BIO2003 Literature searching

BIO 2003Literature Searching
Searching, retrieving information and locating library materials
Kathy McGowan and Lesley Curtis-Brown

By the end of this session you should be able to:
Understand the range of library resources available to you.
Understand how to use the library catalogue and how to request and renew items
Locate useful starting points such as the Learning Resources web pages and Subject Gateways
Be able to use the relevant online subject databases to find out what has been published in journals.

What kind of information should I use and where do I get it from?
Books
Middlesex University Library catalogue
http://library.mdx.ac.uk/
Using the catalogue
Requesting and renewing books

What kind of information do I use and where do I get it from?
Journals
A journal may be available in print or available online. To check availability, use the library catalogue. If available in print, catalogue will tell you which campus holds the journal.
If available online, there will be a blue link to the available online issues of the journal
Example

What kind of information do I use and where do I get it from?
Statistics – available online or through Library Subject guides
Newspapers - available through Proquestdatabase on Electronic Resources webpage
Organisations/websites
Grey Literature - scientific, technical and institutional reports, conference papers and theses, often unpublished.

Getting started
A good starting point is the LR web site www.lr.mdx.ac.ukto link to:-
Library Catalogue - to see what is available at Middlesex University
Library Subject Guides - useful starting points and links created by your subject librarian
Electronic Resources - such as bibliographic databases and on-line journals
Also opening times, campus information & helpsheets, especially Referencing guide

Principles of Literature Searching
Prepare a search strategy
Find general background information before using more specific and recent resources
Identify significant keywords
Identify related terms
Identify broader and narrower terms
Spelling and terminology - alternative spellings/terms e.g American?

Evaluating Internet Resources - Questions to ask
Who has written the material?
Is this a reliable source?
Is it peer reviewed?
Is it accurate and up to date?

Evaluating & selecting internet resources
For more information try an online interactive tutorial:
There are a number of subject-based tutorials
available from:
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/

Internet Subject Gateways
A Internet Subject Gateway aims to provide access to selected resources of high quality information (evaluated by subject specialists)
Examples can be accessed via the Learning Resources Health Subject Pages
Try using Intute (Bioresearch) and (BioethicsWeb)
For further help with web resources, please see Intute’sOnline Tutorial for Biosciences

Intute Subject Gateways

How do I log in to use online journals and databases?
Most online journals and databases are subscription services which require you to log in as a member of a subscribing institution
This gives you access to the e-resources from home provided you have internet access
Your username and password will be the same ones you use to login to the Middlesex University Computer network
Please set the Institutional Cookie on your computer

Saving a Cookie on your PC
Click here to save institutional cookie

Saving a Cookie on your PC
Or click here before you log into a resource

Databases
Most databases provide bibliographic details of articles published in professional journals including.…
-Author and Title of an article
- Journal in which it is printed
- Volume, Part and Page Numbers of the article
- Abstract, a brief summary of the article
- Subject Keywords
In some cases there will be a link providing access to the full text and/or information regarding the Library’s print holdings

Some Useful Databases
These databases give up to date reports, guidance and regulations, including useful forms & checklists:
Barbour - full text health & safety, fire safety, food safety and environment and environmental health information
Croner – full text environmental conservation, planning & management, pollution control and health & safety

Barbour
Login using E-Resources username & password

Barbour Log In screen

Barbour Home page

Barbour Data Sets

Barbour Guides

Barbour Document Library

Barbour Full Text

Other useful databases
Use these Databases to find out what journal articles have been published on your topic:
Business Source Complete – full text
Medline - database of international biomedical literature
Sage Online – full text journal articles
Science Citation Index
Science Direct – full text science database
Social Science Citation Index
Zetoc – British Library’s electronic Table of Contents

Other full-text resources
Law databases:
LexisNexis & Westlaw– full text access to international case law and legislation
Newspapers:
Proquest - full text UK newspaper articles

Remember:
Not all databases provide access to full-text journal articles
Use library catalogue/journals list to check availability
Some journals are also available in print – check library catalogue
You may use inter-library loan/other libraries

Science Citation Index (SCI) Search Screen

Combining Searches in SCI

SCI Results Screen

SCI results may not provide full text

Full Text

Using Science Direct from home
Having set the cookie on your PC, click on Athens/Other Institution login on Science Direct home page:

Logging in to Science Direct

How to find materials you need
Remember to check the Library Catalogue for availability at Middlesex University. Alternatively, check the Journals List
Items not available in the University may be ordered through the Inter Library Loan service at a cost of £3 per request
Make use of other libraries you have access to - some organisations have useful specialist libraries.

A Quick Search Demonstration
To look for peer reviewed journal articles on one of the following:
Scores on the doors
Workplace noise
Antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution

Now it’s your turn
Try using one or more of the following:
Barbour
Medline
Science Citation Index
Science Direct
Choose your own topic

SCONUL Access Scheme
SCONUL Access Scheme provides access to other academic libraries
For more information on the scheme visit the website
To apply, ask at the enquiry desk
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/access/

British Library Website
The British Library website has a link to its catalogue
You can use this to check if material you require is held at St Pancras Reading Rooms
Information on applying for a reader’s pass and the forms of ID required are on the website
http://www.bl.uk

Referencing
You must reference your work properly with full bibliographic details of all resources used, including books, journal articles, videos and websites
Keep a record of what you are using from the start of your literature searching
For information on how to reference your work, go to http://www.lr.mdx.ac.uk
Select Guides & Helpsheets, then Study Skills
Select Referencing and Citation Style: Health and Social Sciences

And finally...
Look on LR webpages www.lr.mdx.ac.uk
Password queries:
http://webhelpdesk.mdx.ac.uk
Subject enquiries:
Kathy McGowan
k.mcgowan@mdx.ac.uk

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