Graduate students routinely use information in lots of different formats and track this information down in a variety of ways.

Your use of resources will include things like:

• acquiring materials and information independently, using a wider range of methods
• interpreting and analysing this
• assimilating and synthesising information.
• critically examining what you read.

It will also, crucially, involve techniques related to information management and data management.

Can't find what you need?

There is a request form you can use to request books, ebooks, journal subscriptions and databases, amongst other things, including DVDs and music scores.

In this section of CamGuides we'll cover some of the key methods you'll be using to locate, analyse and interpret information in your subject. We'll identify some of the principal catalogues and search engines you will use, and where to find subject-specific resources, databases and other sources of information relevant to your research and interests.

We'll look at developing some serious search strategies for tracking down information in an effective and scholarly way, how to get access to the things that you find, and some techniques to think critically about the information, ideas or data you discover.

But what about Google?

Google is a resource that you will use a lot of the time and if used well it is perfectly acceptable. Listen to the video below about how students do this alongside all the other resources they use. Many students use Google Scholar and link through to Cambridge resources. To do this:

• Go to the initial Google Scholar search screen
• Click on the preferences link by the search box
• Follow the inst5ructions under 'library links' and search for ejournals@cambridge
• A list of linking options should now appear
• Select ejournals@cambridge and save your selection.