Finding Information Guide

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When you begin to research a topic you must first be sure that you understand all the terms used. If you are unsure of the exact meaning or scope of terms you may wish to consult a dictionary, encyclopaedia or handbook. These are generally located in the reference collection, and, like other library resources, they are listed in Tropicat.

 

Tropicat

Tropicat is the online catalogue of James Cook University Library. All books, journals and other materials held by the Library are listed in Tropicat. You can search Tropicat for items known to you by using author (or editor), title or call number as a starting point. You can also search for items new to you by searching for a particular subject using either keywords or the exact subject heading. The Library uses Library of Congress Subject Headings, the international standard.

If you need help using Tropicat, you can attend one of the Library's workshops - both introductory and advanced sessions are offered. You can also collect from the Library one of the How to use Tropicat or Getting More out of Tropicat booklets, ask InfoHelp either electronically or in person, or use Tropicat's onscreen help by typing a question mark.

Journals

(Also called periodicals, serials or magazines). If you require basic research results, or a very detailed or up-to-date account of a topic, you will probably need a journal article. If you know the name of a journal, you can locate it by doing a title search in Tropicat. You can find journals on a particular subject in Tropicat using keywords from your subject with the subheading "periodicals" : e.g. "marine biology periodicals". This entry will tell you the call number, volumes held, and date of the last issue received. The re is no entry for indivi dual issues or articles in Tropicat. To find individual articles on a particular subject or by a particular author, you must use an appropriate journal index.

 

Journal Indexes

You must choose the best journal index or indexes for your search - some are quite general in their coverage , while others deal with specific subjects. All journal indexes provide references to articles in a number of different journals. You can search most journal indexes by author or by subject, and some have additional indexes such as geographical areas. If the index you plan to search uses a controlled vocabulary, you will need to consult the thesaurus or list o f subject headings produced to accompany that index.

Many journal indexes include short summaries or abstracts of the articles indexed and are therefore also known as abstracts. Most of them have an introduction or 'how to use' page at the front. The Library has also prepared simple brochures about searching most of the major indexes and abstracts. You can also ask InfoHelp for assistance.

No library holds all the journals indexed by international journal indexes. If you need an article that is not held by this Library, it can often be obtained for you by the Document Supply Service.

The index you plan to use may be available in an electronic form, either as CD-ROM or online through the Internet. If so, you can search for two or more terms at the same time, search the entire text of the reference, and often cover the literature of many years in a single search.

CD-ROM Databases

The CD-ROM service is free and operates on a self-service basis. Sessions should be booked in advance. Please ask InfoHelp for further information.

 

Internet Information Sources

Many journal indexing services are held as remote computer files. The range of services available in this way is much larger than that held by any individual library and they often contain the most up-to-date references. Some services also provide the full text of some journals, in addition to the abstract.

A number of online database services are listed on the Library's World Wide Web Resources page. Some require passwords which can be obtained from InfoHelp on presentation of your student card. Access to some services has been prepaid by the Library, so students and staff members of James Cook University can use them without direct charge.

Searching other online databases can be done for you by Library staff. They will advise you of the best database for your search and construct the most effective search strategy. You will then be invited to be present while the search is being done so that you can monitor results. This service attracts a charge and the Library passes this charge on to clients. Please ask InfoHelp for more details.

Other useful resources, including journals, databases and reference materials are also available through the Internet. So far these resources complement but do not replace print resources. One of the big difficulties with using these resources is that they are not as well controlled or catalogued as more traditional resources. The Faculty Librarians at James Cook University Library try to make this easier for you by maintaining pages of links to Web resources which have been checked for relevance, auth ority and timeliness. Also, try the Library's Subject Resources page.

Theses

Theses provide an important source of original research. To find theses produced at James Cook University, use Tropicat. The Library has produced a separate guide with more detail on how to locate these and other theses.

Style Guides

When you have found your information, it is important that you set out your references correctly. You should check with your lecturers or department about which style of referencing they prefer. There is no best way but some disciplines have conven tions and it is useful to get to know the conventions you will be working with in the future. The Library has produced a separate brochure with more detail about style guides
 

Theses and Style Guide

Need further assistance? Ask InfoHelp