Tag Archives: searching

Information Skills workshops for PhD researchers: places still available

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The Library is here to help all postgraduate researchers as they begin, or continue their in-depth research, with a short series of Information Skills workshops designed to their needs.

The workshops will take place on the 11th, 12th and 13th of June and will help you understand the resources available to you as researchers here at the University of Aberdeen, and how to get the best out of them.

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There are three workshops on offer, each lasting three hours:

  • Literature searching – Part 1: Getting started
  • Literature searching – Part 2: Using databases
  • Literature searching – Part 3: Managing your references using RefWorks*

Across the three workshops we will look at:

  • Planning your search
  • Looking for books: using Primo and e-books
  • Databases of academic literature
  • Getting the best out of Google
  • Managing your references with RefWorks
  • Formatting Word documents with in-text citations and bibliographies

*IMPORTANT NOTE: The workshop focusing on the management of references
(Part 3) is not suitable for research postgraduates in the School of Law, as the software used does not support the OSCOLA referencing style required for legal theses.

To find out more, and to book onto the different workshops please visit www.abdn.ac.uk/coursebooking and look for Library Information Skills classes.

We look forward to seeing you at the workshops!

More Primo videos on the Library website

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Earlier in the academic year, we published a series of short videos on how to use Primo, the Library’s discovery tool.

We have now added to the collection two more videos, in which we go over the importance of planning a search strategy before you start looking for information and using Primo’s search rules correctly in order to get the best possible results. The new videos are:

  • Planning a search and using Boolean operators
  • Search rules

Don’t forget to check them out!

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For any questions you may have, don’t hesitate to contact Ewan (e.grant@abdn.ac.uk) or Eleni (eleni.boro@abdn.ac.uk)

INFO: Research skills drop-in sessions for PGT students

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As a follow-up to the extremely popular dissertation info skills sessions held in June we are offering drop-in sessions  this week. Come along if you have any questions on refining searches, using databases or managing references.  

  • Tuesday 17 July 11.00-12.00
  • Thursday 19 July 14.00-15.00

PC Classroom 1, Floor 2, University Library

No booking required – just drop-in!

All the presentations and worksheets used in the June workshops can be accessed on our information skills wiki at http://aberdeenunilibskills.pbworks.com/

 

SusanMcCourt, s.mccourt@abdn.ac.uk

UPDATE: Web of Knowledge – new features

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Following Sunday’s upgrade to the Web of Knowledge platform new features are available for to support more in-depth searching. There’s now an improved Subject Area/Category search available in Advanced Search mode and left hand truncation in the Topic and Title fields. Enhancements in data collection have resulted in more complete cited reference data being presented.  An overview of the new options is available at https://www.brainshark.com/thomsonscientific/newfeat_wok5_6_en

Susan McCourt, s.mccourt@abdn.ac.uk, x3287

INFO: Working on your Masters dissertation over the summer?

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A few hours invested in attending our refresher library information skills workshops for taught postgraduates may save you heaps of time in your dissertation research and writing up.

After the exams we are offering a series of practical workshops covering generic skills in literature searching, using relevant databases, and writing up using *RefWorks reference management software (*NOTE: RefWorks is not suitable for Law students).

We’re also offering hands-on sessions specifically on the new interface for the ABI/Inform business database. Of particular interest to students in the Business School. 

Workshops are being offered in the week beginning 11 June – they are free of charge and available to book online at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/coursebooking/

Three different workshops are offered with a choice of two different times for each – places are limited so please only sign up for one time slot for each workshop you wish to attend.

HURRY… SIGN UP SOON… PLACES ARE GOING FAST!

NOTE – LAW STUDENTS: a series of three refresher workshops on searching legal databases for your dissertation are being held on 4 June and 5 June. These are voluntary and can be booked online at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/coursebooking/. Places are limited so book early if you wish to attend.

Susan McCourt, s.mccourt@abdn.ac.uk