BIO 2003 Literature Searching Searching, retrieving information and locating library materials Kathy McGowan and Lesley Curtis-Brown
Dec 07, 2014
BIO 2003Literature Searching
Searching, retrieving information and locating library materials
Kathy McGowan and Lesley Curtis-Brown
By the end of this session you should be able to:
Understand the range of library resources available to you.
Understand how to use the library catalogue and how to request and renew items
Locate useful starting points such as the Learning Resources web pages and Subject Gateways
Be able to use the relevant online subject databases to find out what has been published in journals.
What kind of information should I use and where do I get it from?
Books
Middlesex University Library catalogue
http://library.mdx.ac.uk/
Using the catalogue Requesting and renewing books
What kind of information do I use and where do I get it from?
Journals A journal may be available in print or available
online. To check availability, use the library catalogue. If available in print, catalogue will tell you which campus holds the journal.
If available online, there will be a blue link to the available online issues of the journal
Example
What kind of information do I use and where do I get it from?
Statistics – available online or through Library Subject guides
Newspapers - available through Proquest database on Electronic Resources webpage
Organisations/websites Grey Literature - scientific, technical and
institutional reports, conference papers and theses, often unpublished.
Getting started
A good starting point is the LR web site www.lr.mdx.ac.uk to link to:-
Library Catalogue - to see what is available at Middlesex University
Library Subject Guides - useful starting points and links created by your subject librarian
Electronic Resources - such as bibliographic databases and on-line journals
Also opening times, campus information & helpsheets, especially Referencing guide
Principles of Literature Searching
Prepare a search strategy Find general background information
before using more specific and recent resources
Identify significant keywords Identify related terms Identify broader and narrower terms Spelling and terminology - alternative
spellings/terms e.g American?
Evaluating Internet Resources - Questions to ask
Who has written the material?
Is this a reliable source?
Is it peer reviewed?
Is it accurate and up to date?
Evaluating & selecting internet resourcesFor more information try an online
interactive tutorial:
There are a number of subject-based tutorials
available from:http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/
Internet Subject Gateways A Internet Subject Gateway aims to provide
access to selected resources of high quality information (evaluated by subject specialists)
Examples can be accessed via the Learning Resources Health Subject Pages
Try using Intute (Bioresearch) and (BioethicsWeb)
For further help with web resources, please see Intute’s Online Tutorial for Biosciences
Intute Subject Gateways
How do I log in to use online journals and databases?
Most online journals and databases are subscription services which require you to log in as a member of a subscribing institution
This gives you access to the e-resources from home provided you have internet access
Your username and password will be the same ones you use to login to the Middlesex University Computer network
Please set the Institutional Cookie on your computer
Saving a Cookie on your PC
Click here to save institutional cookie
Saving a Cookie on your PC
Or click here before you log into a resource
DatabasesMost databases provide bibliographic details of
articles published in professional journals including.…
- Author and Title of an article
- Journal in which it is printed
- Volume, Part and Page Numbers of the article
- Abstract, a brief summary of the article
- Subject KeywordsIn some cases there will be a link providing access to the full text
and/or information regarding the Library’s print holdings
Some Useful Databases
These databases give up to date reports, guidance and regulations, including useful forms & checklists:
Barbour - full text health & safety, fire safety, food safety and environment and environmental health information
Croner – full text environmental conservation, planning & management, pollution control and health & safety
Barbour
Login using E-Resources username & password
Barbour Log In screen
Barbour Home page
Barbour Data Sets
Barbour Guides
Barbour Document Library
Barbour Full Text
Other useful databases
Use these Databases to find out what journal articles have been published on your topic:
Business Source Complete – full text Medline - database of international biomedical literature Sage Online – full text journal articles Science Citation Index Science Direct – full text science database Social Science Citation Index Zetoc – British Library’s electronic Table of Contents
Other full-text resources
Law databases: LexisNexis & Westlaw– full text access to
international case law and legislation
Newspapers: Proquest - full text UK newspaper articles
Remember:
Not all databases provide access to full-text journal articles
Use library catalogue/journals list to check availability
Some journals are also available in print – check library catalogue
You may use inter-library loan/other libraries
Science Citation Index (SCI) Search Screen
Combining Searches in SCI
SCI Results Screen
SCI results may not provide full text
Full Text
Full Text
Using Science Direct from home
Having set the cookie on your PC, click on Athens/Other Institution login on Science Direct home page:
Logging in to Science Direct
How to find materials you need
Remember to check the Library Catalogue for availability at Middlesex University. Alternatively, check the Journals List
Items not available in the University may be ordered through the Inter Library Loan service at a cost of £3 per request
Make use of other libraries you have access to - some organisations have useful specialist libraries.
A Quick Search Demonstration
To look for peer reviewed journal articles on one of the following:
Scores on the doors
Workplace noise
Antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution
Now it’s your turn
Try using one or more of the following:
Barbour Medline Science Citation Index Science Direct
Choose your own topic
SCONUL Access Scheme
SCONUL Access Scheme provides access to other academic libraries
For more information on the scheme visit the website
To apply, ask at the enquiry desk
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/access/
British Library Website
The British Library website has a link to its catalogue
You can use this to check if material you require is held at St Pancras Reading Rooms
Information on applying for a reader’s pass and the forms of ID required are on the website
http://www.bl.uk
Referencing You must reference your work properly with full
bibliographic details of all resources used, including books, journal articles, videos and websites
Keep a record of what you are using from the start of your literature searching
For information on how to reference your work, go to http://www.lr.mdx.ac.uk
Select Guides & Helpsheets, then Study Skills Select
Referencing and Citation Style: Health and Social Sciences
And finally...
Look on LR webpages www.lr.mdx.ac.uk
Password queries:http://webhelpdesk.mdx.ac.uk
Subject enquiries:Kathy McGowan