Web of Knowledge: logging in problems NOW FIXED

THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAS NOW BEEN RESOLVED.
If you still can't access the database, you may need to clear you cache and cookies first and then re-open your browser: http://wok.mimas.ac.uk/faq/answers.html#Q6.5
Apologies for the inconvenience this has caused.


There is currently a problem with access to Web of Knowledge. This is an issue that all Web of Knowledge subscribers are experiencing and is not unique to Aston. The database suppliers are looking into this as a matter of urgency and this blog post will be updated as soon as the problems have been resolved. In the meantime, you can still access Web of Knowledge on-campus via http://webofknowledge.com/, however, you may first need to clear cache and cookies: further information available in the FAQ: http://wok.mimas.ac.uk/faq/answers.html#Q6.5 and then close and re-open your browser.

You could also try using another similar database for your research such as Scopus.

Open Access - Snippet No. 2

Visibility

Without Open Access, the only way to see academic work is by paying for subscriptions to journals or by paying a fee to view an article.

This has the effect of restricting access to all bet the minority who can afford to pay for access.

In a survey conducted at the beginning of the millennium more than half research-based institutions in lower-income countries had no subscriptions to international research journal.

Unsurprisingly, researchers in those countries rank access to research literature as one of their most pressing problems.

In other surveys it was found that also in the wealthier world, researchers find increasingly difficult to access the material they need.

Swan, Alma (2011) Open Access: Impact for researchers, universities and society. RLUK.

Libraries Supporting Research

Research Libraries UK (RLUK) has recently published Re-skilling for Research, a major report on the changing needs of researchers and the effect on the Information Specialist role within libraries. The information needs of researchers are always changing and this report will be a useful tool to ensure that libraries can stay ahead of the demands placed on them.

This short extract from the 112-page reports highlights the importance of on-going dialogue between researchers and libraries:

"Libraries, and their staff (including [Information Specialists]) who have a responsibility to support and provide services for researchers, face a huge challenge that could be turned into a huge opportunity. ... Libraries will need to respond to this challenge by developing a unique role in consultation with their institution for the part they will play in the support of meeting researchers' information and related needs."

At Aston University Library & Information Services, we are always looking for ways to maintain this dialogue with researchers.  The activities we are already involved with include: at School and subject group levels, Information Specialists attend School Research Committees and staff meetings; individual researchers are always welcome to make an appointment to see their Information Specialist to discuss their needs on a one-to-one basis; in summer 2011, we ran a series of Research Bites, which were very well received; and AURA makes Aston's research freely and easily available to everyone and is managed by the Repository Officer (Erica Wine).

If you have any comments or suggestions for research support that you would like to receive from your Library & Information Services and your Information Specialist, from suggesting a topic for Research Bites 2012 to a whole new approach, don't hesitate to comment on this post or contact us directly.

Open Access - Snippet No. 1

Open Access benefits:

- Researchers gain from the increased usage and impact of their work.

- Their institutions benefit from the aggregated usage and impact of their researcher and the increased presence that Open Access brings.

- Society benefits from better technology transfer, better diffusion of know-how and better-informed populace

- Open access encourages collaborative endeavours by making research visible to new communities.

From: Swan, Alma (2011) Open Access: Impact for researchers, universities and society. RLUK.

Full Time MBA project workshop

We welcome MBA students to the Library today (Friday 27th January) at 2pm who will be attending a library workshop on supporting their research for their dissertation project.

The library workshop will be taught in the Library Seminar Room, 2nd floor of the Library Building and is being recorded for Aston Replay.

Datastream and 3000Xtra

Will you need to use the stock data database Datastream for your project?  Are you registered to work in the ABS Trading Room with Reuters 3000xtra database? Would you like further help extracting data?

Thomson Reuters are offering Question and Answer sessions for students using the Datastream and Reuters 3000xtra database.  If you are having problems extracting data and would like advice please feel free to sign up for one of the Q&A sessions:

·         Client trainers from Thomson Reuters will be holding online Q&A sessions to answer your questions regarding data on DataStream  

·         No need to have the product in front of you, just the question that you want answering

·         No need to join a conference call, they will use Adobe chat… however, if you really want to talk to a trainer they will provide a number to call

·         To sign up, emailknowledge.networkuki@thomsonreuters.com stating the date, time and product session as well as your University email address. Leave the rest to Thomson Reuters! They will email you with the login details for the 1 hour sessions.

   

Dates and Times are:

Datastream

Tuesday 7^th February 2012           – 2:00pm

Thursday 16^th February 2012       - 11:00am

Reuters 3000xtra

Thursday 9^th February 2012          -3:00pm

Wednesday 22^nd February 2012 -3:00pm

Kind Regards

Nicola Dennis

Business Information Specialist

Attention All MSc Pharmacy students

Clare Langman, Information Specialist for Pharmacy will be holding Literature Searching Workshops on Tuesday 31st January and Wednesday 1st February to support you with your Research Proposals. They will be held in the Seminar Room, 2nd Floor of the Library. Look on Blackboard to find out which session you should attend.

Contact Clare for further information c.langman@aston.ac.uk