{"id":18345,"date":"2021-04-08T10:22:23","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T09:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/?p=18345"},"modified":"2022-10-26T11:59:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T10:59:03","slug":"digital-research-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/digital-research-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital research tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

20 minutes into my study session and I have 20 tabs open on my browser.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>And it\u2019s great that I have so much information available at my fingertips<\/span><\/span>. But\u00a0<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>hen I just want to click through to another e-resource and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0all the screen loads is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a gateway I\u2019m not familiar with.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Seriously unhelpful, right?<\/span>\u00a0Because it<\/span>\u2019s not just a digital door\u00a0<\/span>denying access to a resource, it\u2019s a psychological barrage on my confidence and motivation to study at all<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 a reminder that my digital literacy isn\u2019t up to scratch \u2013 a\u00a0<\/span>sign that I can\u2019t hack this degree thing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This scenario might seem\u00a0<\/span>extreme<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>but<\/span>\u00a0I\u2019ve known<\/span>\u00a0even the most tech-adept\u00a0<\/span>w<\/span>h<\/span>i<\/span>z<\/span>zes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to get frustrated with online resources at times.\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in this blog\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ve\u00a0<\/span>listed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>some<\/span>\u00a0of our top<\/span>\u00a0ti<\/span>ps\u00a0<\/span>for navigating\u00a0<\/span>and getting the most out of\u00a0<\/span>your\u00a0<\/span>Digital Library<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

B<\/span><\/span>egin at the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>beginning<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re completely new to using <\/span><\/span>digital resources<\/span><\/span>, you might find it helpful to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>watch our introductory\u00a0<\/span><\/span>video<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>read our study guides on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>e-books<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>e-resources<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose your internet\u00a0<\/span>browser<\/span><\/h2>\n

W<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>really\u00a0<\/span>recommend\u00a0<\/span>using\u00a0<\/span>Google\u00a0<\/span>Chrome<\/span>\u00a0as some online resources aren\u2019t compatible with other browsers<\/span>.<\/span>
\nYou may find that\u00a0<\/span>information is\u00a0<\/span>presented differently\u00a0<\/span>when loading the browser on a phone\/tablet or\u00a0<\/span>that it becomes compressed on a PC when you split screens or restore down. For <\/span>best results, use a wide monitor and\u00a0<\/span>maximise<\/span>\u00a0your screen.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sign\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span><\/h2>\n

Just as you scan your Kent ID <\/span>to enter\u00a0<\/span>the Templeman Library,\u00a0<\/span>accessing the Digital Library<\/span>\u00a0requires Kent credentials.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sign in<\/span>\u00a0to your\u00a0<\/span>LibrarySearch<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>account<\/span>\u00a0before\u00a0<\/span>starting\u00a0<\/span>your\u00a0<\/span>search<\/span><\/a>, it will save you time\u00a0<\/span>in your browsing session when\u00a0<\/span>moving\u00a0<\/span>between\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>–<\/span>resou<\/span>rces<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Knowing where to look<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Most items from your reading list \u2013 including e-books, journal articles and book chapters \u2013 can be found digitally via Library Search. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Remember,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the Digital Library e<\/span><\/span>xtends to public<\/span><\/span>ations and resources\u00a0<\/span><\/span>beyond Library Search<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>includes all manner of databases and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>digitised<\/span><\/span>\u00a0content that is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0pertinent for<\/span><\/span>\u00a0some degree courses<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>We really recommend checking out your\u00a0<\/span><\/span>subject guide<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0or browsing the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>e-resources<\/span><\/span>\u00a0A-Z<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Opening e-resources on Library Search<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Enter the author\u2019s surname and keywords from the title you are searching for. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>If you just want a book chapter, be sure to search for the name of the book and not the chapter title.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Top tip!\u00a0<\/span><\/span>U<\/span><\/span>se the filters on the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>left-hand<\/span><\/span>\u00a0side to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>limit the search results to e-books\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>avoid\u00a0<\/span><\/span>confusi<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0with reviews<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Follow the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>link to e-book<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to access it<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>se the table of contents to navigate to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>individual\u00a0<\/span><\/span>chapter<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>You\u00a0<\/span><\/span>can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0read the whole book online from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>any\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>PC, and even download small chapters in PDF format.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>To download the whole book on your\u00a0<\/span><\/span>home\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>PC,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>you may\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ne<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>free\u00a0<\/span><\/span>3rd party software such as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Adobe Digital Editions<\/span><\/span>. Just hit\u00a0<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>ownload book<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>follow the instructions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Troubleshooting gateways \u2013 institutional login<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some e-resources require you to confirm your institution before<\/span>\u00a0accessing the site.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Remember the tricky gateway we started with?\u00a0<\/span>Rather than entering your Kent username and password<\/span>\u00a0here<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>select\u00a0<\/span>institutional\u00a0<\/span><\/b>login<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>instead\u00a0<\/span>and select\u00a0<\/span>University of Kent<\/span><\/b>\u00a0from the\u00a0<\/span>drop-down list<\/span>\u00a0when prompted. This\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0redirect you to where you can sign in with your<\/span>\u00a0Kent\u00a0<\/span>credentials.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing your results<\/span><\/h2>\n

The difficulty sometimes is not finding an e-<\/span>resource but<\/span>\u00a0finding too many<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>When you have those twenty tabs open on your laptop and a\u00a0<\/span>rapidly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>expanding<\/span>\u00a0bibliography for your new research project,\u00a0<\/span>it helps to do your admin alongside your research.<\/span>
\nTop tip<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Track your search history by creating a table to keep tabs on your progress, preventing you from repeating yourself, which will save you time!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a><\/p>\n

You can l<\/span>earn more about effective\u00a0<\/span>search strategies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and reference management\u00a0<\/span>through\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0Moodle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Course<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Library Research Skills<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask for help!<\/h2>\n

I<\/span>f you\u2019re having\u00a0<\/span>trouble with any e-resources, please get in touch.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Our IT & Library\u00a0<\/span>Support Desk<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is staffed and can be contacted remotely via email, phone and web chat. For specialist resource enquiries, contact your\u00a0<\/span>subject librarian<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a><\/p>\n

We hope you\u2019ve found this useful! If you have any other\u00a0<\/span>areas<\/span>\u00a0you would like us to touch on drop us a line in the comments section below.\u00a0<\/span>But this degree thing? You\u2019ve got this.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  20 minutes into my study session and I have 20 tabs open on my browser.\u00a0And it\u2019s great that I have so much information available … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68512,"featured_media":18359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[72438,227582,21339,1120,25211,4859,227575,19173,21632,183276,227594,10269,85943,227606,227598,227599,19109,18570,96197,131594,1082,18573],"tags":[95415,160,227613,37042,150,85943,4616,248690,140826,721,205706],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68512"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18345"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18601,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18345\/revisions\/18601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}