An introduction to the JRULs Electronic Resources

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An introduction to the JRULs Electronic
Resources
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Whats wrong with books?

• Nothing! They are still an essential source of
  information
• They provide good general information on broad
  subjects and long established practices

• However they are not as specific as journal
  articles (i.e. for things such as case studies)
  and should be used in addition to journal articles

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Electronic Resources.

• You have probably searched for books on a Library
  Catalogue an electronic resource!

• JRUL also has an extensive range of
• Databases
• Electronic Journals
• Electronic Books
• Whats the difference?

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What is a Database?

• Databases are used to search for journal articles
  they tell you where to find articles.
• Databases tell you whats been published not
  necessarily what is held in the library
• Articles found on databases will need to be
  looked for on the library catalogue
  (or via FindIt_at_JRUL links if available)
• Very few databases contain full-text articles.
  BUT- this is changing, and now, some do.

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Are all databases the same?
Databases are subject specific. They can help you
focus and streamline your information searches,
so you can decide which articles are most
relevant to your study
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Why use Journal Articles?

• Journal articles are usually more current than
  books
• Journal articles are more specific than books
  because you can tailor your search to suit your
  informational needs
• Journal articles cover more clinical trials etc.
  Good and bad!
• However, journal articles are not necessarily
  100 reliable

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Electronic Journals Books
These are electronic versions of hard-copy ones.
Most are accessible off campus 24 hours a day
with an Central username and password.
Other usernames and passwords can be found on
the JRUL Electronic Resources webpage
Electronic Journals and Electronic Books are not
necessarily better quality than hard copy
resources they are just more accessible
(e-book)
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Searching for information.

• Easy as 1-2-3

Topic/Essay Question
Database Search
Journal Articles etc..


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www.manchester.ac.uk/library
Remember this is the page that links you to
everywhere else!
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Where can I find databases?
or the JRUL subject pages..
Databases can be found on the A-Z list of
databases
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Which Databases could I use?
There are many databases useful for your subject

• Cinahl
• Medline
• PsycInfo
• ASSIA
• Cochrane
• Web of Knowledge etc

Ovid databases
Look at the JRULs subject webpages for further
information
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Ovid Databases
You can search more than one OVID database at
once but this is not recommended
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What can I do with Ovid?
Ovid is a collection of Medical databases
You can set up your own Personal Account
You can do a range of searches including citation
searches
You can email search results and export them into
Endnote
You can save searches
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Searching for Journal Articles

• Before you touch a computer grab a pen and some
  paper!
• First you need to think of your topic and
  structure your search

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Structuring a Database search

• Think of your topic/question
• The effects of cigarette smoke on asthma in
  pre-school children
• Think of the main concepts (words!)
• Asthma
• Cigarette smoke
• Pre-school children

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A Simple Search

• First, open your database and search for
  cigarette smoking
• Then, search for asthma
• Combine your first two searches
• Limit your third search to preschool child (2 to
  5 years)

(Medline 1996-2008 Advanced Search)
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But my search isnt that simple
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Special Database Search Tools

• It's Not What You Say But How You Say It

• MeSH gives alternative words and/or phrases
• Limits allow you to select particular age
  groups, publication types etc..
• Boolean AND - OR - NOT
  string
  words/phrases together
• Truncation and Wildcards signs

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MESH Headings

• Databases do not understand the context of a word
  you have to help the computer understand!
• The computer can talk to you through MESH (Map
  Term to Subject Heading)
• The Secret of successful searching is to find
  the right words to unlock the records

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MESH for Smoking
Look here for further help..
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Related words help to build your search..

• Synonyms terms that have the same or a similar
  meaning (smoking / tobacco /nicotine)
• Different spellings i.e. English and American
• Different endings of a word
  i.e. organization, organizations, organizational

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Boolean OperatorsOR Broadens your search
Cigarette Smoking
Asthma
Finds articles with BOTH concepts OR just one
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Boolean Operators AND Narrows your search
Cigarette Smoking
Asthma
Finds articles with BOTH concepts in article
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Boolean OperatorsNOT Narrows your search
Cigarette Smoking
Asthma
(This finds articles on cigarette smoking, but
not the ones with asthma in the same article.)
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Truncation

• Truncation signs - used at the end of a term to
  retrieve a number of word endings
• For example smok or smok will find smoker,
  smoking, smoke, smoked etc.

Databases tell you which signs they use for
truncation/wildcards)
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Wildcards!

• Wildcards the sign can be used as a
  substitute for one character or none.
• For example - womn will find woman and women
• The ? Sign can be used to find additional
  letters.
• For example - colo?r finds color and colour
  

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Too Many Articles?

• Use the limit options to refine your search
• Think of narrower more precise words
• Add in another concept (AND/ NOT)
• Just search subject headings rather than keywords
• Try limiting your search to age, gender,
  publication type etc.

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Too Few Articles?

• Look at your terminology . Think of alternative,
  broader, general words (terms)
• Add in synonymous (extra) terms (OR)
• Remove less important words (concepts)
• Reduce the number of limits
• Use truncation

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Please dont Panic!
We know it sounds complicated!
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Help is at hand

• Look on the JRUL homepage and explore links for
  help with electronic resources etc.
• Many of the powerpoints and other library
  induction material can be found on the JRULs
  Subject pages under Trainings and Guides
• Contact the library staff by email or telephone
  - We are happy to help

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Thank-you for your attention!

• See you again soon!

Claire Hodkinson email claire.hodkinson_at_manche
ster.ac.uk