Library and Resource Centre

Resources Centre

STUDENT LIBRARY ACCOUNT & ONLINE CATALOGUE LOGIN (CLICK HERE FOR LINK)

Students can access and manage their library accounts here. They are also able to search and request books and view recommended reading lists based upon their reading and search history.

ABOUT US

The Resources Centre is situated in Clare Hall and has 2 full time designated members of staff. We have over 29,000 items including books, magazines and newspapers. Students can borrow up to 6 books at a time and they can also join the public library service through the Resources Centre.

We have chromebooks which are available for students to use and we also have printing/photocopying and scanning facilities for students to use throughout the day, including before and after school, as well as at break and lunchtimes.

The Resources Centre has a quiet study zone as well as a soft seating area for group work.

We run a Homework Club everyday after school for year 7 and 8 students. Students who wish to attend the Homework Club just need to turn up, booking is not required.

RNIB Bookshare Training:

RNIB Bookshare login page

The Resources Centre opening times are:

Monday: 7.30am-5pm
Tuesday: 7.30am-5pm
Wednesday: 7.30am-5pm
Thursday: 7.30am-5pm
Friday: 7.30am-4pm

how to access e-resources with your e-card

An e-card will give you free online access to thousands of e-books, e-audio books, e-magazines and e-newspapers. To apply for an e-card please visit Mr Hill in the Resources Centre or email him: ahill@budmouth-aspirations .org

borrow e-books & e_audiobooks

BORROW E-Comics

BORROW E-Magazines

Teen fiction Websites

Fantastic Fiction

Students can search and browse the latest books and series information from Young Adult fiction authors

Libraries West Catalogue

Students can search, browse and order books with a free public library membership, which is available via the Resources Centre

epic reads

penguin teen

RESEARCH and EPQ TOOLKIT

Why are research skills important?

Research skills are vital as they enable you to develop organized and effective research methods.

6 ways to improve your research skills

Here are a few practices to help you develop your research skills:

1. Learn how to recognise quality sources: Evaluate the accuracy and validity of the information you find:

Fight the Fake

Source Evaluation Checklist

Primary and Secondary Sources explained

What does primary source mean?

Primary sources give you direct access to the subject that you’re researching or learning about. They contain raw information. They can provide you with a first-hand account of an event or time-period, represent original thinking and give you new information. They’re usually the centre of a piece of research.

The type of primary source used depends on the topic of the research. If the topic is new and current, data from interviews and experiments you do yourself can be used as a primary resource. If it’s historical, you would have to gather it from people directly involved with the topic using documents and texts.

Examples of primary sources include:

diaries, correspondences, and ship logs;
creative works, such as art, film or literature;
original documents, such as a birth certificate;
biographies and autobiographies;
interviews, speeches and oral histories;
government data;
statistics;
research reports;
newspaper reports, editorial/opinion pieces.

What are primary sources used for?

Primary sources are the foundations of original research. They help to:

make new discoveries;
provide evidence for your argument;
and give credible information about the topic.

What does secondary source mean?

Secondary sources provide second-hand information and often offer explanations for primary sources. They analyse, interpret and restate information from primary sources.

Examples of secondary sources include:

journal articles commenting or analysing research;
textbooks;
dictionaries and encyclopedias;
books which interpret and analyse, such as academic books;
biographies;
dissertations;
reviews, essays on and criticisms of creative works, such as art, literature and music;
newspaper editorial/opinion pieces.

What are secondary sources used for?

Secondary sources help to provide background information or an overview of a topic. They show how other researchers have approached, interpreted and analysed the topic. They help to:

learn background information about the topic;
support your arguments and ideas;
contrast your arguments or ideas;
find information you can’t access directly.

FULL FACT: THE UK’S INDEPENDENT FACT CHECKING CHARITY

OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS

2. Be open to surprising answers: Good research is all about finding answers to your research questions, not necessarily verifying what you already think you know. Make sure to keep an open mind so that you can develop the most accurate understanding of the topic.

3. Be patient: Develop resilience by persisting in information searching despite challenges.

4. Stay organized: During the data collection process you’ll be seeing a huge amount of information. It’s vital that you keep all this information organized in someway to prevent yourself from losing something or not being able to cite something properly.

5. Respect ownership: Respect the intellectual property rights of creators:

CITATION AND REFERENCING

What is citation?

A reference to any item such as a book, website or author that identifies the source and credits its creator.

Why should I cite my sources?

Avoid risk of plagiarism
Provide the location of the source for your reader’s further study
Support your ideas
Give credit where it is due

Referencing consists of two elements:

In-text citations are included in the body of your text, they give the author and publication date of a source you are referring to and are included in the word count.
Full references are given in alphabetical order in a reference list at the end of your work, give full bibliographical information for all the sources in your citations, and are not included in the word count.

Difference between reference list and bibliography:

Reference list:only includes sources cited in your assignment.
Bibliography:includes sources cited in your assignment AND sources that were part of your background reading that are not cited in your work.

Microsoft Word has a built-in citation and bibliography tool available in the REFERENCES section on the menu bar.

HARVARD CITATION GENERATOR

Copyright guidance for Research and Private Study

6. Take advantage of libraries, museums etc: If you still have questions about what you’re researching, don’t worry-there are plenty of places out there to help you out. Check out library and museum websites for research guides or access to digital databases and collections:

Ms Linda Elliott
Resources Centre Deputy Manager

Tel: 01305 830500

Collection Management Policy