Finding information

Main Contents Page

Before you start

STEP 1: STARTING out

STEP 2: FINDING

Searching techniques:

- Boolean Logic

- Truncation/wildcards

- Phrase searching

Information finding tools:

- OPAC

- Webbridge

- Databases (incl CD Roms)

- Internet

- Dewey (DDC)

Information sources:

- Dictionaries

- Encyclopaedias

- Atlases

- Almanacs & yearbooks

- Books

- Periodicals/Journals

- Newspapers

- Audio-visual

- Internet

- Grey literature

- Broadcast media

- Conference proceedings

- Maps

- Government publications

- Standards

- Museums

- Archives

- Quiz

STEP 3: EVALUATE

STEP 4: Legal and ethical USE

STEP 5: COMMUNICATE

STEP 6: SUBJECT SPECIFIC

 

 
Searching techniques
 
  Boolean logic   Truncation/wildcards  
  Phrase searching      
 
Information finding tools and systems
 
  OPAC
(Online Public Access Catalogue)
  Databases (incl CD Rom)  
  Webbridge   The Internet  
  DDC
(Dewey Decimal Classification system)
     
 
Information Sources
 
  Dictionaries   Grey literature  
  Encyclopaedias   Broadcast media  
  Atlases   Conference proceedings/reports  
  Almanacs and yearbooks   Maps  
  Books   Government publications  
  Periodicals / Journals   Standards  
  Newspapers   Museums  
  Audio-visual materials   Archives  
  Internet   Quiz  

Remember that some material will be available in printed format as well as in electronic format, e.g.

  • printed dictionaries and online dictionaries
  • printed encyclopaedias and online encyclopaedias
  • printed books and online books.
  • printed newspapers and online newspapers
  • etc., etc.