This document provides an overview of an introductory library skills session for an MSc in Biomedical Science program. It covers essential library resources like the library catalogue, Summon, and subject guides. It also covers literature searching skills like developing search strategies, using databases like Medline and Science Direct to find articles, and accessing full texts. Other topics covered include identifying peer-reviewed articles, comparing Google Scholar and Web of Science, and referencing.

1. MSc Biomedical Science
Postgraduate Course Feedback
Essential Library Skills and
Literature Searching
Wed 16 October 2013
th

2. Today we are going to look at …
1) Essential Library Skills
Using the Library pages on MyUniHub:
• The Library Catalogue
• Summon
• Your Library Subject Guide

3. Today we are going to look at …
2) Literature Searching
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Introduction to journal databases
Planning your search strategy
Searching Medline
Accessing the journal articles you have found
What are peer-reviewed articles?
Searching Science Direct and Web of Science
Using Google Scholar
Referencing

4. Using the Library pages on
MyUniHub
Log in to MyUniHub
My Study
My Library

5. Library Catalogue

6. Library Catalogue
How to search:
•
Keyword search
•
A-Z search
Find these items on the Library Catalogue:
1. Goering et al. (2013) Mims’ medical microbiology. Elsevier
2. Bain, B. (ed.) (2011) Dacie and Lewis practical
haematology. Churchill Livingstone
3. Journal: British Journal of Haematology

7. Library Catalogue – e-books and
e-journals
• E-books and e-journals are also found on the
Library Catalogue.
• You will see ‘[electronic resource]’ after the
title.
• Click on the blue link to download or read the
book or journal online (You must be logged
into myUniHub!)

8. Summon

9. Library Subject Guide

10. Introduction to journal
databases
Example of a record from the Medline database:

11. Introduction to journal
databases
Key databases for Biomedical Science literature:
• Medline
The premier biomedical
database
• Web of Science
Leading science and
technical journals
(Science Citation Index)
• Science Direct
Full-text science journals

12. Planning your search
strategy
1. Define your question
2. Break it down into concepts (databases work best
if you break your question down into single
subjects)
3. List the words or phrases that you could use for
each concept (alternative terms, truncate using *)

13. Planning your search
strategy
The role of bacterial infection in tumour
development

14. Planning your search
strategy

15. Searching Medline
Library Subject Guide – Biomedical Science
Resources
Finding journal articles / Using databases
Medline

16. Searching Medline

17. Accessing the articles
you have found
• The full-text article may appear (as a PDF).
• If it does not appear:
– Search the Library Catalogue for the journal title
to determine whether we have access to the fulltext of that issue.
• If we do not have access, use our InterLibrary-Loan service (via My Study > My
Library)

18. Peer review
• A formal procedure for checking the quality of
research before it is published.
• If a publication is peer reviewed it means it has
been read, checked and authenticated by
independent, third party academics (peers).
• The quality-control system of academic publishing
for hundreds of years.

19. Searching other
databases
Science Direct
Web of Science
• Search for the same topic on these two databases,
and be prepared to tell the class what you like /
dislike about each database.

20. Google Scholar

21. Referencing

22. Referencing

23. Need help?
• Librarians in the Specialist Zone (1st floor) 11-3
Monday – Friday (on call 9-11, 3-5)
• Ask a Librarian http://askalibrarian.mdx.ac.uk/
• BMS Library Subject Guide
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/biomedicalsciences