Presentation designed for the transition from school to higher education, introducing the concepts of independent learning and critical thinking as well as a general overview of key academic information sources.

1. Cambridge University Library
Here be dragons? Libraries and e-resources
Dr Emma Coonan
Research Skills Librarian, Cambridge University Library

2. What‟s your experience
of libraries?
Image © Adib Roy, flickr.com

3. Librarians ...
“ ... are not fiery dragons interposed between
the people and the books. They are useful public
servants, who manage libraries in the interest of the
public …”
(Sir William Osler, 1917)

4. “That English mapmakers formerly placed
the phrase „here be dragons‟ at the edges
of their known world has somehow become
general knowledge ...”
(Erin C. Blake, 1999)
www.maphist.nl/extra/herebedragons.html

5. Study = discovering unknown territory …
Image © Bruno Girin, flickr.com

6. … and mapping out the landscape for yourself
Image © kaet44, flickr.com

7. Libraries link to worlds of information
“The universe (which others call the Library) is
composed of an indefinite and perhaps infinite
number of hexagonal galleries…. From any of the
hexagons one can see, interminably, the upper and
lower floors …
I say that the Library is unending.”
Jorge Luis Borges, „The Library of Babel‟

8. 3 useful tools for mapping your
information landscape
Cambridge Libraries Gateway
LibrarySearch(Plus)
eresources@cambridge

9. Find your library
www.cam.ac.uk/libraries

10. See what’s in Cambridge libraries
http://search.lib.cam.ac.uk

11. See what’s in Cambridge libraries ... and beyond
http://searchplus.lib.cam.ac.uk

12. Explore specialist collections and gateways
www.lib.cam.ac.uk/eresources

13. 3 useful tools for mapping your
information landscape
+
1 essential element for success

14. Critical vision
Your ability to analyse and evaluate
information for its accuracy, reliability
and scholarly worth

15. “That English mapmakers formerly placed
the phrase „here be dragons‟ at the edges
of their known world has somehow become
general knowledge ...”
(Erin C. Blake, 1999)
www.maphist.nl/extra/herebedragons.html

16. “Here is the list of all known historical maps on
which these words appear:
”
www.maphist.nl/extra/herebedragons.html

17. “Here is the list of all known historical maps on
which these words appear:
“In other words, there aren‟t any.”
www.maphist.nl/extra/herebedragons.html

18. Erin C. Blake, 1999
http://www.maphist.nl/extra/herebedragons.html

19. Image © WordShore, flickr.com
All images licensed under Creative Commons