediation between state and society. If you look at when they finally opened the borders for people to go West, the Trabis also went with them." Modern Languages undergraduate Austen Lowe was invited to Drystone Radio's Backseat Driver show to discuss his research on the Trabant with Mark Stone. This radio broadcast outlines the misunderstandings surrounding GDR mobility. The conversation focusses on how the wooden and plastic car personifies the state in which it was made. The broadcast aims to draw parallels between production techniques in the GDR and the FRG, relating these methods to cars produced more recently in Zwickau. What did quality actually mean in the GDR and is the Trabant really a motoring legend?
  • Exploring the Development Needs of Postgraduate Taught Dissertation Supervisors

    Regan, Julie-Anne; Taylor, Kirsty; Simcock, Thomas; University of Chester (2014-10)
    The Graduate School, in collaboration with the Learning and Teaching Institute (LTI), undertook this project to explore the development needs of PGT dissertation supervisors. This information was vital to the effective planning of development opportunities, in order to enhance dissertation supervision on PGT programmes and ultimately improve the overall postgraduate student experience.
  • Welsh periodicals in the nineteenth century

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (2014-05-27)
    This presentation places the developing Welsh periodical press within the changing economic, political, and social nature of nineteenth century Wales.
  • Information literacy

    Fiander, Wendy; University of Chester (SAGE Publications, 2011)
    This book chapter discusses the importance of developing information literacy skills in healthcare students.
  • PDP in the curriculum - how far have we come?

    Done, Judith; Univesity of Chester (2007-06-01)
    This presentation discusses the extent to which the University of Chester's revised academic framework will raise the profile of personal development portfolios and career development learning. The potential impact on the student experience will also be explored.
  • Examining the workings of a late nineteenth century provincial press conglomerate: Frederick Edward Roe and his newspapers

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (2012-07-12)
    This presentation discuss four newspapers located in north Wales and the Marches owned by Frederick Edward Roe between 1880 and 1887. It analyses the relationship between the four titles and the extent to which they shared content, advertising, and staff.
  • Ethical issues in pedagogic research

    Regan, Julie-Anne; Baldwin, Moyra A.; Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (University of Bedfordshire, 2012-10)
    This paper explores the ethical issues identified by a research ethics committee (REC) over a three-year period. The REC is situated in a medium-sized univerity in the north west of England and deals exclusively with proposals for pedagogic research. The purpose of the research was to identify the nature and frequency of ethical concerns expressed by the REC, in order to improve guidance for future applicants. The most common concern was the lack, or inaccuracy, of the information provided to potential participants by which they were expected to make an informed decision about participation. Other concerns included the potential for bias, the lack of information provided to the REC, the provision for fair access by vulnerable groups and undue influence on voluntary particpation. The paper concludes that the potential risks of practitioners researching their own students are not given due consideration by many applicats. In particular the potential threats to valid informed consent are identified. Implications for improving the relationship between researchers and RECs are discussed, as is the guidance for applicants.
  • Kindle project at the University of Chester

    McLean, Fiona; Shepherd, Joanna; University of Chester (SCONUL, 2012)
    Towards the end of 2010, Learning and Information Services (LIS) at the University of Chester decided to undertake a pilot project which explored how useful e-readers are in a university setting and if they could help to resolve issues about resource availability.
  • Meeting the needs of distance learners: The creation of an interactive resource pack for library inductions

    Gleeson, Charlotte; University of Chester (2012-04-12)
    Within the UK, higher education is increasingly becoming more competitive, particularly with the arrival of increased fees from 2012. As a result, over the past few years the University of Chester has ran programmes in other countries including Dublin and Mumbai to raise its research profile and meet the needs of the market. Students on these distance learner programmes have the same rights with regards to online library resources as those studying at Chester. One of the main problems that has arisen from this has been how to induct the students and show them the wealth of online library resources available to them. The presentation will focus on an initiative at the University of Chester that looked at developing a new approach to inducting students at a distance. In September 2011, the Applied Sciences and Social Science library subject team at the University created a resource pack for students on distance learner programmes in other countries with an aim to improve the student experience during induction. The resources pack consisted of an interactive tutorial DVD and a resource CD containing information on how to access the library resources the students would need for their course. This pack replaced previous methods of induction such as printed hand-outs and workbooks. It was hoped it would be a more personable and accessible method of inducting the students into the library at a distance. The presentation will examine the rationale behind creating the resource pack and will look at the benefits and challenges involved in creating the content including compatibility issues with the format of the DVD. It will consider the feedback received from students regarding the resources pack and areas for potentially developing the project in the future.
  • Still Wrexham's longest running newspaper - the Wrexham Advertiser

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (Bridge Books, 2012-03)
    This article discuss the Wrexham Advertiser - a newspaper which ran from 1850 to 1957.
  • Ethical issues in pedagogic research

    Regan, Julie-Anne; Peters, Lisa; Baldwin, Moyra A.; University of Chester (2011-12-06)
    This presentation discusses the ethical issues identified by a research ethics committee (REC) over a three year period. The REC deals exclusively with proposals for pedagogic research. The purpose of the research was to identify the nature and frequency of ethical concerns expressed by the REC, in order to improve guidance for future applicants.
  • The student enrichment programme: An inter-professional collaboration

    Greenwood, Joanne; Thomas, Helen; Sinnott, Celia; Headon, Stephanie; Rogers, Lisa; University of Chester (2011-06-15)
    This presentation discusses how Learning Support Unit, Learning Information Services, Careers and Employability work together with academic lecturers to deliver skills sessions to nursing students.
  • Museum collections: Management, conservation and presentation

    Peters, Lisa; McKay, Ian S. H.; University of Chester (2011-09-21)
  • Online screencasting tutorials: A way forward for legal resources training?

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
    This journal articles discusses the using screencasting (video tutorials) in legal resources training.
  • Politics, publishing and personalities: Wrexham newspapers, 1848-1914

    Peters, Lisa; University of Chester (University of Chester Press, 2011-04)
    This book gives a unique insight into the worls of provincial newspaper publishing in a North Wales town during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Wrexham's position on the Welsh border meant that its local newspapers had to compete with those from Shropshire, Cheshire, and the rest of North Wales and this rivalry, together with differing political allegiances, often led to conflict between proprietors in the effort to gain the highest circulation. The book draws together the batttles to establish succcessful titles against the backdrop of British and Welsh politics and reveals the personalities involved in this microcosm of local society.

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