Tips for using Oxford Language Dictionaries Online

A few people from School of Languages and Cultures have said they are not finding Oxford Language Dictionaries Online (OLDO) very user-friendly. Here are some top tips from your friendly librarian:

Choose which language you want to search for - you can use the arrows to switch between languages for translations e.g. French to English or vice versa. Use 'Search' tab to do a quick search - click on the dropdown keyboard to put in accents or different alphabets/characters. Choose 'Browse' tab to access alphabetical entry lists.

• Used advanced search to search the full text of the dictionary.
• Restrict search to specific parts of speech, subject area or language register
• Perform Boolean searches
• Get click-through explanations of phonetic symbols
• Insert accented characters (letters from a different alphabet) using a handy virtual keyboard
• Print, email, cite or link
• Find language learning and usage tools and resources
  • Grammar notes
  • Verb tables
  • Cultural information
  • Advice on applying for jobs
  • Sample letters, emails and CVs
  • Downloadable kits to help teach and learn essential dictionary skills
• Oxford Language Web gives you a translation of a word into 13 languages

Please do try it out and give me feedback. Thanks, Clare

RILM - enhancements for Music searches

EBSCOhost the provider of RILM Abstracts of Music literature have updated their site to  make subject indexing searchable within four areas: Names Subjects Instrument Families Countries Try it out. If you need help check out the EBSCO Support site

Archives Unbound

Calling all Historians - particularly those interested in Vietnam. I have obtained access to the Gale Cengage Collection: Archives Unbound. We have access to three collections of documents/primary sources

1.America in protest: Records of anti-Vietnam war organisations

2.Intelligence reports from the National Security Council's Vietnam Information Group 1967-1975

3. U.S. Civilian advisory effort in Vietnam...1950-1954

You can access this via MUSE and the Library eResources here

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/cdfiles/au

Hopefully this will help with some dissertations.

Clare

Improving Learning Resources

We know from your feedback that book availability is an area
where we can improve. The University has made additional money
available to the Library in 2011/12 to strengthen our collections for
students in the Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences.
We are currently exploring ways of targeting the funds but we would also like your help.

Let us know about books that you'd like to see added to our collection, or titles where you think extra copies would be useful, by filling in the book recommendation form available on the Library web pages.

We can't promise to buy everything that you suggest, but all your
recommendations will be carefully considered.

Thanks for your help.

Closure of Level 3 at Western Bank Library

Level 3 of Western Bank Library will be closed from Wednesday 4th January to Tuesday 10th January inclusive. During this time a request service will operate for stock on Level 3.

This closure is to allow the remaining B sequence books on Level 1 to be moved to Level 3. The move will allow full access to the books that were previously located on Level 1.

The lift will be unavailable for periods of time during these moves. If you would like more information on accessing the library please contact lib-support@sheffield.ac.uk

Apologies for any inconvenience this closure may cause.

NEW Library catalogue!

Have a look at our new Library Catalogue, StarPlus.
You can search for books and other items in our libraries, as well as electronic and digital material, all from one place.

Log in using your University login and password for direct access to full text where it is available and other features such as saved searches.

Use the ‘University Collections’ tab for electronic and print books, journals, maps, theses, databases and more.
Use the ‘Articles and more’ tab for journal articles from multiple databases using the Quick Set for your department.
For full database functionality such as personalisation, use the native search interface.

So check it out and tell us what you think. We’d love your feedback to help us develop the service so please email lib-primo@lists.shef.ac.uk with your comments. And don’t worry, Star won’t be going anywhere just yet.

Library news for Arts & Humanities

Take a look at the latest newsletter for Arts & Humanities.

This edition includes a spotlight on Oxford Language Dictionaries online, information about a new online tutorial offering help on writing a literature review and the Library's new catalogue - StarPlus: