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: S.K.M.Abbott@exeter.ac.uk

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://www.jiscmail@jiscmail.ac.uk• 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 S.K.M.Abbott@exeter.ac.uk

• Library International Officer – Patrick Overy (P.C.Overy@exeter.ac.uk)

• Disability Liaison Officer – Sue Abbott (S.K.M.Abbott@exeter.ac.uk)

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library