If you can't find what you are looking for using Library Search, try advanced searching skills and scoping techniques. If you are confident in your vocabulary and skills, include relevant databases or items that are not held by the Library in your search.
Advance your searching skills
If you are looking for quick tips about general searching skills and techniques, look no further than the Searching guide.
If you want to learn how to create more elaborate search prompts e.g. how to use connector words AND, OR and how to combine them in the Advanced search mode, do the Advanced searching skills chapters of the Enhancing Your Researching Skills course (Moodle). It takes about 15 mins and it is part of the Graduate+ Silver award activities.
Advanced searching skills (Moodle)
Scoping techniques
A common reason people can't find relevant resources is when they use search terms that are not appropriate to the topic. Another reason is when they are not familiar with the topic's vocabulary and ignore relevant search results. You can resolve this catch-22 situation and gather more search terms with a pre-search method: scoping.
- Soak up terminology from the table of contents of reference books about the topic. A good starting point is the reading list provided by the module tutors.
- Look at the related subjects list in library search results.
- Note the keywords and terminology you discover in the process.
- Expand your list of keywords with synonyms from thesauri or dictionaries.
- Organise keywords into a knowledge map of the topic.
You can learn more about scoping techniques and the research process in the planning and scoping chapter of the Enhancing Your Researching Skills online course (Moodle).
Search relevant databases
Library Search indexes millions of resources, but there are more academic resources available in online databases. Learn more about databases in this guide.
Help and Support
Help Desk
At each library help desk, the library advisors can offer guidance and support about:
- Searching
- Referencing
- Library services
We are available Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm for general library queries.
24/7 Chat
You can reach the customer service librarians via chat on every page of the library website.
Tutorials
We are here to answer your research questions and share our experience. Book a tutorial with a subject-specialist librarian in person or online.
Searching for items not held by the Library
By default, Library Search displays resources that are either held by the library or available online.
You can also search a global index that includes records from primary and secondary publishers and aggregators:
Switch on the Add items beyond library collections option under the refine your search panel.
When possible, request options are displayed within the item record. Click the Check for available services link under the item's description to see if the book or article can be requested via the Inter-Library Loans service.
The library has solutions for you when an item is marked as not available in Library Search.