25 Tips in 50 Minutes-Biology Grad Student Edition

Linda Galloway

Syracuse University LibraryFall 2011

Tip #1

http://library.syr.edu

Determine what you need:

• Book –

• Article– General – Peer-reviewed, scientific

• Background information

Think before you search

Tip #2

Finding BooksFinding Books

NetLibrary e-book

In print: QR1 .E6 v.327

In print: TA418.9.N35 N48 2008

Tip #3

http://library.syr.edu

Evolution

Keyword (default) search

Narrow (make more specific) by choosing facets on the left side of the screen.

Tip #4

Subject search yields different results…

Tip #3

Tip #4

The catalog entry tells you where an item is located and if it is available.

Tip #4

Tip #4

Finding ArticlesFinding Articles

Databases!Databases!

Do you have your own Do you have your own database?database?

•Cell phone address bookCell phone address book•Online article collectionOnline article collection Tip #5

Recognize the difference between a magazine and a

journal…..

Peer review:suitability for publication credibility quality control

Tip #6

Primary Sources& Peer Review

Primary Source - Original document containing firsthand information– Diaries, interviews– Original research including journal articles

and preprints

A peer reviewed primary source is a work that is evaluated by experts in the field of study prior to publication. Serves as a measure of quality.

Tip #6

Tip #7Science Direct

Tip #7

Tip #7

Tip #7

Browse Databases to find an appropriate one…

Tip #7

Tip #7

Databases for Biology

Browse the Databases to select the most appropriate ones.

ScopusBiological SciencesWeb of ScienceSpecialized databases

i.e. Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology Studies Worldwide, etc.

Tip #8

When searching databases…

Remember: RATS

• Synonyms

• Subjects

• Suggested topics

• Types of materials– Scholarly Journals, Magazines, etc.

Read All The Screens!

Tip #9

Search: biotechnologyToo many results!

Search: biotechnology AND risk AND foodReasonable number of results…

Things I can do with this citation:

• Download the full text of the article

• View (& download) the author’s bibliography

• View (& download) the articles that cited this article.

• View (& download) related articles

• Modify my search based on keywords

• Etc, etc. Tip #9

Full text from a citation:

• Link from citation to .pdf OR “view at publisher”

• Our “link resolver” that attempts to locate full text.

• “Article title” in quotation marks in Google Scholar

• Interlibrary Loan

Tip #10

If present, press GO buttonNext to the start page

Tip #10

Tip #11

What’s an E-journal??

Use E-journals when you have a citation or wish to

search/browse a particular title

Tip #11

Dissertations and Theses• Databases of Dissertations & Theses

@SU

@SUNY-ESF

Worldwide

• Many of these (especially from 1997-on) available full text electronically

• SU has microfilm copies available

• SUNY-ESF has print copies in Moon Library

Tip #12

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

Tip #12

1979 – full text here!

Tip #12

Web Resources

• Find good web resources using our catalog - Discover

• Other useful scientific resources:– Scirus – science only search engine

• www.scirus.com

– National Science Digital Library• http://nsdl.org

Tip #13

Borrowing Items

SU Libraries: Graduate students – 16 weeksMoon Library (SUNY-ESF) – entire semesterCheck your account, renew and place holds

via ‘My Account’

Tip #14

Interlibrary Loan

Agreement SU Library has with libraries all over the world to provide items we don’t own. Tip #15

Interlibrary Loan

• Request books, journal articles, conference proceedings…

• Books & conference proceedings may take up to 3 weeks for receipt

• Articles are generally scanned and available sooner

https://illiad.syr.edu Tip #15

Article to Go

• Articles from our print collection are scanned and sent to your email address

• Place request via ILLiad (interlibrary loan)

• Most articles delivered within 2 business days.

• Available to SU faculty, graduate students and staff

Tip #16

Citation Management

RefWorks

• Works seamlessly with most databases to directly export data

• Cite while you write• Attach full text of articles

to citation on server – then access from anywhere

EndNote Web

• Works better with Macs than RefWorks

• Cite while you write• Cannot attach documents

to citations

http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/refworks

Tip #17

Use Subject Guides!

Tip #18

Tip #18

Tip #18

From ScienceDirect Database – TOP 25 Articles

subscribe via RSS feed or email

Tip #19

Use the free tools provided to keep current!

Search alerts in the database, Scopus. Create search and ‘Set alert’ for delivery of new articles to your email address.

Tip #19

Citation mapping in the database Web of Science:Link to articles cited and citing articles

Tip #19

Library Spaces & Places

Tip #20

Quiet Study Spaces

• Carnegie (Science & Technology) Library– Nice & quiet with research help available!

• Bird Library – several floors & many spaces are designated as “quiet”

• Moon Library – lower level quiet space

Tip #20

Technology Available

Can check availability of computers onlinehttp://surelock.syr.edu/LIB/?location=26

Tip #21

Available for loan at Bird & Carnegie (SciTech Library) :

Laptop ComputersGraphing Calculators

Additional items available at Bird:Chargers Cameras

Voice RecordersOther items…

http://library.syr.edu/services/technology/loaner/index.php

Tip #21

Tip #22

http://library.syr.edu/find/reserves/index.php

Tip #23

Tip #24

Questions/Comments?

Please fill out the quick evaluation form – if you would like a response, include your name & email address.

Linda Galloway

galloway@syr.edu

315-443-9766

Tip #25