Start here: navigating the Library Resource Guide

This Library Resource Guide is designed to be used alongside LibrarySearch. Some of the content of the resources are covered by LibrarySearch but not all. Most of the resources covered in this guide are behind paywalls, but freely available to you via the library webpages.

The guide is structured along the idea of starting your research journey by developing your understanding of your research topic by consulting reference resources. Once you have a deeper understanding you move on to consult existing research in books and journal articles before moving on to finally exploring primary sources and archive collections.

Reference sources: start your research journey by building an overview of your topic and help you establish suitable keywords.

Journal articles: use our journal databases to find original research on a specific topic from reliable sources.

Primary sources: find the raw data you need to analyse and test your working hypothesis and then to evidence and support your claims. There is one page listing general and topic specific archive collections and one listing news sources and official publications.

More advice on research skills

The Institute of Historical Studies have a very helpful guide for finding and evaluating suitable materials for research.

On Moodle there is a guide DP23000: Library Research Skills that can help you structure your research.

Also recommended is Dr David Rundle’s thorough guide with advice on how to research online on his bonæ litteræ: occasional writing from David Rundle, Renaissance scholar blog.

At the top of this page are also some links with advice on MHRA referencing, using your digital library, checking if we have access to a specific resource you found on the web, and how to use our eBooks.