Monday 4 February, 2008

Library skills key to success

Library skills are the basis of successful study and research, so this edition focuses on some of the many resources available to those studying - either formally or informally. Christchurch City Libraries has a tremendous range of websites, reference books such as dictionaries and encyclopedias and special-interest magazines to assist your learning this year and help you find the information you need to succeed.

The reference section of the library website is the place to start your study or research.
The databases section contains several fantastic general encyclopedias, all freely accessible with your library card and PIN. These include:

In addition there are specialist databases for news and magazines, art science and literature, New Zealand, health, science and technology and people, society and history.

NCEA

NCEA study can often require specific and detailed study involving a mixture of source material. Pulse, the library website for teenagers, has links to specific curriculum areas for high school students. There’s also help with exams, further education and references, citations and bibliographies.

Win cellphones with pulse

Young people aged 13 to 18 can win some fantastic prizes in the pulse digital photo competition. There’s two vodafone cellphones with $500 credit and three Telecom cellphones with $50 credit up for grabs – plus airtime vouchers as consolation prizes. Just send us a photo of your favourite place – close to home or far away – and go in the draw to win. It’s that easy!
Visit the pulse flickr to get ideas.

Need help? Ask a librarian

By telephone - many enquiries can be answered directly over the phone
LiveOnline - an interactive session with a librarian live over the internet
Ask a question - fill out this form and we'll get back to you within three working days, if not right away
Book a librarian - for a half-hour, one-on-one session

If you would like a librarian to search for information on your behalf, we are happy to assist. Our standard research charges apply. You will be consulted before we undertake any activity that will involve charges.
Specialist services include:

Aotearoa New Zealand Centre - for genealogy, family history and local history. There is a charge for all research services in the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre.
Music Quest - specialist music research service.

We recommend: study and research resources

Our online resources:

Pulse – study resources for high school students
Key skills to get the most out of your library
Any Questions - homework help service
The best way to find a course to suit you in the Christchurch region is to search CINCH, our community information directory. You’ll find lots of information about tertiary courses, alongside all the opportunities run by local community education providers, including:
localeye has comprehensive listings for the websites of education providers in its live and learn section, including:
- Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

Short courses and seminars are also available at learning centres
Music: learn an instrument, make your own music, find courses and more
Get started in Creative Writing
University of the Third Age

Our Internet Gateway recommends:

Education providers, including:

Study guides and strategies Multilingual site offering practical advice on writing basics, how to maximise learning, project skills preparing for tests and more.
Study Skills Developing effective study skills, improving reading comprehension, discovering your own personal study style, learning to manage your time more efficiently and learning the best way to prepare for exams are just a few of the topics covered in "The Study Skills Guide for Students".
NCEA National Certificate of Educational Achievement National Certificate of Educational Achievement. New Zealand’s main national qualification for secondary school students. Part of the National Qualification Framework.

Browse the resources in our libraries:

We recommend: Online resources

Our online resources: What’s new on the blog

The Christchurch City Libraries blog is written for people who love books, movies and music and want to know about the latest developments and trends in the book world. Regularly updated and constantly fresh, the blog has plenty to offer avid readers and music fans. Recent posts include:

What’s new on the library website?

Keep up to date with our newsletters

You can find out about latest and hottest books automatically by subscribing to one of the many library newsletters. Browse the newest titles, follow your favourite genre or area of interest and even reserve them, all in one go. Sign up for free today.

Take a gander at the Young Adult newsletter, full of all types of fiction for those who want to imagine different realities - and nonfiction for those who are trying to understand ours! For readers of high school age and up. Monthly.

Resource of the week: Oxford Reference Online

Oxford Reference Online is one of the range of pay-for websites and databases which you can access FREE with your library card number and PIN. A few can only be accessed from within our libraries.

Oxford Reference Online provides searchable, full text access to major reference titles and bills itself as 'the world's most trusted reference collection'.

Suggest a theme:

We want your feedback on our editions - feel free to suggest a theme that you think other library users would find useful.

Next week: Cash and how not to spend it

Money makes the world go round, the old song says, and earning and saving and spending it is something we have to make decisions about on a daily basis. Whether it's budgeting or investing or ideas to help in business, next week's edition will have something for everyone.