Finding Information
The first step with any assignment is to understand exactly what it is you have to do. These questions will help you clarify what information you require:s
What topic am I investigating?
- Pick out the main keywords that describe your topic.
- Use dictionaries, located in the Reference Collection to find out the meaning of any words/terms that you do not understand.
What format does my work have to be presented in?
- Will it be a report or essay?
- Is the purpose to inform or persuade the person reading the assignment?
Who will read my work?
- Will it be a teacher, your class mates or a child?
The next step is to determine which type of information will best help you complete your assignment:
Types of information
Ask yourself the following questions when examining potential materials for your assignment:
- Do I want local (Australian) or international information?
- Do I want first-hand knowledge of the event's happenings i.e. interviews, letters, diaries, speeches, artwork & music. (primary sources) and/or analysed material i.e. articles/opinions or facts & figures? (secondary sources)
- How up to date do I want the information to be? Will I use current or historical information?
- Is the information that I want to use still valid? Take into account that books can become outdated quickly so check other sources to make sure your information is still current.
- Magazines, newspapers and on-line resources are good sources for current information.
- Is the information I found on the Internet reliable and accurate? Educational, government and scientific publications can be considered accurate and are one of the few on the Internet that can be relied on. Be aware that anyone can create a web page and post it on the Internet; such information could be fictitious, incorrect, out-of-date or biased. The LLC provides lists of websites on various topics.
- Are the findings unique or are they mentioned/agreed on in a number of sources? Duplication of information also indicates reliability.
Resources in the LLC
Information in the LLC can be located in print, electronic and audiovisual material. This includes:
Reference Collection
Contains a range of dictionaries, encyclopaedias and other ready reference materials on various subjects, for use in the LLC only.
Online Reference Collection
- E-library: Magazine and newspaper articles, pictures, radio & TV transcripts, including The Age, The Australian & The Herald-Sun.
- Infotrac General Onefile: Search or browse hundreds of full text journals and magazines.
- Oxford Reference Online: Over 100 dictionaries, encyclopaedias and reference texts.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: ABS is Australia's official statistical organisation which provides a wide range of statistical information about Australia in such areas as employment, health, trade, demographics and tourism.
Locating information & resources in the LLC
Using the OPAC
The catalogue or OPAC is the gateway to the LLC collection. Searching the catalogue will list what items are available on your topic and where they are located on the shelves.
- Ask the friendly Librarians at the Information Desk for help.
Finding an item on the shelf
Most of the LLC's collection is arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification system. Resources are placed on the shelf in increasing numerical order beginning with 001 and ending at 999.
DDC has 10 main classes, which are then divided into 10 secondary classes, and so on.
- 000 - Computer science, information and general works
- 100 Philosophy and psychology
- 200 Religion
- 300 Social sciences
- 400 Language
- 500 Science
- 600 Technology
- 700 Art and recreation
- 800 Literature
- 900 History and geography
Books with the same subject will share the same call number. Books on similar subjects will be found close to each other on the shelves.
e.g. Cookery = 641.5, Chocolate = 641.6374
An item's call number is made up of a series of numbers and letters that indicate its location on the shelves according to subject matter. When two books have the same call number, they are organised alphabetically by the author's surname which makes up the last line of the call number.
e.g. 808.042 GER, 808.042 WIL
The call number label is found on the lower spine or front cover of the item. A letter before the number eg V302.222 PEA indicates the material type other than a book or magazine and/or its location, for example:
V= Video, R = Reference, PB = Paperback fiction.
How to find information in a book
To establish whether a book has the information you want, there are two main places to check:
- Contents page: a logical break down of how the book is structured chapter names and headings with page number references. This generally located at the front of the book.
- Index: alphabetical listing of what the book contains giving reference to page number. This is generally located at the back of the book.
Research Tips
- Take notes as you go. Write down important information in point form & include where you obtained the information from. Refer to the Bibliographies & Referencing learning tip.
- Don't try and do it all at once! Good research takes time.
- 4-6 good sources are usually considered enough for an assignment.
- Justify assignment statements with evidence/examples from sources used in your research.
Other Resources
If the LLC does not hold the resources you need, you can obtain a CAVAL card, which will allow you to borrow at other participating TAFEs and universities. Ask at the Information Desk for how to join.
For more information
- Check the shelves:
Study Right: a simple guide to effective study 371.30281 AST - Search the LLC Catalogue with the key terms 'research skills'
- Explore the other LLC Learning Tips Referencing and Bibliographies and Finding Information
- Ask a Librarian!
- Do you have any favourite search engines or some great web searching tips? Let the LLC know!
The LLC recommends these web links:
- Take a tour of the DDCA multimedia presentation on the Dewey Decimal Classification system to help you locate learning resources for your study
- Search the internet
National Library of Australia gateway to many different search engines. Also provides useful searching tips, subject gateways and popular sites. - Essential steps
Monash University site offering some useful points when searching for information to help you organise yourself
