An introduction to Durham University Library for international postgraduate researchers

Laura Jeffrey and Mamtimyn Sunuodula

Session overview

• Using academic resources• Using the library• Search strategies• The library catalogue• Searching for journal articles• References• Evaluation

Using academic resources

• Importance of using academic resources– Books– Journals

• Evaluating content– Compare resources– Follow up references– Peer review

Using the Library

• Library = four buildings and online • Library ‘language’• Shared resources• Information

– Web: www.dur.ac.uk/library– In person: enquiries, liaison librarian, researcher

training librarian

Search strategies

• Think about what you need to search for before you start searching

• synonyms: e.g. survey or questionnaire

• British and American spellings. Use wildcards e.g. colo*r finds colour and color

• truncation: e.g. educati* finds results for education, educating, educationalist

Combining your results

AND OR

NOTnuclear AND energy

nuclear NOT bomb

energy OR power

Examining the impact of teenage crime in the inner city

teen*

youth

juvenile

adolescen*

crim*

shoplift*

“anti-social behavio?r”

theft

“inner city”

cit*

London

AND AND

OR

OR

OR

Search string

(teen* OR youth OR juvenile OR adolescen*)AND

(crim* OR shoplift* OR “anti-social behavio*r” OR theft)

AND (“inner city” OR cit* OR London)

Search strategies activity

• write your thesis title in the box at the top of the Search Strategy Grid

• or devise a research question connected to your subject

• identify the keywords within your title and write these at the top of the columns

• write synonyms under each keyword

Catalogue

• Searches all print and electronic content that the library subscribes to

• Search• Recall • Renew• Store and intersite requests• Search history• New book alerts

Catalogue

Catalogue activity

• Carry out searches on your topic • Login to your record• Set up search history• Set up new books alerts

Journal articles

• Why use articles?• Access titles from the catalogue or browse A-Z

listing – Check date coverage

• Access articles from a database– Bibliographic details or full-text– General or subject-specific

• Use to find out if we have access

Journals activity

• Search for a journal title on the catalogue or browse the A-Z listing

• Search a database in your subject area to find articles using your search string

References

• Important to keep track of references as you go along

• Use catalogue and database functions to email details to yourself

• Make use of software – Endnote• More information on references• More information on plagiarism

Further information

• Finding and managing information courses – book via University Training Booking System

• See your liaison librarian• Ask for help in the library• Email www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/ • Ask your supervisor• Stay now for advice and to ask questions

Evaluation

Please tell us what you thought of today’s session by completing the online evaluation

form at:

www.survey.bris.ac.uk/durham/intpgroct09