Resources for Physics Undergraduates    

Getting Started

• To access the eJournals, eBooks and Subject databases from home or a laptop a current DIT id number and a Library PIN is required. Use Access from Home to take you through the process.
• Exam papers : access point and information for online papers
• Programme/ Course documents: access point and information re. edocs

eJournals

• So why use eJournals? Journals contain academic research which is not found in textbooks. Information is published on a monthly or weekly basis and consists of breakthroughs and reports on current research.The DIT Library physics ejournals can be searched by journal title or subject. Or search the entire journal collection including hardcopy titles on the Library Catalogue using Journal Title Search.  Click on a title to open the fulltext or use Kevin St Library Guide Guide Finding fulltext journal articles

eBooks

• Browse via the eBook link: most of the physics titles are located in MyiLibrary. Or search for a specific etextbook on the Library Catalogue.

Subject Links

  Start with:

•     Intute: Use the introductory booklet Intute Physics and etutorial

  Then try:

•    The Pinakes Subject Launchpad and a few of the following links: 

Kevin St Guides to Project Resources

 Download and use these guides to help you get started with an assignment or project

• Guide Finding information for a first year assignment
• Guide Finding information for a final year project
• Guide Journal article critical reviews how to get started
• Guide Evaluating Web Resources

Subject Databases for Physics

Why use these as opposed to google or other search engines? Subject databases index current scholarly research on various topics published in thousands of academic journals and are the ideal way to find out what’s new in your subject. You may need to use several to locate the information you need as no single database indexes every journal publication.

Try the following Kevin St Library Guides to get started:

Guide Databases and effective search Strategies

Guide Finding fulltext journal articles

•  * The IEEE Xplore Digital Library databases requires an Athens password when accessing outside the DIT network.
• To access the DIT databases from outside the library network you need a current student number and Library PIN. See the Access from Home link for more information.
• See also the full list of DIT Library databases and passwords

 Search Engines

Citing Your Sources

Correctly citing and referencing the information sources used in research is essential to avoid plagiarism. See the Kevin St Library Guide Guide Referencing and citing guide for introduction purposes. Another useful link is How to Avoid Plagiarism. Each subject has it's own citation style such as Harvard (also known as the author / date system) or the Numeric Style which is easy to use. Check with your School of Physics supervior or course co-ordination if in doubt as to which to use.

Use the following citation style guides as necessary, but remember to pick one citation method and use it consistently:

• Guide Harvard Referencing Guide (DIT)
• Numeric Style Guide

Bibliographic ciation software can be used to organise, input and store your citations and freeware includes:

• Endnoteweb
• Zotero
• Bibme
• Mendeley

Back Up Resources

 If you need additional resources see Using Other Libraries and Inter Library Loans for further options.

Study Skills

• DIT Study Skills Survival Guide
• Evaluating Information on the Web
• Thinking Critically Guides
• Student Writing Lab
• How to Study

Contacts

1. Library enquiries: email Ask a Librarian or contact 01 402-4894

2. Kevin St Library website

3. Kevin St Library Blog, Facebook Page and @KevinStLibrary for news and updates

4. Information Literacy classes: Julie de Foubert