SAGE Knowledge eBooks – new resource

The University of Exeter now has full text access to the Sage Knowledge eBook Collection.  This encompasses thousands of carefully selected titles by world-class authors on hot topics across the social sciences.

Books in the following subject areas are included.

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The books do not appear on the library catalogue as we have purchased them on a ‘try before you buy’ model to ensure we get the best value for money.  This means we have full access to all titles for a year and will then examine usage statistics to identify and purchase the most heavily-used titles for permanent access.  This allows our library users to tailor the collections to their needs.

The items will appear through general searching via search engines such as Google, but we recommend you take a look at the Sage Knowledge Collection interface to browse or search the content for a comprehensive look at the material.

  • You will not need to login to the service if you are on campus.
  • If you are off campus, use the Login via your institution option.  Select the University of Exeter from the drop down list then login with your usual IT Services username and password when you are taken to the Single Sign On login screen for the University.

You can search or browse to find information of interest using the top menu bar.

SAGE browse

Reading a book online

You can read the full-text by clicking the title of the item.  Scroll down beyond the Abstract and the option to buy the book in print.   You can then use the tabs to select a Chapter to read, look at the index, or view the front and back matter of the book.

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Working with the book online

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The formatting of the book is not presented in the same way as the printed book, so you may find it useful to switch on the page number option. This will show you where the page break occurs and can be very useful if you want to cite from a particular page or you are looking to pinpoint a reference you have been referred to.

You can also search within the book or the chapter.  So if you are looking for a particular quote or concept within the book and you do not know the exact chapter or page you need, you can search to locate the information.

Downloading

Use the Download option to save or print a chapter.  Full bibliographic details are downloaded alongside the full text chapter.

All books are DRM free meaning there are no restrictions on access or downloads, so multiple people can login at the same time and view and/or download information of interest.  You are permitted to access, print or download as much of an Ebook on SAGE knowledge, for personal use, as you need.

Citations 

sage citation

You can use the Citations feature if you wish to capture bibliographic information to include on your Bibliography or Reference List.

Click on the Citations icon to see the citation for the book presented in the following formats:

  • APA
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • MLA

If you are using reference management software you can also export the reference in one of these citation styles to your chosen software package.  Endnote, Reference Manager, Zotero are amongst the software package export options.

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If you have any feedback about these Sage ebooks, please get in touch with the .

 

Study Space in the Library

Are you gearing up for the exam season? So are we!

We know that study space provision is hugely important during the revision and exam period, so here’s a brief to guide to the study spaces that are available for you over the next month or so in the Library.

Streatham Campus

Forum Library:
24/7 availability as usual (swipe access after 20.00 on week days, 18.00 at the weekend)

Seminar Room access via the Library. The Forum Seminar Rooms on levels 0 and +1 will become part of the Library, further expanding the study spaces that are available to you 24/7. Remember to enter and exit these rooms via the Library (through the doors by the computer clusters) not via the Forum.

The other study seats are all available as usual – find out more here

Amory Study Centre:
Opening hours extended to 24/7 (swipe access)

The Loft:
Open: 08:00 – 21:30, Mon – Sun

Research Commons:
Open 08.00 – 20.00 week days, 10.00 – 18.00 at the weekend

The Sanctuary:
Will be in use for exams during this period and is therefore not available as a study space

St Luke’s Campus

St Luke’s Library:
Open 08.00 – 20.00 week days, 10.00 – 18.00 at the weekend

24/7 Study Space available in the Luke’s Library computer room and 24/7 room.

Giraffe House:
Open daily 08.00 – 21.30

Other Study Spaces

Don’t forget study seats are also available in the Student Services Centre, Forum Street Balcony, Forum Expo Labs and in many other buildings across our campuses.

You can check availability in advance using the Study Space Checker

Study smart:

Follow these tips to help you and fellow students get the most out of our study spaces:

1]    Only use one seat when working; leave enough room for someone else to sit and work

2]    It is OK to take a break for about an hour (60 minutes) if you are working in the library for a long time; but always return promptly within one hour. leave one of our cards so others know you are coming back.

3]    Remember the Library is a public space! Always take valuables with you or lock them safely in a Forum Locker.

JSTOR Books

Books_at_JSTOR_Ad_LargeUniversity of Exeter Library now provides access to scholarly ebooks on JSTOR.  This resource offers more than 35,000 titles from leading publishers such as Princeton University Press, Yale University Press, MIT Press, and Harvard University Press. The ebooks are easy to use and offer the following benefits:

  • Unlimited, DRM-free Access: The ebook chapters have no limits on downloads or printing, and there’s no need to use special software or create a personalised login. It’s just like using journals on JSTOR, ensuring a great user experience for researchers
  • Integration with Journals: The ebooks are available on JSTOR alongside more than 2,000 journals. When you search on JSTOR.org, you’re cross-searching the full text of all the resources the library provides through JSTOR. The ebooks and journals are also linked in ways that make research more efficient.
  • Easy to Use in links: If you’d like to use the ebooks in a course or keep a record of important chapters or books for referencing, you can use the stable URL for a chapter or a full ebook.
  • On-campus and remote access: Content is available 24/7, and together with no limits on simultaneous use, the ebooks are always available for use.
  • Book and chapter citations:  Citations may be emailed, exported, or copied from the item view page. JSTOR provides pre-formatted citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles for quick copying and pasting. Export options include direct export to RefWorks, RIS format, and text format.

The Library is using a ‘try before you buy’ purchasing model for these books to make sure we get best value for money and so that you can use those books which are most relevant to your teaching, research or study.  So you will have access to all books in the JSTOR collection but the Library will only pay for those items that are used.

A small number of books may show as unavailable, either because we already have access to those or because they are costly items that need approval.  If you come across any of those and you want access, just email us on .

As we are using this model you won’t see these books on the library catalogue until they are purchased, following usage.  But don’t worry, these books are easily discoverable.  You’ll come across them when using search engines such as Google as the JSTOR content is indexed there.  And you can use the JSTOR platform to search/browse just the books, or to search the books alongside all the other JSTOR content for a rich research experience.

You can view a short video about using ebook chapters, or visit JSTOR to start using the ebooks.  If you are off campus make sure you login as University of Exeter so you have full access to content.

We’d be interested in your feedback on these books so please get in touch on  and let us know what you think of JSTOR books.

Google Books NGram Viewer and Parli-N-Gram

Google Books NGram Viewer

The Google Books Ngram Viewer charts frequencies of words or sentences found in the sources drawn from Google Books.  You can use it to  track the popularity of words and phrases over time so it can be a very useful content analysis tool.  As with lots of Goole products, it is also very simple to use

For in depth information anout the way it operates and advice on searching take a look at the Google Books Ngram Viewer information page.

You can run simple searches or construct more complex searches, depending on your research needs. Here is an example of a simple search run to look at the emergence and use of a few ‘management speak’ jargon terms.

jargon

You can search online to find plenty of examples of graphs that users have been generating using this tool.  This article from Marshall Kirkpatrick presents his selection of 10 fascinating word graphs.

It is a very powerful tool, and its value as a research tool was discussed in a 2011 Science article. Researchers have flagged its limitations as well as its value, so it is worth being aware of these issues as you do your own research and decide what conclusions you can draw from the data.

A brief discussion of the pitfalls of the tool are online from wired.com. An in depth discussion of the limitations were addressed in a Plos One article.

Parli-N-Gram

The Parli-N-Gram tool is similar in function.  This tool enables you to search and analyse content across Hansard.  You can identify the frequency of appearance of words and phrases in the record of parliamentary debates.

The data is refreshed weekly, usually on a Wednesday following Prime Minister’s Questions.

Find out more from the Accountability Hack 2014 slideshare.

Here is an comparison of the term ‘justice’ appearing in the parliamentary record of All MPs and of Tony Blair.

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Using news sources for research

 

newsNews sources can be invaluable research resources. There are various types of news sources you can choose from, including:

  • newspapers
  • newsreels
  • newswires
  • news magazines
  • news monitoring services etc.

They provide contemporaneous accounts of events as they emerge and unfold, affording a snapshot of developments at a point in time.

By using news archive services, you can also engage in historical research by tracing commentary on issues over time, to identify and track changing political, economic and social trends. For example, when did global warning first emerge as a ‘hot topic’ in the press? Who are the major pressure groups and organisations debating this agenda? How has terminology in this area developed and changed over time?, etc.

The availability of news resources online allows for very effective and comprehensive searching, in a way that was impossible with print or microfilm / microfiche editions of the newspapers when research could be a very long, laborious and somewhat haphazard process.

new online guide introduces you to the main news sources that are available to you through the University of Exeter.  It touches briefly on print and microfilm news materials so that you are aware of the full range of news content available to you. However, the majority of the guide concentrates on online news services as these are the key tools for any researcher who wishes to conduct comprehensive news research. We look at our online services for current news, archival news and also audiovisual sources.

Take a look at the guide which is available within the Library & Research Skills module on ELE.

If you have any feedback on the guide, please get in touch with us on

The New York Public Library Digital Collections

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The New York Public Library (NYPL) Digital Collections is a vast living database of digitised materials from the NYPL library collections, with new content added every day.

Content spans a wide range of historical eras, geography, and media, and includes drawings, illuminated manuscripts, maps, photographs, posters, prints, rare illustrated books, videos, audio, and more. Encompassing the subject strengths of the vast collections of The Library, these materials represent the applied sciences, fine and decorative arts, history, performing arts, and social sciences.

You can search or browse to find content.  NYPL’s Introduction blogpost is a great way to learn how to navigate your way around the collections effectively.

You can restrict your searching and browsing to Only Public Domain materials, which means you are free to use the content without restriction.  This covers more than 180,000 items! Find out more about how you can download and reuse these public domain materials.  If you wish to use material which is not in the public domain and is subject to copyright (this is clearly flagged on each item) it is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise using the materials.

Here is an example of a public domain item – Pratt’s Typewriter, as depicted on a cigarette card from the Arents Tobacco Collection.

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nypl.digitalcollections.510d47e2-473e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.001.r

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look around the digital collection to see if it holds materials of interest to your research, teaching or studies – or just for a fascinating general insight into historical materials!

Careers-oriented resources for law students

lawlibraryIn addition to the Library’s print and online material available to support your studies, you will also find careers related content,  which will help you plan and prepare for your future career opportunities.  A selection of material is highlighted below – much more material is available in print and electronically.  Take some time to explore these resources when planning your graduate career, or to prepare for job interviews.

Interested in a career in the City and need to build your knowledge quickly?

If you are interested in a career on the City then these new additions to the library come highly recommended by leading recruiters.  They advise that many successful applicants to their graduate trainee programmes have read these materials and these have helped them through the selection process.

Know the City 2015/16

Commercial Awareness 2015/16

General Legal Careers Books

The following titles discuss the legal skills needed for the modern legal professional.

Lawyers’ Skills

Legal Skills

Legal Systems & Skills

Tomorrow’s Lawyers

The futures of legal education and the legal profession

Journals

There are a number of general interest law related journals available to you.  These can be useful preparation for interviews as you can keep up to date with the latest debates on topics in the legal news.  Recommended titles are:

Lawyer 2B

The Lawyer (Online)

New Law Journal

Solicitors’ Journal

Legal databases

Use the current awareness features on the legal databases to help you prepare for job opportunities.

The Lexis PSL database is a great way to keep up to date with what is happening across a range of practice areas.  If you are interested in a specialism such as Banking Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Law  – or one of the many other practice areas covered by Lexis PSL – then login and browse or search for the latest updates.

The Westlaw database offers a Current Awareness feature so you can search or browse for recent information on a range of legal topics.  The Insight feature is also a useful means of getting a quick up to date overview on a legal topic, with content authored by leading practitioners in the field.

New Resource – Coming Soon! Practical Law (PLC)

Keep an eye out for the new Practical Law database coming soon.  Many students use this whilst on placement and report back on how useful it is for their legal studies and as preparation for working in a legal firm.   As soon as access is live you will be able to login via the Library Catalogue or Electronic Library.  This database provides tailored information for understanding both scholarly and practical aspects of topical legal issues.  A wide range of practice areas are covered. Content includes standard documents, how-to guidance on the law, practice notes and updates on the latest legal developments.

Legal Careers Websites

There are many legal careers website which bring together job opportunities alongside hints and tips to help you prepare for career opportunities.  A selection of the more comprehensive legal careers sites are provided below:

All About Law – law jobs, courses and advice

Lex 100 – a student guide to the top law firms.

Law careers.Net – a comprehensive career oriented site aimed at future lawyers and legal recruiters.

Target Jobs Law – graduate careers guidance and directory of graduate jobs schemes and internships

E-books put to the test

 

ebookThe Library has been working with your Library Champions to assess our e-book provision.  We buy books from a range of different suppliers and regularly check in with students to find out:

  • which suppliers your prefer
  • which features you like or would like to see in the future,
  • to identify services where improvements need to be made
  • which features and services meet students current ways of working.

Your Library Champions recently attended some E-Book Focus groups where all the various suppliers were put to the test and where they also had the chance to feed in their view on e-books in general.  They provided some really insightful feedback and we are using that to guide our purchasing strategies.  So, for example,  where there is a choice of supplier we will opt for those that have been identified as the preferred option by students.

We tested two main categories of e-books:

1. E-book collections which come direct from the publishers.  These are usually DRM-free (Digital Rights Management -free) meaning the publisher does not impose any copyright limits and you can print/save/copy as much as you like.  Not every publisher offers this, and some will only offer packages of books rather than allowing you to select individual titles.  We have a range of materials available in this form, including large packages from CUP, Cambridge Books Online, and  OUP, Oxford Scholarship online,

2. E-books available via hosting services. These hosting services provide books across a wide range of publishers, many of whom do not offer their e-books in any other way.  Theses books are usually subject to some form of DRM (Digital Rights Management), which is a way of limiting printing and download to set limits agreed with the publisher.  So for example, you may be able to download a chapter or a set no. of pages only, not the whole book.   Our VLE and DawsonEra platforms emerged as preferred hosting services, based on the feedback from our Library Champions – do let us know if you agree or if you have other favoured services.

If you have feedback you would like to pass on to us about e-books in general or particular suppliers, just get in touch with the Library LiaisonTeam via  The more input you provide, the better we can frame our e-book purchasing to meet your needs, and the more feedback we can provide to our suppliers to address those areas where you’d like to see improvements.

Here are some of the key messages from the Focus Groups and we’ll be working on these with our suppliers.  If you have anything else to feed in, please do get in touch.

  • DRM free books are appreciated as the print/download limits can sometimes be frustrating.
  • You like e-books to appear on screen in a similar form to the printed item.
  • The citation features are really helpful – you can pull off the citation in the correct forms for your bibliographies and referencing.  Although it was interesting to note that some of you weren’t happy to trust that function and would always check you have the right format for your referencing!
  • You would appreciate help pages on e-books advising on DRM issues and different features such as notes, citations, export options etc.
  • You like a combination of print and e-books for core items, especially when items are not DRM free
  • The ability to use the search function to pinpoint quotes or subjects within e-books are a great timesaver
  • You like clear uncluttered interfaces rather than ‘overly flashy’ interfaces that just get in the way of the content you need to access
  • You would like simple feedback / report error options from within the e-book platform or library catalogue in order to quickly flag problems that you might encounter

And, lets end with some e-book stats which show how much some of our ebooks are being used currently.  You may be interested to know that

What do you think about the EU Referendum?

The Polish Society, Diplomatic Hub, Exeter branch of the European Movement and Students4Europe are organising a one-day conference focused on the shape of the European Union following the UK referendum.

“Boundaries of Europe” will be held on Saturday, 12th March from 11 to 3.30 in the Alumni Auditorium in the Forum

Regardless of which side you support in the argument about Brexit make sure you come along for what is going to be a very comprehensive event. It’s open to students and local residents.

If you want a bit more background have a look at our guide to Researching EU law and policy

 

New look for ‘Defining Gender’ resource.

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Defining Gender  explores the study and analysis of gender, leisure and consumer culture; one of the most vibrant areas of social, cultural and intellectual research, transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. This exciting collection of original primary source material from British archives will enrich the teaching and research experience of those studying history, literature, sociology, education and cultural studies from a gendered perspective.

The broad range of thematically organised documents from selected libraries provides an excellent opportunity for comparative study and research. Manuscripts, printed works and illustrations combine to address the key issues from both masculine and feminine perspectives. They are indexed to provide ready accessibility for students across all five sections.

A wide range of different types of content is available, encompassing; ephemera, pamphlets, college records and exam papers, commonplace books, diaries, periodicals, letters, ledgers, account books, educational practice and pedagogy, government papers from the Home Office and Metropolitan police, illustrated writings on anatomy, midwifery, art and fashion, manuscript journals, poetry, novels, ballads, drama, receipt books, literary manuscripts, travel writing, and conduct and advice literature.

The content is organised under the following thematic areas

  • Conduct and Politeness
  • Domesticity and the Family
  • Consumption and Leisure
  • Education and Sensibility
  • The Body

The service has just been relaunched on a new platform, with updated layout to ease navigation. The new-look site showcases the same unique documents with additional functionality:

  • New document listing with ability to sort and filter documents
  • Revised metadata and increased searching capabilities for effortless browsing
  • New interactive chronology with direct links into the resource and individual documents
  • Updated editorial content such as Biographies which have been updated with links to primary source materials

This resource is available via the Electronic Library and the Library Catalogue.

intro

When you login, choose the Introduction menu bar option for access to information about the resource, including a tour. Use the Explore option on the menu bar  to start browsing or searching.