Library Support for Researchers
Angela Davies
Head of Library Research Support
Library and Student Support Services
Outline of session
• Overview of Library support services
• Key elements
– support for literature searching and reference
management
– providing access to high quality research materials
– support for Open Access and RDM already
covered by Eddy
Where do I start?
• Support for researchers online guide
(on Library Gateway)
Support for literature searching and
reference management
• skills workshops, 121 specialist advice
• access to high quality academic search and
management tools
• online subject guides and tutorials
• Document supply - obtaining material not in
stock
What stage are you at now?
• Scoping out your research area /
identifying gaps in the literature?
• How successful have your searches
been so far?
• Do you know which search tools to
use?
• Did you get the results you
wanted/expected?
Rigour of quality appraisal /
synthesis
Systematic
Critical
Realist
S. search &
review
Rapid
Mapping
Scoping
Search scope/rigour
Research
questions
Search
question
Search
strategy
Recognising the trade-offs
- How wide to cast the net?
Higher precision / lower recall
Higher recall / lower precision
'Scientific' searching: building blocks
Search question
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Words/phrases
Synonyms
Words/phrases
Synonyms
Words/phrases
Synonyms
Database headings
Database headings
Database headings
Hits from 1 AND Hits from 2 AND Hits from 3
Search limits
(optional)
Final Results
Other possible blocks to build in...
•
•
•
•
methodology
population group(s)
setting (e.g. UK NHS)
search limits:
– (e.g. English language,date)
• Remember the trade-off between recall and precision!
Other Approaches to Searching
My interesting
research paper
What's on the
reference list?
What has
cited this
paper?
Who were the
authors?
'Creative' searching (1)
•
•
•
•
•
author
reference
citation
'related' articles
named study
'Creative' searching (2)
• Only got time to read the top handful?
– sort by relevance
– sort by citation count
Screening your results
• What are your inclusion and exclusion
criteria? (What is 'in' and what is 'out'?)
pilot them - do they work?
• Start with your search strategy building
blocks!
Keeping track - your searches
• For all types of searches
• Why bother?
– So you can keep track of where you are
– So you can write it up later
– So that you know you've done everything
– So that you can justify what you've done
Keeping track of the process and results
• The search processes:
– what you did
– what you found
• Your included/excluded papers
• Your extracted data
• Your references
Keeping track : approaches
• Use a search strategy planning document
• Get your search histories
Documenting the searches and study
selection
• An excellent guide CRD Guidelines appendix 23
• This section should write itself...!
Why use a reference
management tool?
Easy export from
databases
Keep your references
in one place
Which one?
Organize/categorize
your references
Facilitate information
sharing/collaboration
Remove duplicates
easily
Create bibliographies
easily
Reference Management tools
• Refworks, Word, EndNote (SHU supported)
• other tools (e.g. Menderley)
• workshops and help provided
http://libguides.shu.ac.uk/referencing
and through the Doctoral Training programme
Access to high quality research
information
• vast range of e resources and printed collections
• annual library research budgets maintain subject
collections
• major multi disciplinary research databases
(Scopus, Web of Science, Journal Citation
Reports, British Library catalogues)
• Special Collection
• SHIMMER - images and multi media collections
• rapid and free Document Supply Service
Reports
Peers
Supervisors
Mentors
Lecturers
Reference books
Text books
Handbooks
People
Books
\
My
Information
Landscape
Professional
Company Information
Government Information
Policy
Association/Organisation
Professional bodies
Charities
Blogs
Social Networking e.g. Twitter
Specialist
Journals
Research
Populist
Professional
Conferences
Clinical guidelines
Statistics
Codes of practice
Legislation
Case Law
Standards
Images
Patents
Where to start your search
Journal literature
Grey literature
Profession specific
Other strategies
Scopus (multi
Internet search
disciplinary, citation
searching)
e.g. NICE Evidence
snowballing (key
paper or author)
Medline / Cinahl
(health)
British Library
catalogues
prof body websites
use personal
networks
Business Source
Premier (mgmt)
"known websites"
e.g. govt, NHS
"known authors"
Library Search for
scoping out ideas
Science Direct /
Web of Science
look at subject
guide for ideas
Access to full text
Other libraries
Use SCONUL Access to visit other
universities' libraries - great if you
don't come to Sheffield very often.
As research students, you may be
able to borrow a small number of
books from other universities as
well.
Please make sure you pay off any
outstanding library fines before
applying.
www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
Most UK universities will allow you to use the
eduroam Wi-Fi network, meaning you can get
internet access away from SHU
Step 1: select eduroam from the list of Wi-Fi networks
Step 2: enter your username followed by '@shu.ac.uk'
Step 3: enter your password as normal
Search for 'eduroam' on shuspace for information on
connecting your laptop, phone, etc.
Sources of Help
• introduction to library support for researchers
• subject help guides on Library Gateway (suggests
key resources, help guides)
• researcher help guide (covers research life cycle)
• [email protected]
• 24/7 telephone and chat service, specialised
library support http://libguides.shu.ac.uk/help
Reflection
• Write down 3 things you are going to do as a
result of this session
• Share one of them with the person next to
you
• Anyone want to share with the group?