Guidance in basic research skills for new undergraduates in Classics and Ancient History at Durham University.

1. Finding information: Classics & Ancient
History resources
Richard Holmes
October 2014

2. 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

3. Ok; I’m
listening.
What’s your
point?
By christiem at Free Images

4. By Mattosaur4 at Free Images

5. By Henkster at Free Images

6. 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

7. The Research Cycle
1.
Identify
keywords
2.
Decide
where
to search
3.
Search
4.
Review
results

8. 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

9. The Library (Print Resources)
And in ‘remote store’

10. The Library Online Resources

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

12. 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

13. 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!

14. 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

15. 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!

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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!

20. 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