If you are working on a big project, or you simply need to keep on top of the latest research, a very useful tool can be the search alert feature in Ebsco databases. You can save a search as an alert which will then run 'behind the scenes' and email you the results. So, in theory, you only need to search the database once and from then on it does the rest of the work for you! You need an EbscoHost account in order to use this feature (free to sign up).
Here's a great video which explains the process:
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
All the books are so old!
Happy New Year to you! I hope you all had a lovely break.
One of the biggest complaints I hear is that all the healthcare books in the library are old and out of date. Keeping a healthcare library up to date is a challenge, both logistically and financially, and I am always happy to hear about particular areas or texts in the library which need updating or which don't meet your needs. If you have any suggestions please feel free to submit them here. Obviously any purchases I make depend on whether there is money in the library budget or not (if there isn't, your request will usually be queued until the next financial year). If your request is very specialised and/or very expensive, I might advise you to get it through our Document Supply service instead. If it is a textbook you might be using a lot, you might consider purchasing it. Second hand copies on Amazon, Abebooks and Ebay can be very reasonably priced.
But I also wanted to take the opportunity to say - don't just rely on browsing the library shelves! New and popular books are almost always out on loan (no matter how many copies we buy), so you need to use the library catalogue to check what we have, and then use the reservations system to get in the queue for books, or to get books from different sites sent to your local campus. A popular textbook is a lot like a commuter train in rush hour - lots of people waiting for it and it's never around when you want it.
Remember also that we try to order electronic copies of popular textbooks and if you only browse the shelves you are missing out on a book that is available a few clicks away, 24/7! Search our ebooks here.
Anyway, if you did want to see what new items we have coming in, both in print and electronic formats, have a look at our new book lists here.
One of the biggest complaints I hear is that all the healthcare books in the library are old and out of date. Keeping a healthcare library up to date is a challenge, both logistically and financially, and I am always happy to hear about particular areas or texts in the library which need updating or which don't meet your needs. If you have any suggestions please feel free to submit them here. Obviously any purchases I make depend on whether there is money in the library budget or not (if there isn't, your request will usually be queued until the next financial year). If your request is very specialised and/or very expensive, I might advise you to get it through our Document Supply service instead. If it is a textbook you might be using a lot, you might consider purchasing it. Second hand copies on Amazon, Abebooks and Ebay can be very reasonably priced.
But I also wanted to take the opportunity to say - don't just rely on browsing the library shelves! New and popular books are almost always out on loan (no matter how many copies we buy), so you need to use the library catalogue to check what we have, and then use the reservations system to get in the queue for books, or to get books from different sites sent to your local campus. A popular textbook is a lot like a commuter train in rush hour - lots of people waiting for it and it's never around when you want it.
Remember also that we try to order electronic copies of popular textbooks and if you only browse the shelves you are missing out on a book that is available a few clicks away, 24/7! Search our ebooks here.
Anyway, if you did want to see what new items we have coming in, both in print and electronic formats, have a look at our new book lists here.
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