Using the Library for Research - sessions given to Drama 2nd Year Undergraduates on 4th and 5th November 2013.

1. Library Services
DT2100: Library Skills
libguides.rhul.ac.uk/Drama
November 2013
Kim Coles

2. Aims of the session
Library
Services
• Use LibrarySearch and subject specific resources to find information
• Plan and conduct a literature search
• Use advanced search techniques
• Manage references to generate bibliographies using RefWorks
• Access eresources off-campus
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3. Library
Services
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4. Library
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My essay question / research topic:
What do I want to find out?

5. “The role of women in Irish drama”
What are the main
concepts?
Role, women, Irish theatre
Are there any
synonyms/alternative terms
I could use?
Role = part, function, purpose
Women =
woman, actress, performer, playwright, chara
cter, type
Irish drama=
Ireland, theatre, theater, performance, a
specific kind of theatre, a specific play
Are they any limits I could
use?
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Only in the last 10 years
In English
Books, journal articles
Library
Services

6. Exercise One: Think about your own research
topic and write down some keywords

7. Library
Services
Now that I know what I want to find out:
What resources would I use?

8. Selecting information sources
Library
Services
Drama Subject Guide: libguides.rhul.ac.uk/Drama
Online databases: libguides.rhul.ac.uk/Databases
LibrarySearch: librarysearch.rhul.ac.uk
Senate house library catalogue: ull.ac.uk
Other internet resources…
These can also be found on the main Library webpage

9. Library
Services
Why can’t I just use Google?
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10. Exercise 2: Go to the Drama Subject Guide and note down which
resources or types of resources you think you would use to carry out
your research

11. Library
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Now that I know what I want to find out
& where to find the resources:
How do I search for information
on my topic?

12. Making the most of synonyms
Library
Services
Use wildcard characters ($ ? * -) to replace letters in search terms
Examples
theat* - finds theatre, theater, theatrical, etc.
wom*n - finds women, woman, etc.
NB: Help pages in online databases will explain which character is used as
the wildcard
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13. Too many results?
Library
Services
Narrow your search using AND
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Narrow your search using NOT

14. Too few results?
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Broaden your search using OR
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15. Combining keywords
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16. Exercise 3: Go to http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/DT2100
and suggest some search queries in the Searching box

17. Library
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Now that I have found information on
my topic:
How do I know that it is what I
want and good quality
material?

18. Reviewing your research
Library
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Do you have
enough / too
much
information?
Do you need to
review your
underlying
research
question?
Is the
information
current / within
the date you
require
Is it relevant to
your research?
Does it answer
the whole
question?

19. Library
Services
Now that I have the information
(books, chapters, journal
articles, webpages etc) that I need:
How do I manage &
reference them?

20. Keeping track of useful items
Library
Services
• Emailing links to yourself
• Using the e-shelf in LibrarySearch
• Log in to LibrarySearch
• Click on the star icon beside useful results
• Go to ‘e-shelf’
• Create baskets, email, export results
• Exporting references to RefWorks
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21. RefWorks
Bibliographic management software
Capture, save and organise references
Access it via the Online Resources A-Z lists
Contains online self-help tutorials
Library RefWorks sessions:
Check the Library Information Skills Training Session from the Drama
Subject guide: http://libguides.rhul.ac.uk/drama
Library
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22. Questions?
Library
Library
Services
Services
Kim Coles
Information Consultant
2-07 Bedford Library
Royal Holloway University of London
k.coles@rhul.ac.uk
01784 404107
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Leo Reynolds. Flickr. CC-BY-NA