Academic Services
description
Transcript of Academic Services
Academic Services
Introduction to the Library
and its Resources
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
Welcome!
Sue AbbottAcademic Support Consultant for
Geography and PCMD
Office: Upper Floor, Main Library
Telephone: 01392 735603
Email: [email protected]
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
Libraries
• Exeter and Cornwall Libraries
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
Library services and facilities
• 24/7 opening in the Main Library• Multimedia facilities• Individual, group and silent study spaces• Self issue and return• Wireless network service• PCs and printers • Photocopiers
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
Borrowing• University card • Self-issue and return• Loan allowance - 20 books or journals• Loan periods vary - from 5 hours to 28 days• Reserve books borrowed by other users• Fines for overdue books and late return of
recalled books• Check your e-mail daily for library
messages
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
On and off campus availability
• Library catalogue• Online databases• Electronic journals • Quality Internet resources• Online renewals and reservations • Online guides and information skills
tutorials
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
More services ...• Inter-library loans• Postal loans• SCONUL Access scheme• Access to UK and international library
catalogues• Institutional Repository - The Exeter Resear
ch and Institutional Content archive (ERIC)
http://www.as.ex.ac.uk/library/
Electronic Library
• Access on and off campus• Online databases for all subject areas• 30,000+ electronic journals• Electronic books• Reference works• Newspapers
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library
Internet Resources
• Be careful what you are using as you need to be able to evaluate what you find.
• “Google is like Wal-Mart; libraries are like boutiques”
• Authoritative, reliable, accurate, current, comprehensive
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/using/help/geography/usingtheinternet/
How Do You Develop a Search Strategy ?
[1] Define your
topic
[2] Identify keywords
and phrases
[3] Identify synonyms and related terms
[4] Create your
search statement
[5] Select information
sources
[6] Run your search
[7] Evaluate results
and refine search
[8] Obtain Items
Step [1] : Define Your TopicWhat exactly do you want to know?
You could try to write a topic definition statement, i.e. can you explain your topic to someone unfamiliar with it in a few easy sentences.
Try gathering some background information to start with.
You could create a map of your ideas about the topic.
Step [2] : Identify Keywords and Phrases
Choosing the wrong keywords can result in
• finding little or no relevant information
• finding too much information
What are Keywords ?
• Single words or phrases
• Specific terminology
• Relevant names
• Acronyms & abbreviations
These are the basic words and phrases that are related to the subject you are researching.
Step [3] : Identifying Synonyms and Related Terms
• UK v US spelling/terminology
• Singular & plural
• Broader & narrower terms
Step [4] : Create Your Search Statement
Use Boolean Operators
N.B. Check which operators are available for each database and what symbols they use
AND or +
OR or ,
NOT or ANDNOT or -
Boolean Logic• AND
– E.g. rural AND policy
• OR– E.g regeneration OR development
• NOT– E.g. regeneration NOT urban
Truncation
Truncation symbol = *
• Allows searching for any words starting with that word stem – broadens the search
• e.g. treat* would find treated, treatment, treats, treating etc.
• Be careful as unwanted words may also be searched for e.g. treaty
Wildcards
Wildcard symbols ? Or $
• Allows searching for words with variant spellings
• Substitute for 1 (or more) or 0 letters
• e.g. wom?n will find woman & women
• e.g. colo$r will find colour & color
Parentheses (brackets)
• Use to group search elements
• Database searches bracketed terms first
and then adds them to the remaining search words
• e.g. operating AND (theatre OR theater)
Step [5] : Select Your Information Resource
• Subject coverage
• Bibliographical or full-text
• Data coverage dates
• Type of document indexed
• Frequency of updating
• Geographic/linguistic scope
Key online databases• ISI Web of Knowledge• GreenFILE• Geobase • Zetoc• Digimap• Census Registration Service - UKBorders, CasWeb• ASSIA• International Bibliography of the Social Sciences
(IBSS)
Step [6] : Run Your SearchAccess the Electronic Library
• Login using your IT Services account username and password
• Access to– Online databases
– Electronic journals and newspapers
– Electronic books
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/resources/e-resources/
Step [7] : Evaluate Results and Refine Search
Too many references
Narrow down your search by -– using more specific keywords/phrases
• e.g. freshwater biodiversity rather than biodiversity
– restricting the fields you search (e.g. title search)– restricting by language– restricting by time period– restricting by document type
Too few references
Broaden your search by -– using broader keywords
• e.g. ecology rather than ecosystems – using alternative keywords
• e.g. governance, policy, regulation• separating phrases e.g. sustainable AND
development– truncation
• climat* will find climate, climates, climatic– wildcard, e.g. globali$ation (US and UK spelling)
Step 8 : Obtain Items
• Databases – direct access
• Journals– EBSCO EJS (gateway to the majority of our current
electronic journal subscriptions)– JSTOR (archive of back issues)
Managing your information
• Citing and managing your references
• Plagiarism
Keeping up to date• Alerting/table of contents services
– WoS, Zetoc, Science Direct, Nature• RSS feeds• Join professional organisations or use their websites• Book publisher sites• Jiscmail mailing lists
– http://[email protected]• Newspapers • Research Councils – NERC, ESRC• Community of Science http://cos.com
Help
• Library Services Desk• Help Point• Academic Support Consultant for PCMD
Sue Abbott01392 725603 [email protected]
• Library International Officer – Patrick Overy ([email protected])
• Disability Liaison Officer – Sue Abbott ([email protected])
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library