Don’t throw your books away at the end of the year. Every May the Book and Gift Shop operate a Buyback scheme, which, as the name suggests, means you can bring back your old books to us and get up to a 1/3 back of the retail value. From 30 May until the end of term, any book can be sold back to us, whether it was bought from us or not, providing it meets the following conditions:

• Books must be on a Warwick course recommendations list
• No annual publications or custom published texts/value packs
• Books must not be excessively damaged or marked
• Text books must be current editions.

Your second hand books will then have a new lease of life as we will sell them in store and find them new homes!

The Cafe Library team are in celebratory mood having won the "Service Excellence" category at this year's University 2017 Awards. The Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of staff across the Warwick community.

Congratulations Giuseppe and team!

We know that term three is a stressful time, particularly for students sitting their exams. So with this is mind we have teamed up with the Library to provide free filter coffee and biscuits to all students, seven days a week.

Beginning Monday 15 May until the end of week eight, a small station will be set up outside Library Coffee Bar once the cafe closes at 10pm, where students can help themselves to free filter coffee, milk, sugar and biscuits.

We know this is going to be hugely popular so get their quick as once the coffee has gone, it’s gone. All we ask is for you to keep the area clean – there will be bins and cleaning cloths to mop up any spillages should you have an oops moment.

Enjoy and happy studying.

We are delighted that Union have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, the UK’s highest accolade for business success in sustainability. As one of the UK's most established craft coffee roasters, Union won the award for its pioneering business model Union Direct Trade which has improved the lives of over 11,000 people in developing countries.

Commenting on the award, co-founder Steven Macatonia said "We are thrilled to have won this prestigious award, recognising that a sustainable approach to business can actually facilitate growth, rather than be a hindrance to it".

The following article published in the Financial Times is a great reminder of the substance that sits behind the Union Direct Trade commitments.

Congratulations to everyone at Union!

We are thrilled to announce that Dana-Maria Danut, one of our baristas in Cafe Bar, won gold in the TUCO 2017 Barista Skills Competition. Dana had to compete in a live ten minute competition producing two espressos, two cappuccinos and finally two espresso-based, non alcoholic speciality drinks. The award was given out at the Gala Awards dinner last night which also saw Warwick take Gold and Silver in a host of other culinary challenges. Congratulations to everyone - what a great night!

We're really looking forward to welcoming all the competitors, exhibitors and suppliers at this year's TUCO Annual Skills Competition. The event runs Monday 10 April-Tuesday 11 April and is taking place at Warwick for the second year running. The two day event event run by TUCO (The University Caterers Organisation) will see over 50 members and 150 delegates competing against each other with the opportunity to showcase their skills across a variety of disciplines. The Retail team will be entering the prestigious "Barista Skills" competition which starts at 10am on Tuesday 11 April. Good luck to everyone!

We're hugely proud to be representing Warwick at this year's London Coffee Festival in London which runs 6-9 April. Warwick is the only academic institution to be invited to this prestigious event so we're rightly feeling rather chuffed!

The Retail team will be sending its very best baristas who will be showcasing our signature coffee drink to a discerning crowd of coffee lovers and industry professionals. It's a great opportunity to get involved with the world's very best coffee experts and professionals and bring this knowledge back to Warwick.

The festival features over 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food stalls, tastings and demonstrations from world-class baristas, interactive workshops, street food, coffee-based cocktails, live music, DJs and art exhibitions.

We're really pleased to be involved with the Medical School's Health and Wellbeing day today with lots of great stalls and activities to get involved with throughout the day, The Cafe Gibbet Hill team are runing a Teapigs sampling stall (there might even be a few home made cakes thrown in!), so pop up and enjoy a cuppa before you try out the hula hoop class!

Some of our outlets will be closing or closing early on Friday 31 March due to annual stocktake. The Book and Gift Shop will be closed all day and re-open at 10am on Saturday 1 April. Rootes grocery store will close at 4pm and re-open at 9am on Saturday 1 April.

The Book and Gift Shop raised £50.40 for Children in Need from the sale of their 2016 Christmas card. You can find out more how we have supported other charities and communities across campus.