Library staff are here to help you improve your searching, reading, writing, information management, and referencing skills. Use these library self-help resources to learn more or contact a librarian if you need guidance to strengthen your study skills.

Academic Skills Pocketbook

The Academic Skills Pocketbook is your go-to guide for study skills, academic writing, assignments and more. Get a quick understanding of the most important academic skills you'll need to get started at university or College. The Library has got you covered with this awesome, user-friendly study guide.

Successful Searching

• Constructing a search strategy
• Understanding the different types of information sources
• The Library search box: basic searching skills
• Searching for open access, online and print books
• Searching for journals
• Searching for journal articles
• Searching for audiovisual resources
• Evaluating your information
• Managing your references
• Using information ethically

Successful Searching for Business

• Business Information Essentials: Introduces high quality information sources and professional skills specifically relating to the business disciplinary area.

Successful Searching for Law

• Introduction to Legal Research: Explains legal research principles and terminology. Provides guidance in locating secondary sources, Australian legislation and case law and is particularly relevant to law students.
• AGLC Referencing Tutorial: This interactive tutorial that allows you to practice on real content - Cases, Legislation, Journal articles, Books, Newspapers and Internet Materials.

Study Smart

• The Study Smart site gives you access to a range of self-help resources, including the Assignment Calculator which you can use to plan your assignments

Reading

• Pre-reading Techniques: Pre-reading helps you decide whether a text is relevant for your goals.
• Selective Reading Techniques: Selective reading helps you read academic texts efficiently.

Referencing

• RefQuest: An interactive, monster-fighting game to assist with learning about different referencing styles and when to use them. Created in collaboration with Learning Futures.

Contact a librarian

• Do you have a question? Our Online Librarians are available during Library operational hours
• For help with finding the best information for your assignments and referencing your sources, you can book an:
  • Zoom appointment with a Study Smart Librarian
  • On Campus appointment with a Study Smart Librarian
• Studiosity provides academic skills support and an academic writing feedback service, and you can access Studiosity from any vUWS subject site.