Postgraduate Course FeedbackPRS1002Essential Library Skills

Alison Randall

October 2013

Today we will look at…

• Types of resources available

• Using the Library pages on MyUniHub

• The Library Catalogue

• Finding books in the Library

• Accessing journals

• Your Library subject guide

• Useful databases

• Your online reading lists

Library facilities

Types of resources

Types of resources

Exercise 1:

1.Each group will be given a pack of cards

2.Cards show the names of 4 resource types

3.Match together the correct: Resource Type + Definition + “Good for” + “Not so good for”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e32kaa9TzeE

Books

What are they: A written or printed work of fiction or fact. May be electronic.

Good for: Clear overview

Not so good for: Up to date information

Web pages

What are they: An information resource which can be easily created by anyone on any topic.Electronic.

Good for: Very up to date information

Not so good for: Accurate and reliable information

Newspapers

What are they: A regular publication containing current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising.

May be electronic.Good for:

Daily informationNot so good for:

Balanced and well researched information

Journals

What are they: A regular publication containing articles on a particular academic subject.Presents new research.

Good for: Latest research, critically reviewed by experts

Not so good for: Broad overview of a subject

Using the Library pages on MyUniHub

Log in to MyUniHub

My Study

My Library

Library Catalogue

Finding books on the Catalogue

How to search:• Keyword search• A-Z search

Exercise 2: • Try to find this book on the Library Catalogue:

Ball, D. J. (2006) Environmental health policy. Open University Press

Reserving an item

Reserving an item

Student numberDate of birth DDMMYY

Collecting a reserved item

• Check your Middlesex e-mail.

• Write down the 6-figure reference number in the e-mail.

• Go to the Reservations shelves.

• Remember to borrow the book!

Renewing your loans

Finding books in the Library

610.73 BUR, 610.73 CLI, 610.7301 NUR

Where are the Environmental Health books?

Environmental chemistry 577.14

Environmental law 344.42046

Food safety 363.192

Health & Safety law 344.420465

Health promotion 613

Virology 579.2

2nd floor, 2nd Floor (Law Wing), 3rd Floor

Finding books in the Library

Exercise 3:

• 6 volunteers

• Direct them into the correct shelf order

• Use the main number, then the decimal number, then the three letters

Accessing journals

This is a journal reference from a reading list:

Nawrocka, D., Parker, T. (2009). Finding the connection: environmental management systems and environmental performance. Journal of Cleaner Production 17, (6), p. 601-607.

Exercise 4:

Can you identify the following parts of the reference?

Author, Date, Title of article, Journal Title, Volume,

Issue, Page Numbers

Accessing journals

• To find a specific article, search the Library Catalogue for the journal title.

• You can do a Keyword search or an A-Z search

• There will be a blue link to the available issues.

• Make sure you’re logged in to MyUniHub!

Accessing journals

Exercise 5:Using the Library Catalogue, try to find this journal article....

Nawrocka, D., Parker, T. (2009). Finding the connection: environmental management systems and environmental performance. Journal of Cleaner Production 17, (6), p. 601-607.

Library Subject Guide

Useful databases

Library Subject Guide for

Public Health, Risk, Safety & Environment

Resources

Finding articles / Using databases

Useful databases

Barbour

Lexis Library

Science Direct

Your online reading lists

Need help?

• Librarians in the Specialist Zone (1st floor) Monday-Friday 11am - 3pm

• Ask a Librarian http://askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk/ • Library Subject Guide for Public Health, Risk, Safety &

Environment http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/prs