Finding reliable and accurate information is often a tiresome and time-consuming task. TU Delft Library now offers a one-day course that helps staff and studentssearch quickly and efficiently for the information they need.
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Every academic has experienced the often difficult job of finding information related to his or her field of research. The fact that TU Delft Library is the largest technological library in the Netherlands in terms of its information base is both a blessing and a curse. Using its search engine or database, one is frequently overwhelmed by the resulting long list of %possible% relevant reference sources.
%With the growing amount of information available it becomes more and more difficult to find relevant high quality information,” says Ingeborg Nagel, an information specialist of the Library at the faculty of Applied Sciences. According to the Library, when searching for reliable and accurate information, you should consider which information resources best fit your research needs, how to get the most out of the various information systems and how the quality of the information found can be evaluated. Viewing it as a responsibility to train and instruct their patrons in how to make optimal use of the available information, the Library is now offering the course, ‘Research Information for the Publishing Researcher’, in which all of the above elements are covered.
The course’s objective is to teach participants how to find relevant information quickly, by providing insights into the theory of information retrieval and also by teaching various practical skills. An example of one of the theoretical issues tackled on the course is the effective use of Boolean operators such as ‘and’ and ‘or’ in complex search queries, Nagel says, adding, ‘Practical skills though, alternatively, focus on how you can interact effectively with the many different interfaces of information systems. Though the course mainly focuses on the information systems provided by the Library, it also discusses electronic publishing and finding reliable information on the Internet.’
Deadlines
Eunyong Kang, a third-year Korean PhD student at the faculty of EEMCS, says that she would haven taken the course in her first year even if wasn’t paid for by her faculty (170 euros). Being able to find your way in the ‘dark room’, as she calls her lack of experience in finding relevant information among the stacks of library and digital sources, is ‘definitely worth it,’ she says. Kang has, however, some doubts about the effectiveness of providing such a course in a single day. ‘They should split this course up into two or more days. This would enable students to digest the information provided more easily and also give them an opportunity to practice,’ she says. ‘I’m surprised though that the course is only meant for TU staff members and PhD students. Every student should have the advantage of finding information quickly, also Master and Bachelor students,’ she adds.
Claudia Shampaio, a SEPAM MSc student from Brazil, agrees with Kang but stresses the need for having the relevant skills whenever independent research is needed. Shampaio is now in the writing phase of her final thesis project and copes as best she can with the problem of finding literature to scientifically support the growing number of opinions she has. ‘The main questionis: How and where can I find a scientist who has a similar opinion about a specific issue?’ she asks. ‘If it wasn’t for the money, I%d definitely take the course. In order to cope with deadlines its of great importance to quickly find convincing and reliable information sources.’
Recognizing the importance of such a course, the Library believes that information skills training should be integrated in all curricula. ‘We prefer inclusion in compulsory courses, so that all students acquire the same level of information literacy as a part of their academic skills,’ Nagel says. Whether a course is included in a program’s curriculum is, however, determined by programme coordinators. Though it needs time and effort to do so, Nagel says, ‘We’ll continue to convince programme coordinators to include library instructions in both Bachelor and Master programmes.’
www.tudelft.nl . .
Or contact the Library’s Customer Service, telephone: +31 (0)15 27 85678. The next course dates are: Tuesday 23 March, Thursday 13 May, and Wednesday 30 June.
‘That TU Delft’s library is the largest technological library in the Netherlands is both a blessing and a curse’
Finding reliable and accurate information is often a tiresome and time-consuming task. TU Delft Library now offers a one-day course that helps staff and students
search quickly and efficiently for the information they need.
Every academic has experienced the often difficult job of finding information related to his or her field of research. The fact that TU Delft Library is the largest technological library in the Netherlands in terms of its information base is both a blessing and a curse. Using its search engine or database, one is frequently overwhelmed by the resulting long list of %possible% relevant reference sources.
%With the growing amount of information available it becomes more and more difficult to find relevant high quality information,” says Ingeborg Nagel, an information specialist of the Library at the faculty of Applied Sciences. According to the Library, when searching for reliable and accurate information, you should consider which information resources best fit your research needs, how to get the most out of the various information systems and how the quality of the information found can be evaluated. Viewing it as a responsibility to train and instruct their patrons in how to make optimal use of the available information, the Library is now offering the course, ‘Research Information for the Publishing Researcher’, in which all of the above elements are covered.
The course’s objective is to teach participants how to find relevant information quickly, by providing insights into the theory of information retrieval and also by teaching various practical skills. An example of one of the theoretical issues tackled on the course is the effective use of Boolean operators such as ‘and’ and ‘or’ in complex search queries, Nagel says, adding, ‘Practical skills though, alternatively, focus on how you can interact effectively with the many different interfaces of information systems. Though the course mainly focuses on the information systems provided by the Library, it also discusses electronic publishing and finding reliable information on the Internet.’
Deadlines
Eunyong Kang, a third-year Korean PhD student at the faculty of EEMCS, says that she would haven taken the course in her first year even if wasn’t paid for by her faculty (170 euros). Being able to find your way in the ‘dark room’, as she calls her lack of experience in finding relevant information among the stacks of library and digital sources, is ‘definitely worth it,’ she says. Kang has, however, some doubts about the effectiveness of providing such a course in a single day. ‘They should split this course up into two or more days. This would enable students to digest the information provided more easily and also give them an opportunity to practice,’ she says. ‘I’m surprised though that the course is only meant for TU staff members and PhD students. Every student should have the advantage of finding information quickly, also Master and Bachelor students,’ she adds.
Claudia Shampaio, a SEPAM MSc student from Brazil, agrees with Kang but stresses the need for having the relevant skills whenever independent research is needed. Shampaio is now in the writing phase of her final thesis project and copes as best she can with the problem of finding literature to scientifically support the growing number of opinions she has. ‘The main questionis: How and where can I find a scientist who has a similar opinion about a specific issue?’ she asks. ‘If it wasn’t for the money, I%d definitely take the course. In order to cope with deadlines its of great importance to quickly find convincing and reliable information sources.’
Recognizing the importance of such a course, the Library believes that information skills training should be integrated in all curricula. ‘We prefer inclusion in compulsory courses, so that all students acquire the same level of information literacy as a part of their academic skills,’ Nagel says. Whether a course is included in a program’s curriculum is, however, determined by programme coordinators. Though it needs time and effort to do so, Nagel says, ‘We’ll continue to convince programme coordinators to include library instructions in both Bachelor and Master programmes.’
www.tudelft.nl . .
Or contact the Library’s Customer Service, telephone: +31 (0)15 27 85678. The next course dates are: Tuesday 23 March, Thursday 13 May, and Wednesday 30 June.
‘That TU Delft’s library is the largest technological library in the Netherlands is both a blessing and a curse’
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