NU Library Newsletter
Spring Semester, January 2026
We’re excited to share the first edition of our 2026 library newsletter.
As a new semester begins, the library welcomes you back and looks forward to supporting your academic journey. Whether you are starting a new course, teaching, or continuing your research, our services, spaces, and resources are here to help you succeed.
Programs, Events & Highlights
Library Workshops & Consultations
Join the Open Library Sessions this month to explore the NU Repository, research-related topics, and more.
Furthermore, if database searching feels overwhelming, we can help. Successful articles searching depends on more than typing words into a search box. The right keywords, correct Boolean operators, and understanding what content a database includes are common challenges but we can make life easier.
We offer online and in-person assistance to improve your academic and research skills - efficient literature searching, using databases, applying digital and AI tools, citing and referencing in APA, MLA, Chicago and other styles, publishing in high impactful journals or polish the researcher profile with Google Scholar or ORCiD.
If your study schedule conflicts, you can book an appointment or meet Darya, Anara, Venera, and Diana at the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5E, Room 324) or Aigerim at NUSOM (Floor 7, Office 702).
Book a seat in LibCal.
Furthermore, if database searching feels overwhelming, we can help. Successful articles searching depends on more than typing words into a search box. The right keywords, correct Boolean operators, and understanding what content a database includes are common challenges but we can make life easier.
We offer online and in-person assistance to improve your academic and research skills - efficient literature searching, using databases, applying digital and AI tools, citing and referencing in APA, MLA, Chicago and other styles, publishing in high impactful journals or polish the researcher profile with Google Scholar or ORCiD.
If your study schedule conflicts, you can book an appointment or meet Darya, Anara, Venera, and Diana at the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5E, Room 324) or Aigerim at NUSOM (Floor 7, Office 702).
Book a seat in LibCal.
Recent Library Events
Explore past events to get a closer look at the library’s vibrant social life. See how learning, creativity, and collaboration come together beyond the study spaces.
Orientation Week: Spring Semester Intake 2026
This introductory session provided an overview of how the library contributed to academic success through its services, resources, and learning opportunities. Participants gained practical skills to work more efficiently, find relevant information, and manage their studies and research.
By the end of the session, attendees could navigate the library website, locate print and electronic resources, use circulation services, access course materials and subject guides, reserve library spaces, and seek research support when needed.
By the end of the session, attendees could navigate the library website, locate print and electronic resources, use circulation services, access course materials and subject guides, reserve library spaces, and seek research support when needed.
The library is delighted to present key figures reflecting the services provided in 2025. These numbers highlight not only our performance but also the significance and quality of the services we offer to our community.
We thank our patrons for their trust and active engagement, and we remain committed to supporting learning, research, and innovation.
We thank our patrons for their trust and active engagement, and we remain committed to supporting learning, research, and innovation.
Throughout the year, the Library delivered seamless access to its resources and services, strengthening support for research and learning across the NU community.
At the same time, the Library advanced its mission to enhance professional skills, foster innovative thinking, and integrate emerging technologies.
For more information, follow this link.
At the same time, the Library advanced its mission to enhance professional skills, foster innovative thinking, and integrate emerging technologies.
For more information, follow this link.
Congratulations to ...
We are delighted to share that our colleague has taken on new roles!
Diana Baidollinova joined the Teaching and Learning Support Office.
We congratulate Diana on this new step and wish her great success, growth, and rewarding opportunities ahead.
Diana Baidollinova joined the Teaching and Learning Support Office.
We congratulate Diana on this new step and wish her great success, growth, and rewarding opportunities ahead.
Research & Academic Support
Research Support
The NU Library continues to provide personalized, one-to-one research support to help you succeed academically, whether you’re planning your thesis or an article for publication. Our librarians are here to publish, evaluate, and reserve your research.
Visit the Research Support Office in the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 323) to meet Yelizaveta, Lazzat, or Ainash, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Ask our virtual librarian NURIA, book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Visit the Research Support Office in the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 323) to meet Yelizaveta, Lazzat, or Ainash, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Ask our virtual librarian NURIA, book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Important Data to Support Your Research
Learn how to use a free, unique, persistent identifier ORCID and rules of applying AI in your research.
An ORCID iD is no longer optional, it’s essential. It helps distinguish your work, saves time when submitting manuscripts or grant applications, and ensures your research is accurately credited across platforms. The library can help you get started and connect ORCID to your research outputs.
- supports accurate attribution,
- improves discoverability of your work, and
- is increasingly required by journals and funders.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a valuable tool for students and researchers. From discovering relevant articles faster to summarizing complex texts and supporting data analysis, AI can save time and spark new ideas. Used thoughtfully, it helps enhance critical thinking, not replace it.
We tested Elicit, Consensus, Undermine AI, Connected Papers, Research Rabbit, Perplexity and others. For a comprehensive list of the variety of generative AI tools, services and resources for a wide variety of purposes, check out library libguides.
We tested Elicit, Consensus, Undermine AI, Connected Papers, Research Rabbit, Perplexity and others. For a comprehensive list of the variety of generative AI tools, services and resources for a wide variety of purposes, check out library libguides.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into scholarly workflows, major publishers and journals are updating their standards to ensure responsible use of generative AI. Most policies require transparent disclosure when AI tools are used for writing, editing, or data analysis, meaning authors must describe which tool was used and how it contributed to their work:
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) set out basic principles for the use of AI in research and publishing that are adapted by most of the publishers including Elsevier, MDPI, IEEE, Wiley, Springer among others.
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) set out basic principles for the use of AI in research and publishing that are adapted by most of the publishers including Elsevier, MDPI, IEEE, Wiley, Springer among others.
Access to Online Resources
All NU community members have 24/7 access to world-class online resources through Primo Discovery and the A–Z List, including databases, journals, eBooks, and videos from leading academic publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, Cambridge, Oxford, and more.
In this issue we would like to highlight exceptional materials for historical research.
In this issue we would like to highlight exceptional materials for historical research.
The collection of unique editions on political, economic and social development of the Central Asia region down to the 17-18 centuries. More than 500 volumes of Turkestanskii sbornik describe the history of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia from the second half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The initiator of compiling the digest was Governor-General K.P. Kaufman, who ruled the Turkestan region for about 14 years. The digest is a collection of articles from magazines, newspapers, academic works, and military reports.
Primary source materials from Stalin's personal papers and insightful monographs on communism. 400,000+ pages documents from Stalin's personal papers highlight foreign policy with Germany before World War II, communications during the Great Purges, relations with Western intellectuals and leaders, and private notations on many Soviet leaders. The Annals of Communism series contains 25 volumes of scholarly commentary, annotation, and interpretation of documents from state and party archives selected by teams of Western and Russian editors.
A comprehensive database produced by the American Mathematical Society, providing access to reviews, abstracts, and bibliographic information for mathematical research literature. It helps users discover high-quality, peer-reviewed content and track developments across all areas of mathematics.
Engagement & Interaction
Library Interview
It’s possible to balance textbook reading with your favourite fiction!
Check out book recommendations from our colleagues and read the interview with Diana Baidollinova, Teaching and Learning Librarian at the Teaching and Learning Support Office.
Would you like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve recently read? Submit a short book review for inclusion in our upcoming Library Newsletter!
Send your review to library@nu.edu.kz (subject: Book Review for the Library Newsletter).
Check out book recommendations from our colleagues and read the interview with Diana Baidollinova, Teaching and Learning Librarian at the Teaching and Learning Support Office.
Would you like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve recently read? Submit a short book review for inclusion in our upcoming Library Newsletter!
Send your review to library@nu.edu.kz (subject: Book Review for the Library Newsletter).
At the moment, it’s The Indispensable Academic Librarian: Teaching and Collaborating for Change by Claire McGuinness. Since I’ve recently started working as a Teaching and Learning Librarian, this book feels very timely. I often read it alongside my daily work, it helps me reflect on what teaching librarianship looks like in practice and how librarians can meaningfully support both students and faculty.
The stray cat Nana from The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. This choice probably says a lot about me - I love cats so much that even fictional ones feel important. Nana’s perspective is sharp, cute, funny, and quietly emotional, and seeing the story unfold through his eyes made it especially memorable for me.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I read it as part of a small book club I have with a friend, where we enjoy sharing thoughts and reactions rather than just finishing books. This one made me quite emotional. It also really stayed with me because of how it plays with the idea of multiple possible lives, the sense that different versions of us exist, even when one version feels stuck or “failing.”
This is a difficult question, but The Travelling Cat Chronicles had a very real impact on me. After reading it, I decided to adopt a cat or perhaps, more accurately, he adopted me? That’s how Persik entered my life, and I still associate that decision very closely with the feelings the book left me with.
I’m not entirely sure if this counts as a typical answer, but Өлеңдер жинағы is one of the first books I remember. When I was a child, my mom and I used to sing songs from it together. It’s tied to very warm, happy memories and my earliest experiences of books as something joyful.
I usually don’t push myself to finish a book if it doesn’t resonate with me, I’m quite comfortable putting it aside. That said, I sometimes return to a book if I later come across a review or a comment that highlights an interesting angle I may have missed the first time.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa. It’s a book I know I could return to more than once and still find meaning in, especially in a place where time would move very differently.
Book Exhibition "The Productivity Shelf"
Manage your time effectively and build better study habits with our curated selection of books on productivity. From practical strategies for planning and prioritization to insights on motivation and mindful work, these titles are designed to help students study smarter, stay organized, and achieve their academic goals with confidence.
Tips & Announcements
Update: New Structure of Locations and Categories in the NU Library Room Booking System
We are pleased to inform you about the updated structure of Locations and Categories in the NU Library Room Booking System, which introduces a more detailed classification to better reflect the purpose of each area and optimize the booking process.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Updated Location Structure
- Individual Study Rooms: 37 rooms on the 4th floor of the Extension in the Main Library and 1 room at the Medical School Library (see the Category). Confirmation of your visit via the check-in QR code is required.
- Group Study Rooms: 7 rooms located on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the Extension in the Main Library.
- Video Recording Room: Room 5E.424
- Event Facilities:Large event spaces
- Databases and Software: Bloomberg Terminal and computers with licensed software (including SPSS, NVivo, STATA, Wolfram Mathematica). Confirmation of your visit via the check-in QR code is required.
Time Limits
- Individual Study Rooms, Group Study Rooms, Video Recording Room - 3 hours per day per user
- Event Facilities - 12 hours per day
- Databases and Software - 1 hour per booking. You can reserve a terminal for one hour per session. If you need more time, you may make an additional booking depending on slot availability.
Authors of this edition
Let's acknowledge the contributors who made this newsletter possible.
- Darya ZvonarevaHead,
Teaching and Learning Support Office - Zhuldyz OrazymbetovaHead,
Patron Services Office - Venera NiyazbayevaTeaching and Learning Librarian,
Teaching and Learning Support Office - Lazzat ArystanovaSenior Manager,
Research Support Office - Madina AbdykaimovaSenior Manager,
Patron Services Office - Dina BaiseitManager,
Patron Services Office
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