Introduction to Durham University Library for pre-sessional international students

1. Introduction to Durham
University Libraries
Richard Holmes July / August 2014

2. Aims of this session
1) Demonstrate how to borrow and return library books
2) To help you understand the requirements of English
academic questions
3) How to create a search strategy
4) Help you find books and journal articles

3. English academic questions
• Show a wide knowledge of the subject
(important authors and theories, different
opinions and perspectives)
• Present your opinions and support them
with evidence

4. Terminology – what do you have to do?
“assess…” “critically evaluate”
“discuss…” “outline different...”
“to what extent…” “what should…”
“how important…”
These are asking you to make a judgement or
give an opinion based upon what you have read

5. Sample questions
Which of the forces and drivers of
‘globalisation’ will most impact on the
business environment?
• Read about globalisation (and globalization)
• Identify ‘forces’ and ‘drivers’ – the key areas
• Identify and discuss areas that you think are relevant to
business
• Justify why you think they are relevant

6. Sample questions
Which of the forces and drivers of
‘globalisation’ will most impact on the
business environment?
• Read about globalisation
• Identify ‘forces’ and ‘drivers’ – the key areas
• Identify and discuss areas that you think are relevant to
business
• Justify why you think they are relevant

7. How to search: key words
• Identify key words and phrases, e.g., culture,
communications, language, education, media, transport,
banking,
• Think of alternative words (synonyms), e.g.
globalisation / globalization
impact / effect / affect
business / firm / organi?ation / company

8. Where to search
• Library Catalogue http://library.dur.ac.uk
• Journal databases (such as Business
Source Complete)
• Find other relevant search tools from your
subject information page
Top tip: Beware the two different
types of database: ‘Full Text’ and
‘Bibliographic’

9. Finding a specific book
• http://library.dur.ac.uk/
• Select ‘Author & Title’
• Type in author’s family name + one or two
words from the title
• Click on ‘search’
• Check availability
• Note shelfmark

10. Finding books on your subject
• Go to the catalogue - http://library.dur.ac.uk/
• Select ‘keyword’ from drop-down menu
• Type in your search words,
e.g. globali?ation and impact
• Click on ‘search’
• Write down the shelfmarks and titles of useful
books (or tick the boxes and print them out)

11. If you cannot find your book
Books may be missing or all copies are out:
• Recall one of the copies
• Find an alternative:
– Other editions
– Other titles by same author
– Browse shelf for other books with the same
classmark

12. Journal Articles
Govindarajan, V & Gupta, A (2000)
‘Analysis of the emerging global arena’,
European Management Journal, 18(3), pp.
274-284.
Image by ‘cgiraldez’ on Morguefile

13. Journal Articles
Govindarajan, V & Gupta, A (2000)
‘Analysis of the emerging global arena’,
European Management Journal, 18(3), pp.
274-284.
Image by ‘cgiraldez’ on Morguefile

14. Journal Articles
Govindarajan, V & Gupta, A (2000)
‘Analysis of the emerging global arena’,
European Management Journal, 18(3), pp.
274-284.
Image by ‘cgiraldez’ on Morguefile

15. Journal Articles
Govindarajan, V & Gupta, A (2000)
‘Analysis of the emerging global arena’,
European Management Journal, 18(3), pp.
274-284.
Image by ‘cgiraldez’ on Morguefile

16. Finding a specific article
• Select ‘Title’ from the drop-down menu
• Type the title of the journal (not the article
title) into the search box
• Follow link[s] to the journal’s homepage
• Find the volume and issue you need
• Find your article in the contents list for that
issue

17. Finding relevant articles
• Type business source complete into library
catalogue
• Click on Business source complete [electronic
resource]
• Click on Business Source Complete -- Ebscohost
• Type your key words into the search boxes
• Limit to ‘full text’ and ‘scholarly (peer-reviewed)
journals’
• If too many results, add further limits (e.g. date
ranges like 2009-2014)

18. References and bibliographies
• ALWAYS keep a full and accurate record
of your information sources
• Set up your borrowing history
immediately
• Use the Library Catalogue to save or
email details of the books you use

19. Where to go for help
• Help & Information Desk in Main Library
• Enquiry service:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries
• Subject pages and Liaison Librarian contacts
https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/subject/