Finding information: Classics & Ancient History resources

Richard Holmes

October 2014

Aims of the session

To help you: • Use the library effectively, and make the

most of our services and resources

• Find and retrieve good quality academic resources

• Know who to contact for further help

Ok; I’m listening. What’s your point?

By christiem at Free Images

By Mattosaur4 at Free Images

By Henkster at Free Images

Environment, Facilities & Services

• Computer rooms• Loanable laptops• Wi-fi throughout. Network plugs too• Group/individual study rooms• Silent areas/quiet areas/social areas• Book scanners• 1.6m books, 20k+ journal titles,

“bucket loads of library databases”• Liaison Librarian Support By MassassiUK at Wikimedia Commons

The Research Cycle

1.Identify

keywords

2.Decide where

to search

3.Search

4.Review results

Search Tips

Identify keywords from your topic:“Analyse the design of Greek costume”

Advanced searching techniques:• Synonyms: costume OR clothing \ design OR pattern• Truncation: design* = designs, designer, designed, designing• Wildcards: colo?r to locate colour or color• Phrases: “Greek costume”• Joining Words: AND, OR, NOT

The Library (Print Resources)

And in ‘remote store’

The Library Online Resources

Subject Specific Tools & Support http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/classics

What information do you need?

– Introduction/overview of a topic, theory, idea, concept? • Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries (online and in print)

– Background information?• Textbook/E-book

– Information on the latest research?• Journal Article• Conference Paper• News item

Search : The Library Catalogue

Good for:• Looking for specific

books or journals.• Finding if we have any

books all about your subject

Useless for finding:• Chapters• Articles• Theses• Conference papers• Newspaper articles• Images

The catalogue is not ideal for doing serious research!

Search : ‘Discover’• New tool (so not running perfectly yet)• Searches more deeply than the catalogue• Identifies relevant chapters, and articles, as well as materials not

recorded in the catalogue• Searches beyond Durham University holdings (optional)• Links directly to full text (where available)

Link appears under the catalogue search box

Library Databases

Databases search a wide range of journal articles• Some are databases of content

– JSTOR• Others are just tools for identifying content

– L’Année Philologique– Web of Science– Use ConneXions to see if Durham actually has the content

No single database will cover everything!

Review your results• Are your results useful?

– Do you need to change your keywords or search in a different database?

– Use one record to find similar useful resources• Evaluate the quality of your sources

– particularly if they are found on the internet• Keep references

– e-mail yourself useful references

E-resources: Common Problems• Always navigate to resources through the catalogue

(especially if off-campus)

• Check coverage dates (not every year may be available to you)

• Close duo (it can interfere with authentication)

• Check catalogue record; are login details required?– Library homepage E-journals E-journal Passwords

• Contact eresource.enquiry@durham.ac.uk with problems

Guidance:

Help & Information Desk

Liaison Librarian

Research Skills Training

Online Tutorials

Downloadable Guides

https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/

enquiries/ richard.holmes@durham.ac.ukImage 45148903 at MoD Images

In Summary…• Good research skills improve grades and employability (but you have to

put the effort in to learn them)

• No one database finds everything; use multiple resources.

• Full text databases search deeply, but across a limited spectrum of literature

• Bibliographic databases search more broadly, but do not contain full text

• We do not subscribe to everything. Use the ConneXions button to check for full text availability

• You can access all our e-resources, anytime, anywhere

• Support and guidance is available throughout your studies. If in doubt…

…ask a librarian!

Drop-in support

Monday 3rd November. 10am - Noon

Friday 14th November. 10am - Noon

Bill Bryson Library, consultation room, (opposite Help & Information Desk) By Renaudeh at Free Images