Category Archives: Information literacy

New database: Scopus

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The growing demand for citation data has been recognised through the purchase a of a subscription to Scopus. Now available at www.scopus.com Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature and quality web sources with some 41 million records covering 18,000 titles.   Extensive work has been undertaken to design a user interface which makes it easy to use, to track and to analyse research. It will be a major benefit to students and particularly to researchers. As the website explains:

Using Scopus as a researcher you can:

  • Find out who is citing you, and how many citations an article or an author has received.
  • Analyze citations for a particular journal issue, volume or year.
  • Use this information to complete grant or other applications quickly and easily.
  • Use the refine results overview to quickly see the main journals, disciplines and authors that publish in your area of interest.
  • Uncover important and relevant articles that you may otherwise miss.
  • Check out the work and citations of other authors.
  • Click on the cited by and reference links to track research trends and make connections. You can do this within or across disciplines you are interested in.

The interface is pretty intuitive but there’s a demo available.

Handy hints for surviving exams

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exam hints 

Do you need a place to study, some handy tips to survive exam time blues, or some last minute Know How help on revision, minimising stress or time management? Well, the Library has created a web page to help you survive the exam  period. Take a break and take a look – in the words of a well known retailer “every little helps.”

The Library has also set up a display in Open 3 where you can leave your revision and exam skills hints and tips – so why not share your survival tips? Here’s just a few to get you going:

“Keep sipping water during the exam – it keeps your memory working!!”

and staying on the healthy mind, healthy body theme, “Eat fruit and pasta!”

“Make mind maps”

This one is either a personal message or the scribe has been watching Star Wars … “Keep going Luke”

“Sleep is important”

and one from the heart “Stay positive”

Get the Know-How: Skills to Succeed

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get the Know-How workshopHave you been to one of the Library’s ‘Get the Know-How’ workshops and want a refresher?  Or do you want a taster of how the workshops can help you? This semester we’ve been capturing some of the series using the new ReVIEW lecture capture system which has been introduced in a number of teaching rooms across the campus.

To view the workshops, visit the Get the Know-How module at http://learn.lboro.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5792 and click on the ReVIEW links at the top right.

RefWorks Training in October and November

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Use RefWorks to reference these! †

RefWorks is one of the most popular bibliographic tools and in October and November there are several training sessions run by the Library and Webinars from RefWorks staff to help you get the best out of this service.

On Thursday 21st October and Wednesday 10th November at 1 to 1.50 in Training Room 1 and 2 of the Library there is our popular RefWorks – Getting Started course for absolute beginners. Here, you will learn how to store and sort your references and create bibliographies using Refworks. This introductory course includes time for hands-on practice. No need to book, just turn up!

On the 16th of November between 9.30 and 12 the Library is running a  workshop for research postgraduates wishing to develop or refresh their knowledge of RefWorks. It will particularly benefit those who are just starting their PhD or those who realise that their previous reference management systems are becoming unmanageable. In this instance you will need to book using the Staff Development booking system.

Can’t make these sessions? RefWorks offer a series of recorded and live training sessions.

Here is the schedule of live sessions for November from RefWorks staff:

RefWorks Fundamentals

Thursday, November 4, 2010

2:00 pm  

https://refworks.webex.com/refworks/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=713975645

RefWorks in 15 Minutes

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

7:00 pm 

https://refworks.webex.com/refworks/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=719289252

† Photo courtesy of  See-ming Lee used under  license.

The ASTM databases are here!

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ASTM ( American society of testing and materials)

ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world a source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.

Loughborough University now is pleased to announce that it now has access to two databases from ASTM

 

ASTM’s Digital Library, provides you with instant access to the digital edition of nearly every ASTM International book and paper spanning 140+ industries and 100+ years. 

ASTM’s standards cover metals, petroleum, construction, the environment, and more.

 

If you would like to use the databases off-campus access is via the username and password available from the Library’s Electronic journal and information services passwords web page. You will need your University Active Directory username and password to access the Library password page.

 

 

Imminent Library training courses – roll up, roll up!

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Have you thought about signing up for two Lunchtime in the Library courses running this week and next?  

This week, on Thursday 24th April we have Advanced Searching of the Web, followed by How to Trace Journal Articles next Tuesday 29th April. Both courses commence at 12noon.

Lunchtime in the Library courses are free to attend and take place in the Pilkington Library, Training Room 1 on Level 3 (next to the Open3 area and close to the cafe).

If you’re interested in refining your searching techniques or have experienced problems in locating specific journal information, then these informative courses run by the Library’s professional academic librarians will certainly be worth giving up an hour of your lunchtime for!

You can view further information and booking details by accessing the following link to the Library’s Lunchtime in the Library webpage: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/lunchtim.html

 

Database of the Month- Compendex March 19th

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Each month the University Library selects a new or popular database to feature as its Database of the Month.  The library will feature the Compendex database on Wednesday  19th March from 10:00am to 11:30am in Training Room 1 on Level 3 of the Library.

Compendex is a comprehensive engineering database including manufacturing, quality control and engineering management

The session will  outline how to:

  • access the database
  • search the database effectively
  • save bibliographic references

You are also given the opportunity to search the database yourself.

Please book through Professional Development’s booking system

We look forward to seeing you there!

Forthcoming Training Courses

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The Library is running some training courses this month which you might be interested in attending. There are two Lunchtime in the Library courses; Finding Patent Information on Wednesday 14th November at 12pm, and an Introduction to the Major Engineering Databases on Thursday 22 November at 12pm. Further information and details on how to book can be found on the Library webpages: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/lunchtim.html

Also of interest is the Database of the Month session for November, which is on the IEEE Xplore. This session is on Wednesday 21 November from 10am – 11.30am. Further details and booking information can be found on the library webpages: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/library/skills/dbaseofmonth.html  

Why not come along to these sessions and find out more about the resources the library provides for you and your students?

Helping students with Dissertations/ Final Year Projects

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student-working.jpgAt this time of the year many of your students will be working on final year dissertations or final year projects.  Did you realise that we can offer?:

  • workshops explaining how to find resources (both print and electronic) and how to use these resources in order to produce a good literature search.
  • workshops/lectures either in the library, or in your department explaining what plagiarism is and how to avoid it by using correct citation methods.
  • individual appointments for students having difficulty locating the information they require.

For further information contact your Academic Librarian:

Lizzie, Steph, Becky or Tracy

Help your students to follow the InfoTrail

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InfoTrail logoThe Library has just launched a new interactive, self-paced online tutorial on how to find and present information effectively.  InfoTrail@Lboro is designed to help students gain vital information and study skills which they will need for their course of study and beyond.  InfoTrail includes modules on:

So why not have a look and then recommend it to your students? There are lots of activities to try out and the option to “Self-test” at the start and end of a module to see how much your knowledge has improved.  The Library is hoping to develop tailored subject specific versions of InfoTrail in the future so let us know if you think your students would benefit from this.  Feedback is welcomed so why not get in touch with Steph or Lizzie or leave a comment on the blog.