13 October 2014
Research resources for
year projects
James Webley
Subject Librarian
Mathematics
rd
th
3 /4
13 October 2014
Today’s talk:
Introduction to Library search tools and the Mathematics support pages.
Outline a few key resources.
Google Scholar
Accessing electronic resources and using ILL
Cited reference searching
Referencing
Further help and advice
13 October 2014
‘Library Search’
Two types of search:
‘UoB Collections’ – books, ebooks, journals, ejournals.
‘Everything’ – UoB collections plus articles from a Central
Index.
Huge collection, but for a more comprehensive and refined article
search use Subject-specific Databases…
13 October 2014
Mathematics Support pages
Google: ‘Library Mathematics Bristol’
Links to ejournals, ebook collections, Library Search
Databases of scholarly research literature
13 October 2014
MathSciNet and WoS Overview
MathSciNet
Over 2.8 million records/500+ journal titles covering most of mathematical sciences
literature. Also includes conference proceedings, books and PhD theses.
Links to review articles (particularly useful for overview of current literature)
Web of Science
Over 46 million records/12,000+ journal titles covers 256 disciplines
Citation searching
13 October 2014
Google Scholar
Searches scholarly literature.
Useful for reports, blogs, OA material
Links to UoB material
What is being searched?
How are results ranked?
Poor metadata – publication dates.
Limited search tools/’added value’
Search tips: Mathematics Subject pages
13 October 2014
Accessing online resources and ILL
Access based on IP address, so if off-campus or using
your own PC/Laptop…
1. University username and password (Shibboleth/UK Federation)
2.Remote Student Desktop or Off-Site Proxy
…and if we don’t have access to an article you need then request via the ‘ILL
requests’ link on ‘Library Search’. The article will be emailed direct to your
desktop. Email j.webley@bristol.ac.uk for payment.
13 October 2014
Cited Reference Searching
Enables you to track related research literature forward in time as
well as backwards in time based on key references.
Start with a key reference.
Identify previous references cited by the paper.
Identify future papers that have cited it.
Citation searching offered by Web of Science, MathSciNet and
Google Scholar
13 October 2014
Referencing
Referencing is…
Not simply including a reference list at the end of your project, but also acknowledging within the text
of the project if you have taken an idea OR exact wording (quotation) from a source.
This acknowledgement within the text of your project is known as a citation
Choose a reference style and be consistent.
Referencing help: Mathematics support pages
13 October 2014
Search Engines only?!
“...a searcher who is unwilling to search multiple databases or to adopt a
sophisticated search strategy is likely to achieve better than average recall
and precision by simply using Google Scholar.”
“Researchers value the ease and speed of Google Scholar, but should also
perceive its quality and precision limitations.”
Use the academic resources at your
disposal
13 October 2014
Good research habits:
An awareness of the search tools available to you.
A knowledge of how to refine/sort your searches.
Follow a ‘research trail’ – cited searching.
Use appropriate tools to manage your information.
13 October 2014
For help and advice…
Subject Enquiries
j.webley@bristol.ac.uk
www.bristol.ac.uk/library/support/subjects/mathematics
@BristolUniLib