Research Tools: Finding Information

Determine what TYPE of information you are after...

• Reference Information - Basic facts about a topic.
• Opinions, Perspectives or Arguments - Search our Issue Databases. Also consider the comment sections of newspapers or letters to the editor.
• Journal Articles and Research Papers - Information prepared by experts in the topic, could contain their original research.
• Primary Information - Information from the time period you are studying. E.g. letters, diaries, newspaper articles on the day of an event.

From website: http://www.easybib.com/guides/primary-and-secondary-sources-video/ 

If you are a member of any of the libraries below, you can log in using your library card number and access many of their electronic subscriptions and databases, such as Encyclopaedias, Reference sites etc. All of these could be of immense value to your studies.

Becoming a member of one of these libraries is quite easy.

For the Goldfields Library, visit and fill in a form to join.

For the State and National Libraries,  it is just a matter of clicking on the link and filling out an on-line application form. It will not cost you anything, and your card will usually arrive in the post within a week.

Once you have your card it's just a matter of going on-line and using your card number to access electronic databases and encyclopaedias.

https://digital.newint.com.au/issues

Useful for Humanities research, English Issues tasks, Religious Education and more!

New Internationalist reports on issues of world poverty and inequality, plus some hot topics. There is a focus on the unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless worldwide and the fight for global justice. International issues and world stories. 

Online Dictionaries

It is important to define the terms of your research question or topic BEFORE you begin any serious research. 

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Country Reports.org 

Use this site to find information about a country. From Home you will need to login with Username : ccblib. Please see library staff for the password.

Learn about Countries of the World

For more academic information go to our LibGuides page titled Online Resources. Here are a number of databases of quality information that we pay to have access to.

Dogpile uses Google and Yahoo but has a different search strategy and aims to only supply you with relevant results.  

DuckDuckGo aims to find you different result lists, faster information and less clutter.

Let us know if you use other great search engines or you have feedback about these ones - Are they useful?