1. Finding and managing
academic information
MST8011:
Finding and
Managing
academic
information
Moira Bent
Faculty Liaison
University Library
Librarian

4. The library in numbers

5. Library Service @ Newcastle University
Robinson Library
• Science, Engineering, Agriculture
• Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences
Walton Library
• Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical
Science
Law Library
Digital Library
• http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library
University Library

6. It’s not too hard to find your way around
• 600-999: including
Level 4 Agriculture, Engineering
• 000-599: including
Level 3 Biology, Computing, Maths &
Chemistry
• Entrance / Exit
Level 2 • Student Texts Collection, Café, Group
Study, Main Counter, Computing Helpdesk
• Group Study area - YourSpace
Level 1 • Government Publications, Special Collections
and Archives, Print Services
University Library

7. Are there ANY rules?
Library Code of Conduct
• Be sensible
• Be considerate
• Don’t disturb others
• Tidy up after yourself

8. Phones and
drinks are ok
BUT
Be sensible!
(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakebouma/2338684989/

9. We’re open 24 / 7 in term-time
University Library

10. Lots of friendly staff, including
a Library Liaison team
especially for your School
(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shiplibrary/3873257790/

11. The SAgE Library team
Who we are:
Lib-sage@ncl.ac.uk
Julia
Moira
Jenny
Yvonne
University Library

12. Come and explore for yourself
http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/welcome
Pick up a Library Guide, explore the different study spaces, try the online welcome guide

13. Information overload?
Source code
Maps
Experimental data
Books
Chemical
and
Government reports
Internet E-Books physical
data
Information
resources
Commercial material Digital images
Journal
Theses
articles
Statistical data
Conf
Papers
University Library

14. Don’t sink under
the weight of all
the information!
University Library

15. Having a search strategy keeps
you afloat
• Main
• Logical terms
approach
• Related
• Use proper terms
strategies Search
Keywords • Synonyms
Techniques
Limits Info type
• How much? • Primary data
• What date? • Secondary
• How quickly? sources
• Which language • Source code
University Library

16. Keywords – an example
“Safe use of computers by children”
computer safety children
Internet pirates adolescents
Web attack teenagers
young
www protection
people
PC security ….
Defence/
Mainframe
defense
online
University Library

17. Search techniques
 Use a phrase
 “computer security”
 Use AND, OR and NOT to make logical connections
 computer AND (security OR protection OR safety)
 Use truncation
 Terror* finds terror, terrorist, terrorism, terrorists..
University Library

18. child* OR
adolescent*
AND AND
computer*
security OR
OR internet
protection AND
OR WWW
OR safety
OR
University Library

19. Search a
more
specialised
resource
More Found Apply
specific limits
search too (date, type
terms
much? etc)
Eg LIMIT to
Journal articles
Combine after 2004
terms with
‘AND’
Eg internet
AND security
Flickr Commons: LSE Library

20. Search a
less
specialised
resource
Use Can’t Truncate
different your
search find search
terms enough? terms
Eg Terror* finds
terror, terrorism, terrorist, t
errorists
Combine
Eg defence OR security OR protection terms with
‘OR’

21. Start
Narrow broad
down
Keep
refining
Recipe for success!

22. Maybe you’re
looking in the
wrong place
altogether?
Or perhaps it
doesn’t exist at
all?
Flickr Commons/LSE Library and (CC BY 2.0) flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/4812269151

23. LibrarySearch is a good place to start
Includes the library
catalogue and a range
of electronic resources
Full & mobile views

24. Use Library Search
 To find items from your reading list
 To find printed books in the Library by topic
 To find electronic books
 To get a general overview of a topic
 To find a few journal references for an essay
University Library

25. Use your Library Guide to identify
key databases:
libguides.ncl.ac.uk/computing

26. Finding websites
http://www.intute.ac.uk
• Portal to quality information on the internet
• Resources selected by subject experts
• Provided for UK academic community
http://scholar.google.co.uk/
• Google’s search engine for academic literature
http://www.scirus.com
• Scientific search engine – filters out non-scientific sites
University Library

27. Our electronic
resources are
available any
time, anywhere
(CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/marylkayoe/5214250026/

28. • For books on loan
• Place a “hold” on books which are on loan
Reserve • Borrow when book is returned
• For articles and conferences we don’t have
• Apply for an Inter Library Loan
Request • 50 requests @ £1.50
• New books to buy
• Books on Time system to recommend new
Recommend titles for purchase

29. Now you have all
the info you
need – relax!
University Library

30. Referencing: boring but important
 Makes clear what
your own ideas are –
this is what you get
marks for!
 It’s good academic
practice
 It helps you track
down the info again
in future
 Avoids accusations of
plagiarism
University Library

31. Recording information
BOOKS :
Author, Title, Publisher, Edition, Date.
JOURNALS : Author, Article Title, Journal
Title, Volume, Date, Pages.
WWW SITE : Author (if known)
Title, URL, date created, date visited.
University Library

32. Harvard style
Journal
Stockdale, E. (2003) How to keep first year students awake.
Education today 34: 122-134.
Book
Bent, M. (2002) The psychology of eating, Facet, London.
Web site
Park, J, Finn, J, Cooke, R, Lawson, C. (2008) Agriculture
and the environment: the current situation. University
of Reading.
http://www.ecifm.reading.ac.uk/subject2.htm Accessed
1 Dec 2008
University Library

33. Citing in an essay
Research has shown that giving students
chocolate helps them to concentrate
(Stockdale, 2003). Bent (2002 p 45) also claims
that “chocolate reduces stress”. It therefore seems
appropriate that universities provide chocolate
fountains in all halls of residence.
References
Bent, M. (2002) The psychology of
eating, Facet, London.
Stockdale, E. (2003) How to keep first year
students awake. Education today 34:122-134.
University Library

34. Referencing Library Guide
University Library

35. School of Computing Science/Robinson Library
QR Code Project
 A QR code contains a link, picture or text.
 To take part, you need a smartphone or other device with a camera that
can scan QR codes.
 Download a QR code App and start the tour by scanning the first code.
 You’ll find it in the Reception area on L2 of the Robinson Library. [You
will need an Internet connection too!]
 Please note, this is a pilot project. If you have any problems, please let me
know
 moira.bent@ncl.ac.uk
lindsay.marshall@ncl.ac.uk
University Library

36. Contact us....
Moira.bent@ncl.ac.uk
Lib-sage@ncl.ac.uk
@nulibsage
facebook.com/NULibraries
libguides.ncl.ac.uk/biology
Flickr the Commons: Smithsonian Institution

37. What next…
 Complete the paperchase and
QR exercise – bring
completed exercise to lectures
with Dr Colquhoun next week
 Explore the Library Guide at:
 http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/computing