Global Accessibility Awareness Day

WordPress User [sif4] Information Skills, Learning

Today (21st  May) is Global Accessibility Awareness Day

 

Within Student Journey, we have a specialised Accessibility and Wellbeing Team who work with students throughout the year. The Team includes over 50 non-medical helper staff who provide 1:1 mentoring or study skills support for students with a disability or learning difference. 

 

Last year they supported over 800 of our students – the number of students they support has increased by 34% in the last five years.

Here’s what our students have been saying about the team this year: 

 

…incredibly invaluable, allowing me to… remain in university through the several challenges that have occurred during my course. 

…really appreciate …[having]…continued support throughout our entire degree from the same people (as opposed to them changing each year). I am autistic and that makes a real difference for me.

[The support worker] has single handily been the most important person in my university experience… without the services I would have less routine and interest from others which have been the two most vital components in my success in university.

 

We think that this student sums up the service perfectly: “Amazing…Absolutely brilliant…Fantastic…Phenomenal…Invaluable…Top tier”

But it’s not only these staff who are making sure that what we do is as accessible as possible. Here are some of the things that our other teams do.

 

Blackboard Content

 

Blackboard Ally is available for all students and staff at the university. This year 59,541 documents have been downloaded in an alternative format by 3,894 users. The most common format is Tagged PDF.

Staff have made 3,417 fixes to content – that’s 3,417 changes that make teaching materials more accessible to use.

The average Ally course score for 2025-26 courses in Blackboard is 72%.

In November 2025, AU entered the Blackboard Fix Your Content Day and were placed 3rd in the UK for the number of fixes to Blackboard content made.

 

 

Pie chart style image showing Ally Overall Accessibility score as 72% - an increase of 2% from the previous year

 

 

 

Books and journal articles

 

All the book chapter and journal article scans that our digitisation service for reading lists are in an accessible format. They use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scanning, which means that uploaded scans of book chapters and journal articles in reading lists are fully machine-readable, searchable, and accessible content. As well as complying with legislation, these scans are accessible for all learners. OCR scanned documents are compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, as well as having text navigation facilities.

As well as scanning items for reading lists, the team can also create accessible copies for books for students who have declared a disability to the university. We have a licence which allows us to make or find accessible copies of books if a suitable version is not available for us to purchase. If a text is not covered by the licence but we own an original copy, we may still produce an accessible copy for personal study or research. 

This service is free of charge to eligible students and can be accessed by emailing digitisation@aber.ac.uk

 

Sensory items for wellbeing sessions

 

Staff in our Wellbeing Service introduced boxes of sensory items that can be offered to students in Wellbeing sessions to help them manage need for self-stimulation (stimming). Here’s an example of the items available:

 

A selection of sensory items in primary colours.

 

 

Using AI

 

Our new AI prompt library which is available to everyone include information about using AI for users with accessibility requirements. You can see some examples of this in some samples from the prompt library

  • Plain Language Rewriting

“Rewrite the following text in plain, easy to understand language while keeping the original meaning. Break complex sentences into shorter steps and remove unnecessary jargon. Highlight any terms that may still require explanation.”

  • Neurodiversity Friendly Step by Step Guide

 

 

Finding your way around

AccessAble is a brilliant resource that helps to make planning for and navigation of our Campus here at Aberystwyth that bit easier. It provides people with information about things like accessible parking space, ramp access, where hearing loops are and where they can find accessible toilets. This can be really reassuring for people as they plan to attend somewhere that is new and/or unfamiliar.

 

The library: exam season survival starts here!

WordPress User [nrb] Exams, Help & advice, Revision

It’s that time again. You know the one. The countdown is on, the library is filling up, and suddenly everyone’s talking about revision and exams. We’ve all been there, and while exams aren’t exactly anyone’s favourite, they’re also your chance to show off everything you’ve learned this year.

Take a breath. You’ve got this — and support is available right here in the library.

Revision, but make it work for you

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to revising. Some people swear by colour-coded notes and flash cards, others need background music, and some just want total silence and a strong coffee. The good news? There’s loads of support in the library to help you figure out what works best for you.

Ready, Steady, Revise with AberSkills

Check out the AberSkills site – it has a whole Revision and Exams section packed with:

  • Practical guidance on how to revise effectively including where to find past papers
  • Different revision methods to try (beyond just re-reading notes)
  • Top tips and advice from your peers who’ve been through it already

Whether you’re cramming, planning weeks ahead, or somewhere in between, it’s a solid place to start.

Back to the reading list

Now’s a good time to re‑acquaint yourself with your module reading list. You don’t need to read everything cover to cover — think of it as a refresh rather than a restart.

Revisiting key texts can help you:

  • Fill in gaps in your understanding
  • Reconnect lecture topics with core readings
  • Strengthen your confidence when revising tricky areas

Use your reading list to focus on essential chapters or sections linked to exam topics, and dip back into recommended texts for clarification or examples. The library has copies available so you can revisit the material whenever it suits your revision routine. You can find everything easily through the Aspire reading lists and Primo, the library catalogue, to check availability, access online texts, your borrowing history, or locate items on the shelves.

Effective Study Collection

Not sure how to revise, not just what to revise? The Library’s Effective Study Collection has your back.

This print and online collection is packed with revision and study skills books designed to help you study smarter. Whether you’re looking for quick tips or a full revision strategy overhaul, these books are perfect for dipping into when you need extra guidance. Ideal for brushing up on skills, boosting confidence, or trying a new approach to studying. Have a browse next time you’re in – you’ll find the collection on Level F, opposite the lift in the Hugh Owen Library, and opposite the Enquiry Desk in the Physical Sciences Library.

Find Your Perfect Study Spot

It’s all about location, location, location! If you need quiet focus time, the Hugh Owen Library,and the Physical Sciences Library on campus, as well as The Workstation in town have plenty of quiet study spaces designed for revision.

Night owl? Early‑morning crammer? Somewhere in between?
Revision doesn’t keep office hours — and neither does the library. During the exam and revision period, all floors of the Hugh Owen Library are open 24/7 so you can dip into a book, double‑check a reference, or squeeze in some last‑minute revision whenever motivation strikes. And if you’re studying after core hours and fancy revising at 2am, just make sure you’ve got your Aber Card to get in and out of the Hugh Owen Library.

Exams are challenging – there’s no denying it – but when you step back, just remember that they are just one part of your university journey. Be kind to yourself, take breaks, eat actual meals (not just snacks), and get some sleep. Making the most of the revision support and study spaces available in the library can really help you stay on track.

You’ve learned a lot — now’s the time to bring it all together.

Good luck!

AI Prompt Library

WordPress User [sif4] Information Skills, Learning, Uncategorised

Library Academic and Digital Services have produced an AI Prompt Library.

These prompts give you some ideas about how you might want to use Generative AI in ethical and responsible ways.

Of course, there is no expectation that you do use AI – please see our recent blogpost on What if I don’t want to use AI?

Our guidance is split into the following sections:

  1. Advice for prompt design with Generative AI
  2. Prompt Library for Students and Subject Librarians
  3. Prompt Library for Staff
  4. Prompt Library for Researchers

If you use a prompt in your studies or work that you would like to share, please contact us on librarians@aber.ac.uk.  We’d love to include it in our AI Prompt Library.

Wait a Minute…What If I Don’t Want to Use AI?

WordPress User [sif4] Information Skills, Learning

AI is everywhere right now. It writes summaries, explains theories, fixes grammar, and recommends playlists.
But here’s the thing nobody says out loud: you’re allowed not to use it.

Whether you feel anxious, unsure, or just plain uninterested, opting out of AI is a perfectly valid choice, and one that deserves just as much support as using it.

AI freaks me out a bit…

You’re not alone. For many students, the hesitation comes from not fully trusting what AI will do, sometimes it seems helpful, sometimes it feels confusing. That uncertainty is enough to make anyone pause, especially when you want your work to feel genuinely your own.

Deciding not to use AI doesn’t mean you’re out of touch. It shows you’re thoughtful about how you work and what supports your learning best.

Aren’t there significant ethical concerns around AI?

Yes, and this is exactly what’s so great about our Aber students. So many of them are thinking beyond the tools themselves and considering the bigger picture. They’re raising issues like:

  • Climate impact: AI isn’t magic; it runs on energy. A lot of it.
  • Human cost: Some AI systems rely on low‑paid workers in the Global South who label data or filter harmful content.
  • Tech giants: Using certain tools can feel like indirectly funding companies that don’t always align with your values.

Caring about these issues is not being “dramatic.” It’s being a thoughtful and engaged citizen of the world.

What is happening to my data?

Some students worry about what happens to the things they type into AI tools. Who sees it? Where is it stored? Can it be used to train future models?
If that uncertainty makes you uncomfortable, choosing not to use AI, or using it only for low‑stakes tasks, is absolutely valid.

Is AI Undermining my Confidence?

Whilst AI can sound like a super‑supportive friend, agreeing with everything you say and telling you how brilliant your work is, that can actually be counterproductive. If everything looks “great” all of the time, it becomes harder to spot what really needs improving.

AI can be helpful, but it can also quietly chip away at your confidence if you rely on it too heavily.

Remember: there’s something empowering about putting that last full stop on an assignment you wrote yourself and coming away knowing: I researched this. I wrote this. I understand this.

It’s my choice, right?

AI shouldn’t feel compulsory. Not for essays, not for revision, not for anything. And if anyone makes you feel like you must use it, that’s a conversation worth having with your personal tutor.

In the end, it’s your learning, your values, your choice.

Whether you use AI every day, occasionally, or not at all, you deserve tools, support, and guidance that respect your autonomy.