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Library Information and Digital Skills Framework: Discovering

Discovering is the ability to efficiently and ethically search for and access information. This skill is built up through the academic journey. It enables learners to go beyond their reading list materials and explore diverse perspectives. Integrating these competencies into courses and experiences empowers learners to independently and confidently find relevant information for assignments, research projects, and in the workplace.  

Learners will be able to:

 Graphic illustrating the discovering skills the library can support. All skills on the graphic are listed on this webpage.

Session examples: 

Learners identify keywords, combine them, and create effective searches to find relevant resources for an assignment.  

Learners ethically use AI Tools to discover and organise information for a research project.  

Discovering skills in Business and Management

  • Undergraduate Year 1: Introduction to business research skills - how to find a book, journal article (what is a journal article), using business and management databases, effectively using search engines

  • Undergraduate Year 3 / Postgraduate Taught: Advanced business research skills (MN3311 and MN5813)- e.g., conducting a literature review (using AI tools and traditional library databases) and finding business, industry and country information relevant to Independent Business Projects.

Discovering skills in EPMS

  • Undergraduate Year 1 (EE1000): Introduction to the Library covering how to find items on your reading list, going beyond your reading list – finding information on your own, introduction to key resources for your subject area.
  • Year 3 or 4 research project: Advanced searching in library resources and beyond; citation searching and grey literature searching.  Appropriate and ethical use of AI tools for research if use of AI is mentioned in the project brief.
  • Postgraduate taught session: A scaffolded session, diagnosing the research skills of the students depending on their academic path (former student at Royal Holloway, former student at another UK institution, forrmer student at an international institution, working in the industry), and demonstrating and signposting research techniques accordingly.

Discovering skills in Humanities

  • Undergraduate Year 1: Essential Library Skills - Where to start: finding known books and articles (e.g. from reading lists)​, finding information on your own: going beyond your reading list​, key library resources​ for your subject.
  • Undergraduate Year 2/final year and PGT: Research skills and useful resources for independent projects/dissertations - Advanced searching, accessing material beyond Royal Holloway.
  • Pop-up sessions for all levels of study: 10 - 15 minute demonstrations of relevant library resources for a particular module.
  • Primary sources - a session concentrating on how to find primary sources (could be done in conjunction with a talk by our Archivist)

Discovering skills in Law and Social Sciences

  • Undergraduate Year 1: Legal Research Skills - How to use legal databases such as Westlaw and Lexis+ to find key legal resources such as case reports, legislation and legal journal articles.
  • Undergraduate Year 3 and PGT: Dissertation Research Skills - Tailored to your subject area, how to use advanced search techniques such as Truncation, Wildcard and Proximity searches, and navigate subject specific databases, to find appropriate resources for a dissertation.
  • Undergraduate all years and PGT: Using the Bloomberg Terminals - How to use the Bloomberg Terminals to access live financial data on stocks and shares, indexes, currencies, and commodities, and industry reports, news and analyses.

Discovering skills in Life Science and Environment

  • Undergraduate Year 1: Introduction to the Library covering how to find items on your reading list, going beyond your reading list – finding information on your own, introduction to key resources for your subject area
  • Undergraduate Year 1: Information sources (GG1011) - starting to find and evaluate information, tips for effective searching
  • Postgraduate Research students (D Clin Psy) - how to formulate effective and complex search strategies, and choose appropriate databases for a systematic review

Discovering skills in PDA

  • Undergraduate Year 1 – Essential library skills – How to find items on your reading list, going beyond your reading list – finding information on your own, introduction to key resources for your subject area.
  • Undergraduate Year 3 and PGT – Advanced searching and research skills for projects and dissertations, accessing material beyond Royal Holloway, topic specific library resources e.g. industry resources for MA55905.

Want to know more? Get in touch.

Your School Teaching and Engagement Librarian would be pleased to discuss anThe outline of two heads looking at each other with a background of books on shelves.y aspect of the information and digital skills, so please get in touch:

Email your Teaching and Engagement Librarian.

Book an online 1:1 appointment using the "Schedule Appointment" button located under your Teaching and Engagement Librarian's profile picture.

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