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Introduction to eSearch
eSearch is LLR’s gateway to online databases and journals. You can:
search for a database by name or see what is recommended for your subject
perform a “metasearch”, cross-searching multiple databases look up individual journals search for a specific article
Finding eSearch
Direct URL: http://metalib.ntu.ac.uk/Via NOW: click Resources in the General Resources box then
select Library and eSearch.LLR homepage: click on Resources & collections and then eSearch.
Databases
Use a database to search for articles in a range of journals. If you know which database you wish to search type the name in the Find a database box and click on .
Not sure? Click on search for a database by subject. Select the category and sub-category that interests you and click Go to bring up the list of recommended databases.
Access the database by clicking on its name. The symbol will say if you need a username and password and how to access it off-campus.
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Search for:
Keywords – define your subject and write a list of keywords and synonyms. Check the subject headings and thesauri terms used by each database for ideas.
Hint: Use truncation and wildcards to retrieve as many results as possible e.g. zoo* will find zoo(s), zoology, zoological and zoologist. * is the standard symbol for truncation but check each database.
Author – limit your search to articles by a particular author.
Within a specific journal – limit your search to a journal you know is going to be useful or available electronically/in print in the library.
You will often need to perform an advanced search to perform the last two searches.
Most databases will give you an abstract and suggest related articles on your subject. Look out for or links to download pdf’s.
Metasearch
You must log in to eSearch with your NXXXXXX username and password.
Advantages: Save time by searching databases simultaneously.
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will appear in the results.Directly export references to RefWorks.
Disadvantages: Not all databases are compatible with metasearch.Can perform more sophisticated searches when using database in its native interface e.g. Author and Journal searches.
Performing a search
Viewing your results
Journals
Use eSearch to browse or search the contents of a specific eJournal. This way you are guaranteed full-text results.
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Click on the title for a full record and abstract
Refine results by suggested topics, dates, authors or journals
Check print or electronic availability
Click on table view to return to the results list – Back does not work in eSearch
Click basket to save records to the e-shelf
CategoryEnter keywords Click here to
search
Subcategories
Select databases to search simultaneously
If you want to identify journals for your subject, it’s better to search the library catalogue limiting your search to “journals (electronic and print)” than use the Browse eJournals feature on eSearch.
Whenever you click on you will be taken to a screen which explains if the library has an electronic or print subscription.
Depending on the publisher, you can search within the journal from the same page or you will have to look for advanced search options.
Remember: if the journal is only available in print, use a database to search its contents electronically rather than searching through every issue in the library.
Articles
You can use eSearch to find for specific articles that may be included on your reading list or that you have found in a bibliography.
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Type the journal’s title and then click here
Check for date coverage and access information
Click here for our print holdings
My eSearch
You must log in to eSearch with your NXXXXXX username and password.Use this feature to manage your searches, organise your references and save time when searching for journal articles.
eShelf: save articles you found doing a metasearch by clicking on . You can create different folders for different assignments.
My Databases: create a list of your favourite databases.
My e-journals: create a list of your favourite eJournals.
History: save your metasearches and create alerts so you are emailed when articles on your research topic are published.
Perform a metasearch and then click on previous searches, click to save your search and then go to my eSearch and history.
Recommended Databases
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Fill in as much detail as possible
Click here
Click on + to send to your eShelf.
Click to create alert
Check as many relevant databases as possible. No one database will cover all the journals of interest to your topic.
Google Scholar http://scholar.google.com
Searches academic journals, use as final check for freely available articles before placing an inter-library loan. Find it @NTU automatically included in search results on campus. Off campus – go to scholar preferences, look up NTU in “library links” and tick the box. Remember to save preferences. You can also choose to display a link to RefWorks by selecting this from the list in “Bibliography Manager”.
Intute http://www.intute.ac.uk
Indexes peer-reviewed websites.
IVIS Free resource, need to register to access full-text conference proceedings and ebook chapters. Search site or browse their library online.
JSTOR Full-text journals archive. Covers ecology and zoology.
Key Note Market research information, useful if you want an overview of trends within a specific industry e.g. pet food and accessories, garden centres, tourist industry.
Land, Life and Leisure Indexes academic and trade/popular titles (e.g. Horse Illustrated) not covered by other databases, and government and charity reports and press releases. Will provide an inter-library loan service (write database name on your request form).
Mintel MintelNexis UK Full-text access to UK and world newspapers, try The
Independent for environmental coverage. Useful starting point for topical stories.
Science Direct Full-text access to subscribed titles only. Covers all disciplines
Web of Knowledge Contains Web of Science and ISI Proceedings (conference literature) and Biology Browser (scientific websites including taxonomies).
WildPro Full-text species and habitat information.Market research information, useful if you want an overview of trends within a specific industry e.g. pet food and accessories, garden centres, tourist industry.
Zetoc Indexes everything held in the British Library so will be available via inter-library loan.
Finding Books
Check the library catalogue for print and electronic books. Try searching the British Library Catalogue (http://catalogue.b.l.uk) or COPAC
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(http://copac.ac.uk – union catalogue for UK Research Libraries) if you are eligible for the interlibrary-loan service.
eBooks
Most of the eBooks in the Library Catalogue are provided through the ebrary platform. The first time you access an eBook off-campus you will be prompted to download the ebrary reader. Follow the on screen prompts to install this software.
Beware: ebrary doesn’t support ISP branded browsers (versions of Internet Explorer which your ISP provided to you e.g. a BT Yahoo browser). You will need to use Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Interlibrary Loans
Allows you to order resources not held by NTU. This includes: books, journal articles, whole journal issues and theses. The service is available for students in their two final years of study. Forms can be obtained from the Information Desk.
Athens Accounts and NTU Single Sign-on
Most resources will prompt you for your NTU username and password when you use them on or off-campus. Others will need an Athens username and password. Find it via NOW (go to My Information) or look it up via the LLR website http://www.ntu.ac.uk/llr/resources_collections/athens/index.html.
September 2009 onwards – you will no longer have an Athens password, all resources will use your NTU username and password.
Citing References and Avoiding Plagiarism
It is important to cite the material you use to avoid accusations of plagiarism and ensure that others can follow up your references.
Use RefWorks to manage your references and use their Write-N-Cite feature to reference essays and create bibliographies. It is a web-based system which means you can access it from any PC, on and off-campus. Access it using your Athens Account log-in at http://www.refworks.com/ .
Using other Libraries
The SCONUL Access scheme lets you use other university libraries (restricted to print collections). More information and the application form are available here: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/llr/using_llr/other_libraries/index.html
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Further Help
Contact me if you need any subject specific help.
[email protected]: 01636 817076 (Brackenhurst - Tues, Weds, Fri) or 0115 8483027 (Clifton - Mon and Thurs)
Use the Live Help Information Direct Service for any general library questions. Look out for it on the LLR homepage and within NOW.
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