1. LLM LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS
SESSION #2
USING ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Catherine Funnell
Sheppard Library Middlesex University
c.funnell@mdx.ac.uk
28 October 2011
2. Recap& Session Objectives
Last week we looked at navigating
our way around UniHub and My
Study /My Library to use the Library
Catalogue and to locate generic
library information
This week we will look at the
subscription electronic resources to
aid the research process
3. Journals and Databases
If you must use
GOOGLE rather
than these
databases
remember to use
the Advanced
Search option
which allows for
a more
structured and
specific search
4. Start With EJournals
We’ll start by looking at locating journals
electronically
We’ll access it from the EResources page
and then the Library Catalogue
6. Modern Law Review-We’ll Use it as an
Example
You can either type in
the title of the journal
or choose from the
alphabetical list
7. Choose a Database Link
When choosing a database
link ensure you check the
dates that are indexed in the
database. This is referred to as
COVERAGE. We’ll choose
HEINONLINE as we’re looking
2005
8. HEINONLINE
Click on year 2005
Some of the
databases place
EMBARGOS on their
title for CURRENT
years.In most
instances we will
have those dates
available in PRINT
11. Subject Keyword Searching
Advanced Search
Choose your
Subject
Keywords
carefully. You
can then refine
the search by
adding
LIMITERS,
such as date,
subject area
15. Searching Ejournals from the
Catalogue
Choose Journal
Keyword from the
drop down options
and type in the title
16. Bibliographic Information
Date Coverage
For this title
we have
some dates
available
electronicall
y and some in
print. Choose
according to
the date you
need.
17. Click on the KLUWER Link for the
Electronic version
If you know the date
you need click on it-
we’ll choose 2009
21. Try Another!
Find Theodor Meron, “The Meaning and
Reach of the International Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Racist
Discrimination”, 79 American Journal of
International Law(1985), p.283
27. Recap
Heinonline
Heinonline is essentially used to locate journal articles.
It does NOT provide information on Cases(Modern) or
legislation(Acts/Statutes)
You can access it from the Databases Link on the My
Library portlet OR if you know the journal titles from
the Library Catalogue
It also provides access to a series called “The English
Reports” which gives you access to cases pre 1865
29. WESTLAW-Main Search Page
You can search
either using the
TABS across the
top of the page or
the Boxes/Text
You below
You can use Westlaw to
find Acts,Cases
Current Awareness and
Journal articles
30. Curent Awareness
Useful if you are tracking a
particular case/bill. Can check
to see what stage it is at
35. WESTLAW-Cases
When searching for Cases you can use either the
BROWSE feature-which is useful if you know the
name of the Law Report series in which the case
has been reported-or the SEARCH window
It may be easier to search by using the SEARCH
window which allows you to search by PARTY
NAMES, CITATION or FREE TEXT
We’’ll start with a CITATION search
36. Recap-Reading a Citation!
Individual cases are arranged collectively in series of Law Reports. To
locate a case you need to be able to understand the citation. Here is a
sample Citation: Fisher v Bell [1960] 3 W.L.R. 919 The different parts of the
Citation are explained below.
Parties contesting the case Fisher v Bell
Year the case was reported 1960
Volume of the law reports in which the case was reported 3
W.L.R. is the abbreviation for the law report series in which the case can be
found. The full title is Weekly Law Reports. You will need to know the full
title as the law report series are arranged alphabetically by title in the law
library.
Page on which the case can be found 919
40. Status Icons
Cases that have been judicially considered elsewhere
will have a status icon next to the title of the case
indicating the nature of the consideration. A case which
has received positive or neutral judicial consideration
will be indicated by[C in green] whilst a case which has
received mixed or mildly negative judicial consideration
will be indicated by[! In yellow] A case in which at least
one point of law has been overruled or reversed on
appeal will be indicated by [- In red]. A[A In gold]
indicates that an appeal is outstanding to the Court of
Appeal (Civil Division) or Supreme Court, or an
application for permission to appeal is outstanding to
the Supreme Court. (see Westlaw Help for more
information)
43. Westlaw-Subject Searching Cases
There are different ways of searching for cases
on a specific subject
We’ll do a general search first and then refine it-
make it more specific-narrow our search!
We’ll use the PHRASE defence of necessity as
our search term-FREE TEXT
70. Results-Fewer
Search Efficiently
When you add another
word or phrase you are
asking the database to
search more specifically
and hence refining the
search
84. This May Prove Useful
Formative Assessment Two
Poole, T., ‘The Royal
Prerogative’ International
Journal of Constitutional Law
(2010) 146
Find this citation
90. Finally.........
I will put this presentation on my Law and
Legal Research Subject Guide-the Subject
Specialisms Page
See Library Subject Guides> My
Sudy>My Library
