This document summarizes library resources and search techniques for education students at a university. It discusses the following: - Where to start searching, including renewing books, using the library search, and finding relevant LibGuides - What the library search covers, including books, ebooks, journals, newspapers, and research databases - The differences between individual databases and the library search, such as available search limits and inclusion of index databases - Tips for developing search keywords and using search techniques like phrase searching, field searching, and limiting searches by file type or website domain - Suggestions for expanding keyword searches and thinking of related terms to broaden results

1. Library Resources and Library Search
workshop for Institute of Education
students
Sarah Purcell
s.purcell@worc.ac.uk
Academic Liaison Librarian (Education)

2. Context – where to look
LibGuides
Library Search
Google

3. Where to start
• Renewing books:
– Student portal – Library Account
• Searching:
– Student portal – Library Search
• Where does LibGuides fit in?
– http://libguides.worc.ac.uk/education

4. What is Library Search?
• Google…for library resources (stuff we pay for)
• ‘Powered by Summon’
• Covers most (but not all) research databases,
online collections, and the book catalogue
• Books, ebooks, journal articles, newspaper
articles...in…
• Library Catalogue, My iLibrary, Dawson Era,
Academic Search Complete, Wiley, SAGE, Lexis
Library…

5. Databases vs Library Search
Individual databases and resources…
• May provide more information about the source
you find
• May give links to related sources
• Will find fewer (but more focused) results
• Offer more flexibility with your search limits
• Library Search doesn’t include index and abstract
databases, such as British Education Index

6. Got keywords?
• You can’t start a search without them
• Write down your search terms and add to the
list as you search

7. Thinking of new search words
• Alternative words for similar things:
– reading OR literacy
• Educational setting:
– primary, nursery, preschool, secondary, further education
etc (vs elementary, ‘high school’ – clues)
• ‘My topic is about why social workers leave their jobs’
– where do I start with keywords? Use your knowledge and
own ideas: depression, stress, negative press, media….
• Books – use the Index
• Articles – look at the descriptive words used to
categorise it

8. Search techniques
• differentiation AND “special educational needs”
• “early years” OR “early childhood”
• mathematic*
…all work in Library Search, Google, and many research
databases
Field searching in Library Search – what do these do?
• ISSN:(0309-877X) AND plagiarism
• Author:(Siraj-Blatchford)
• PublicationTitle:("early childhood") AND "child
development"
This is a
“phrase
search”

9. • filetype:pdf
• site:gov.uk
• site:nfer.ac.uk AND assessment
• Google Scholar – use with Library Search
• Custom Google Searches in LibGuides
search tips