LibGuides: Finding and using library resources: Business School: 2. Where should I look?

Where?

Once you have decided what sort of research materials you want to work with, you can choose the best research tool to help you find that material.

There are two Library Research tools that will help you find print and electronic primary and secondary materials:

Library Search

A-Z Databases

In addition, the Business Subject Guide provides details of core business resources and library information.

A-Z Databases Demo

A-Z Databases List

Business subject guide

The Business, Management, Accounting and Finance subject guide can be a great tool for finding relevant databases. The subject guide groups databases by the type of information that they specialise in (Academic research, company research, finance research, market research).

If you have identified the type of information you need, the Subject Guide makes finding the most appropriate databases simple.

Library Search - full size

Library Search

Library Search enables you to find high quality resources from a wide range of sources in a single search.

It is great as a starting point.
It covers all topics
If you are looking for a specific book or journal title, you can quickly find out if you have access
If you are looking for a range of content on a particular topic you can find a large amount of full text material, drawn from across the databases available via the Library
In the vast majority of cases, the content you find will be immediately accessible in full text online

BUT - be aware that ...

It doesn’t cover every database, some specialist content needs to be searched separately.
It does not have all the advanced search options like the specialist databases. Some databases have in built thesauri and search histories for example, which can assist with complex search strategies
It does not provide personalisation/alert features. Some databases allow you to save and rerun searches or set up alert services for current awareness.

A- Z Databases

Library Search is often a good starting point for introductory material, but if you want to research the global literature on a topic, and go beyond quick full text results, then you should follow up with a database search.

You can tailor your search more precisely using all the sophisticated functionality available on the research databases.

To find databases, use the A-Z list.

See the next tab for help with finding the best databases for your topic.

Each entry in the A-Z database list has an information icon. Hover over that symbol for information about the content that is available in the database and an idea of why it might be useful for research purposes. Shown below is the information for Project Muse, which is a valuable humanities research database.

You can scroll through the A-Z and choose a database if you know exactly what you are looking for.

Alternatively, you can select your subject from the drop down subject menu to see a subset of resources in that category.

The subject listings will highlight the 'core resources'; these are key databases that are likely to be of interest to anyone studying and researching in that area.

Research material can be drawn from a wide range of different types of information. You may wish to use specialist sources such as news items, statistical data, archival and audiovisual materials.

Find out more by visiting the Searching for specific types of information libguide.