Skills in Accessing, Finding & Reviewing Information - Safari

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1 . Understanding information 1. Introduction 2. What is information? 3. The information age 4. Everyday uses 5. Types of information 6. Information universe 7. Mapping sources 8. Identifying needs 9. Summary

2 . Unpacking information 1. Introduction 2. Information journeys 3. Supply chain 4. Research supply chain 5. Categorising information 6. Shape of the literature 7. Finding information 8. Summary

3 . Planning a search 1. Introduction 2. Describing information 3. Databases 4. Library catalogues 5. World Wide Web 6. Which to use? 7. Planning a search 8. Choosing resources 9. Summary

4 . Searching for information 1. Introduction 2. Basic principles 3. Databases 4. Library catalogues 5. World Wide Web 6. Tracking progress 7. Your subject 8. Summary

5 . Evaluating information 1. Introduction 2. Information quality 3. Presentation 4. Relevance 5. Objectivity 6. Method 7. Provenance 8. Timeliness 9. Summary

6 . Organising information 1. Introduction 2. Why organise? 3. Ways to organise 4. Social bookmarks 5. Citing references 6. Bibliographies 7. Summary

7 . Where do I go from here 1. Introduction 2. Sharing information 3. Electronic communication 4. Keeping up-to-date 5. Summary

Topic 4 Library catalogues

Many of the skills you used to search databases in Section 3 can also be used to help you search library catalogues. The exercises in Section 3.2 (describing information) also prepare the ground for looking at how library catalogues are organised. If you have not looked at that section we recommend that you do so now.

Having said this library catalogues are distinct from databases. This topic will introduce you to using them confidently to find the information you need. By the time you have reached the end of the topic you will be able to:–

recognise different search options;
search a library catalogue effectively;
look at an individual item record and find the information you need;
mark, or record, the results of your search.

NB If you plan to complete all the activities in this topic you will need to allow up to 1 hour to finish everything. Some activities will require you to use a paper and pen to make notes or record your thoughts.

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