How to Access Library Information
GSTM: MEM & MPM
Presenter : Sonto Mabena
Contents
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Introduction
Available information
Library web
EBIT faculty library web
Research portal and catalogue search
Find journal article
Library Pin
Search Strategies - database search
Useful contacts
Introduction
• The Merensky Library is located opposite the
client services centre.
• EBIT - faculty library : Engineering, Built
Environment and Information Technology,
located in Merensky Library – Level 5
UP EBIT Library - (Like our page)
Available Information
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Catalogue (books and journals)
E-resources (eBooks, e-journals, e-databases)
UPExploreplus research portal
Mobile site :
http://www.library.up.ac.za/mobi
http://www.library.up.ac.za
http://www.library.up.ac.za/ebit
Select : Engineering and Technology
Management
Engineering and Technology Management
Resources : Refworks
Research Portal and Catalogue
Research Portal
Searching for a Book:
Title :Project management for engineers…
The Record of The Book
Find Journal Article
• Steyn, J.L. and Buys, Andre J. 2011. Creativity
and 'eureka' in science and engineering.
Southern African Journal of Industrial
Engineering, 22(2) : p1-7.
Searching for the journal :
Title :South African Journal of Industrial engineering
Submit: student number
Submit PIN: a number that you choose yourself
E-Journal Platform
Download Article
Searching the Databases
Research Topic :
Overcoming the barriers to remanufacturing in
South Africa
Recommended Databases
Select a Database
Boolean Logic
AND, OR and NOT (most databases)
• AND: combine two or more keywords/terms.
• OR: connector to retrieve information in which any
one of your keywords/terms appear.
• NOT: exclude certain information from your results.
Boolean Logic Operators
Search Strategies
Database Search
1. Quick and easy search
2. Pearl growing approach
3. Building blocks approach
1. Quick and Easy Search
• Select the database
• Compose a simple query
• Use the Boolean logic operators AND, OR , NOT
• Submit the query to get the results
2. Pearl Growing Approach
• Begin with a specific document that is known to
be relevant “the pearl”
• Use the characteristic of the “pearl” to grow the
search eg. Index terms, text words, citations,
publication data, authors , etc. to formulate queries
and retrieve more results.
• Using one good article to search for others
3. Building Blocks Approach
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Determine the main concepts of your topic
Think of synonyms or alternative to them
Formulate queries based on the concepts sets
Retrieve individual results of each sets
Combine retrieved sets with Boolean logic operators
(mostly AND) to build a solution set for the whole
problem
Searching the Databases
Research Topic : Keywords Highlighted
Overcoming the barriers to remanufacturing in
South Africa
Building Block Search
• First search
– Barriers with synonym 1 OR synonym 2
• Second search
– Remanufacturing with synonym 1 OR synonym 2
• Third search
– Combine search 1 and 2
• Results (see example below)
Search Scopus Database
Scroll Down to View Search History
All searches will
appear in the
history
Combine Queries and Search
Some Reasons for Retrieving
Irrelevant Results :
• Search full of unimportant words
• Spelling mistakes
• Missed synonyms , use : thesaurus.com,
answers.com, synonyms-finder, Roget.
• Many possible search terms for generic
concepts
• Using “exact phrase” maybe too limiting
Useful Contacts
• Past years research projects available at your
department.
• Inter-lending services : [email protected]
• Other enquiries : [email protected]
• Library announcements e.g. Library hours
http://www.library.up.ac.za/