Database Searching

Good searching skills these days go well beyond the physical stacks at the Library, but online searches can be quite bewildering until you get to know which databases are the most useful to you. The University has a number of support services to help you improve the success of your database searches.

Library Resources

The Melbourne Uni library system is extensive, incorporating a number of physical collections and access to a huge range of electronic resources. The Baillieu and ERC libraries have plenty of study space and computer labs, where you can work or do a workshop to learn a number of software packages. To find out more, take a library tour early in your degree, and check out the library website.

SuperSearch

SuperSearch is the library's entry point to all databases and e-journals. You can access SuperSearch via the Student Portal or the Library homepage.

• Use 'Multi Database Search' to search simultaneously across several databases including the University of Melbourne Library Catalogue, returning results in a single format. Select the Subject set that is best for your research area. Librarians have created ready-made Resource and Subject sets of databases. Or create your own sets by browsing and selecting up to ten specialist databases for Multi Database searching.
• For in-depth-searching it is recommended that you search a number of individual databases directly as these will often have additional search functionality. To do this browse the Subject lists to locate specialist databases. Click on the name of a individual database. This will take you out of SuperSearch directly to the database's own search screen.
• Use 'Find e-Journal' to find electronic journal titles.
• Use 'Find Database' to find individual databases.
• Use 'My Stuff' to save your Multi Database searches, to save your Multi Database search results, and to set up Multi Database alerts.

Library catalogue

The Library catalogue should be used to locate physical items such as books, print journals, DVDs, maps, etc. and e-books.

Online tutorials

Database-specific tutorials and help guides.

RSS feeds

If you want to keep track of the latest editions of particular journals, RSS feeds are probably the easiest way to do so. If you want to know more about RSS and how you can use it, there are already many well written tutorials and introductions available on the web. As well as the RSS feed page on CourseWorks, this one from FeedBurner is a good example. There is also a detailed description at Wikipedia.

The Melbourne Uni Library website now offers discipline-specific RSS feeds for recent updates to their materials.

Research Help

Research Help takes you through all the major search strategies at the libraries, as well as giving support for critical evaluation of sources and citation style guidelines.

Bibliography management software

EndNote

EndNote is an invaluable bibliography management software tool. The Library EndNote site includes the downloadable EndNote, tutorials, links to endnote.com and information on downloading references from databases. The library also runs very regular classes for those new to EndNote.

Other tools

See the Library's Software & Tools page for other options including web-based bibliographic programs.

BibTeX

If you are a user of Unix, chances are you've already heard of BibTeX, the excellent bibliography management tool that is specifically for Unix. Wikipedia has a good explanation and links to more related sites.

Other research help

I really wish somebody had told me to take the library tour - or even that there was one. ~current coursework postgrad

A few of the top priorities to ensure you know all your research options at the University include:

• Read through the Library website.
• Do the Library tour - yes! do the Library tour!
• Subscribe to GradFlash.
• Subscribe to GSA News.
• Read 'Jennifer's Spin on the World of Information Resources' in GradFlash.
• Subscribe to journal alerts.from your favourite e-journals and save your databases searches to get email alerts on your research topics.You will need to register with the journals & databases.
• Make an appointment with your School or Department's Liaison Librarian