The most important part of your university
The university library is important because it provides
students with access to a variety of resources that can help them succeed in
their academic pursuits. The library has books, journals, and other materials
that can assist students in completing their coursework. Additionally, the
library staff is available to help students find the information they need and
to provide assistance with research projects.
The first step in doing research at the university library is finding a good place to start. There are many different ways to find information, and the library's website is a great place to begin. The website has a variety of search tools that can help you find what you're looking for. You can also browse the catalog to find books on your topic, or use the databases to find articles. Once you have found some resources, it is important to evaluate them to determine their quality.
What are sources?
Sources in research refer to the materials that researchers use to inform their work. Sources can include both scholarly and non-scholarly materials, such as books, articles, interviews, and online resources. Researchers must carefully select and critically analyse their sources to ensure that their work is accurate and reliable.
Picking appropriate databases
Research is like a journey. You start by reading about where you are going and what you need to take with you. Then you set out on your journey, and along the way you gather more information and learn new things.
One important task in academic research is selecting the
right databases to search. Different databases contain different information,
so it's important to choose the right one for your topic. There are many
different databases available, including general databases like Google Scholar
and specific databases like JSTOR or ProQuest. It's important to know what type
of information you're looking for and what type of database will best help you
find it.
Searching in academic databases
To search in academic databases, you need to first identify
which database you would like to use. Once you have identified the database,
you will need to know how to search for articles using the appropriate
keywords. You can also use the advanced search options to limit your results by
date, type of article, and more.When conducting advanced research in an academic database,
it is important to be aware of the different search features and options
available. Most databases offer a variety of search tools, including keyword
searching, subject searching, and Boolean searching.
A Boolean search (named
after George Boole) is a type of search that uses logic operators to narrow
down results. The most common operators are "AND," "OR,"
and "NOT." For example, if you wanted to find articles about dogs AND
cats, you would use the "AND" operator and type "dogs AND
cats" into the search bar. It is also important to be aware of the
different fields that are included in each database. For example, some
databases include author information, while others include journal information.
Assessing sources
Assessing sources is important because it allows researchers to determine the credibility of a source and whether it can be used in their research. By assessing the sources, researchers can also gain a better understanding of the topic they are researching. When integrating sources into your writing, you should always aim to maintain a clear and consistent voice. You may want to consider adopting a signal phrase or introducing the source before quoting it, which will help to clarify for the reader who said what. Additionally, you should always be sure to credit your sources appropriately. You can learn more about how to select appropriate sources in our Module, Researching: Assessing Sources.
In summary...
The library is important to the university because it is
curated. This means that the library is a place where scholarly materials are
collected and organized in a way that makes them easy to find and use. The
librarian is responsible for selecting and acquiring new materials, as well as
maintaining the existing collection. Starting your research journey here is a
safe bet - and Abydos Academy is here to help you with from start to finish.