University of Tasmania, Australia

Start early - others will be looking for the same information as you.

Think about it. What is the real subject of your question? What kind of information do you need? How much information do you need - 2 or 20 paragraphs, a range of opinions on a topic?

Use the free intercampus request service to borrow items and to get photocopies of articles in serials on other campuses. Flexible Library Services borrowers can request material from all Hobart libraries and the Launceston Campus Library via the Library Catalogue.

Keep a record of your search strategy and the items you use. Download to diskette or print your search results (if your computer is connected to a printer) to assist with compiling references for an assignment.

Note the source of your information - you will need these details to complete your assignment's references. As a rule of thumb you need to note enough information to enable someone else to find the exact source you used.

Books - you will need to note its title, author, edition, place of publication, publisher and year of publication.

Journal articles - you will need the title and author of the article, the serial title, year of publication, volume and issue number and pages.

Electronic sources - you will need to provide the location or URL of the document, title, author and the date that you downloaded or printed the document.

The Library has material which may help you to develop good writing skills for essays, reports, resumes and notes - look in the catalogue for them. We also holds examples of style manuals although many departments prefer students to use a particular departmental style in assignments and you should check this first. There is also a Referencing and Assignment Writing Library guide.

Ask about Library training sessions on searching for Library resources. Sessions are offered in all libraries and at the Cradle Coast Campus.

You must avoid plagiarism, which is using someone else's work as if it were your own. Plagiarism can be:

• directly quoting or taking ideas from another author's work without acknowledgment of

• the source; OR using illustrations, figures or tables from another author's work without

• acknowledgment of the source; OR submitting the work of another student or work presented previously by another student as your own.

Plagiarism is a serious offence and may be dealt with under student discipline regulations. Failure of the assignment and exclusion from the unit are possible penalties depending on the circumstances.

• When photocopying material please make sure that you comply with the Copyright Act. Please read the copyright notice on the photocopiers. As a rule of thumb you can photocopy from a published edition of more than 10 pages, 10 % of the total number pages OR one chapter. If you are photocopying from a serial then you are allowed to photocopy one article from a single issue.

Remember to ask at any of our Client Services Desks if you have any questions about using the Library or finding information for your assignment.