WARNING: This resource is still a work in progress — to be updated April 2012, following the recent web redesign (late Feb 2012). Suggestions welcomed. Please email your Subject Librarian.
This portal is designed as a quick guide to the most important Library, research, & information skills that students of Physics will find useful at various levels of study/research and in many cases will be expected to know.
Although there is no fixed chronological sequence of links, students are advised to at least have a working knowledge of most of the introductory levels
before accessing more advanced ones.
| Knowledge level |
Library links |
Non-Library links |
| Introductory Skills & Knowledge
This is knowledge you will need in your first week or two of study — e.g., finding and photocopying a passage from your textbook or recommended reading. |
| Layout of General Library and of Kate Edger Information Commons (KEIC) |
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Campus Map |
| Library resources, part 1 |
Library Workshop: Library & resources overview [Book the course, if it is available] |
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| Regulations |
Library Regulations, Guidelines and Policies |
University Regulations |
| NetAccount — know what it is and how to make use of it |
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| Help: know whom to contact |
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| Library resources — Catalogue, ICLDs, Course Materials (includes Short Loan Collection): how to access and use them |
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| Photocopying & printing: know how to access and use these services |
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| Interpreting a reference — know how to distinguish between various types of publications (books, journals, etc.) i.e. reading and citing references |
Interpreting References webpage |
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| Finding past exam papers (from 2001 onwards) |
Readings & Exams |
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| Basic Research Level
This involves knowledge & skills probably needed to complete an original assignment that requires information not covered in your textbook or course workbook (perhaps for Stage-1 through Stage-3, depending the particular paper and assignment). |
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| Subject Librarian Service — know the subject librarian for your subjects and what the service offers |
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| Literature of a subject. Evaluation of Physics literature. |
Physics literature for assignments |
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| Database for Physics |
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| Understand the research publication process |
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| Analysis of a reference, DOI, Journal Abbreviations |
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| Reference styles and referencing |
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| Physics institutions and their publications |
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AAPT
AIAA
AIP
IOP
NZIP
SPIE |
| Inter Library Loan |
InterLibrary Loan Requesting Service |
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| Plagiarism and Copyright |
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Physics Departmental Handbook 2011 (p51-52) |
Intermediate Research Level
This involves further knowledge and skills, to help you achieve the University's expectation that its graduates will have "An ability to recognise when information is needed and a capacity to locate, evaluate and use this information effectively". |
| Citation tracking |
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| Citation management (e.g. EndNote) |
- Library Workshop: Endnote with Library Databases: Science [Book the course, if it is available]
- Contact your subject Librarian.
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| Theses - finding, using - University requirements |
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| Conferences and conference proceedings |
Finding conferences and conference proceedings |
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| Knowledge regarding current awareness (auto-alerts, RSS, list-servs) |
This is highly dependant on your specific research topics; contact your Subject Librarian |
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| Other databases relevant to Physics |
Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Others |
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Advanced Research Level
Further knowledge and skills required for many postgraduate assignments and publishing, which also fulfill the University's expectation that its postgraduates will have ...
(a) A capacity for critical, conceptual, and reflective thinking.
(b) A capacity to locate, contextualise, critically evaluate, synthesise, and use information effectively.
(c) An ability to analyse information, where relevant, using appropriate tools, technologies, and methods.
(d) A capacity for critical appraisal of relevant scholarly literature.
(e) An ability to initiate, design, conduct, sustain, and report research." |
| Theses - binding, embargoes, copyright, writing |
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| Funding Sources |
Research Support |
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| Publishing |
ResearcherID |
ResearchSpace |
| Research plus |
to be loaded soon |
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| PBRF |
Performance Based Research Fund (from University Intranet) |
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| Open Access Resources |
Open Access Information |
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| Associate Membership of the Library |
Associate Membership |
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| Good reference guides |
Shaw, D.F. (1994). Information sources in physics (3rd ed.). London: Bowker Saur. — GENERAL LIBRARY Science Reference Level M 530.016 U84 1994.
Stern, D. (2000) Guide to information sources in the physical sciences. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. — GENERAL LIBRARY Science Reference Level M 016.53 S83 |
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