UHD Library Blog

Library Publishes Research Guide on Journal Quality Evaluation

Faculty and students frequently ask librarians "How can I tell if this is a high-quality journal?" The tools to help you answer that question are now listed in the new Journal Quality Evaluation research guide.

This guide provides tips and resources for evaluating journal quality for research and publication purposes. It includes coverage of open access journals.

A particular publishing peril in recent years is the advent of many "open access" journals with publishing fees that purport to have genuine peer review, yet their contents seem to belie that. Besides examining the articles in fields with which one is familiar, how can quality be determined? There are no "hard and fast" rules that allow one to determine whether a journal is of low quality. The Journal Quality Evaluation guide lists factors to help you examine this question.

So, whether you're assessing a journal as a research source or are interested in publishing in it, take a look at this guide. Feedback about it is appreciated -- see the Provide Feedback box on the guide.

LibSearch - Everything Behind a Single Search Box

LibSearch is a google like search option for library resources.  It is a new, faster way to search library collections -- a single search box for journal articles, books, videos, music and more.

A click or two takes you to the full text of articles or shows whether a book is available on the shelf.

By default, LibSearch shows results available at UHD, but you can "add results beyond your library" to find publications from 6,500 publishers

Give it a try from the library home page, or go to the advanced search page.

To find out more about what you can do with LibSearch or for some tips and tricks to further refine your searches, check out our LibSearch Research Guide. 

Course Reserves (ERes)

Did you know that the library has materials for some classes held at the 5th floor service desk for students to use for class? 

Course reserves are supplemental readings reserved by faculty for the use of students in a particular class.  Students, you can find out if your professor has placed anything on reserve by checking in ERes, which is linked on the library home page too. 

Most course reserves are usable in the library only for a few hours.  There are copy machines and scanners if you need to take some of the material home with you. 

Faculty consider placing material on course reserve for your classes.  You can find out more about how to do this from the Course Reserves page.

"I Just Want Something Good to Read!"

Just want a library book you can read for enjoyment? Take a look at our new guide to good reading in fiction and non-fiction.

As the guide notes, "Just want to read something for fun? Need to choose an enjoyable book for your class assignment? This guide provides direction to popular fiction and non-fiction books and e-books at UHD Library for leisure and recreational reading."

Go find a good book and enjoy!