First-Year Information Literacy Program: Unit 3

Searching for information is an important skill for academic success. Effective search strategies help you find relevant information quickly and accurately. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you search for a print book on the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Discovery page.

Step 1 Go to the SPU Library Website:

Visit the Sol Plaatje University Library website and locate the Discovery search tool on the homepage.

Step 2 Access the Discovery Page:

Click on the Discovery search bar, which is labeled as "Search for Books, Journals and Articles".

Step 3 Enter the book title:

Type the title of the book you’re looking for in the search bar and click search 🔎.

"Sol Plaatje : a life of Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje"

Step 4 Results:

Step 5 Select the "Print Books" Filter:

After you get your search results, look for filter options on the left side of the page.

Click the drop down arrow next to "Journals" and select "Books" to view only books available in the library.

Step 6 Review Results:

Browse through the list of results for your desired book.

Step 7 Check Location and Availability:

Click on the title of the book to view more information.

Note the book’s location, call number and availability status (whether it's "Available" or "Checked Out").

Step 8 Locate the Book in the Library:

Use the call number "920.5092 WIL" to find the book on the library shelves (3rd floor). If you need assistance, library staff can help you locate the section where your book is stored.

Step 9 Borrow the Book: 

Once you have the book, take it to the circulation desk (First floor) to check it out using your student card or Ground Floor for Self-Check out.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for searching an e-book on the SPU Discovery page:

Step 1 Access the SPU Discovery Page:

Open your web browser and go to the Sol Plaatje University Library's Discovery page.

Step 2 Enter the title of the book:

Type in the title of the e-book you're looking for. Be as specific as possible for more accurate results. And Click Search

Step 3 Click on the E-book Title

Click the title of the e-book you want to access

Step 4 Select any link

Scroll down and click on any link provided below to be directed to a database.

Step 5 Click on Access now (eBook) or click on the title of the book to get full text.

Step 6 Access and Read the E-book

Choose between Read Online or Download options.

You can download, Share, print and search within a book.

Google Scholar works like other search engines but specifically searches for academic literature. To access resources that the SPU Library subscribes to, you need to register for a Google Scholar account and set it up properly. Once configured, you can access a wider range of scholarly resources. However, it’s still important to evaluate the information carefully to ensure it is relevant to your assignment.

• By linking SPU to your Google Scholar account, you can access library-subscribed resources such as journal articles, eBooks, and research papers.
• When you search for articles, you’ll see a link like “Full Text @ SPU” next to articles that are available through the SPU Library. This makes it easy to access paid resources for free as an SPU student.

Step by Step Guide to set up a Google Scholar account

Step 1 Go to the SPU Library Website:

Visit the Sol Plaatje University Library website and locate the Google Scholar bar on the homepage.

Step 2 Sign In or Create an Account

1. Click on the Sign in button in the top-right corner.
2. Sign in using your Google account credentials.
   • If you don’t have a Google account, click on Create account and follow the instructions to set up a new account.

Step 3 Set Up Your Profile

1. After signing in, you'll be prompted to set up your Google Scholar profile.
   • Enter your name, affiliation, and email address (preferably your institutional email for verification purposes).
   • Add "Sol Plaatje University" as your affiliation.
2. Click Next.

Step 4 Add Sol Plaatje University in Settings

1. On the Google Scholar homepage, click the Menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner.
2. Select Settings from the menu.

3. Click on the Library Links section:

4. Search for Sol Plaatje University in the search bar.

5. When it appears, check the box next to it.

6. Click Save.

Here's a step-by-step guide to search for a specific article using the SPU Discovery page, using the example article: 

Mulugeta, D., 2021. Pan-Africanism and the affective charges of the African Union building in Addis Ababa. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 33(4), pp.521-537.

Step 1 Go to the SPU Library Website:

Open the Sol Plaatje University Library website in your browser. Locate the Discovery search to on the library’s main page.

Step 2 Access the Discovery Search: 

Click into the Discovery search bar, where you can search for books, journals and other resources.

Step 3 Enter the journal title.

In the search bar, type the journal title exactly as it appears. For this example, enter:

"Journal of African Cultural Studies"

Step 4 Click on the Available Online

Please be aware that SPU journals are accessible exclusively online.

Step 5 Select any database to access the article

Step 6 After choosing the database, you will be directed to the journal page automatically.

Select "Browse All Articles and Issues."

Step 7 Look for the Correct Volume and Issue:

Step 8 Locate the specific volume:

Volume 33

Step 9

In the list of journal issues locate the correct issue you need. In this case, look for Volume 33, Issue 4, 2021.

Step 10 Browse Within the Issue for the Article Title:

Once you find the journal issue, open it to see the list of articles published within that issue.

Look for the article titled "Pan-Africanism and the Affective Charges of the African Union Building in Addis Ababa" by Daniel Mulugeta.

Step 11 Verify Page Numbers:

To confirm it’s the correct article, check that it’s on pages 521-537.

You can click play to listen to the article or download pdf.

Step 12 Download or Save the Article:

Once the article opens, you can read it online, download it, or save it for future reference.

Google is a fast and familiar tool for finding information and can be helpful when starting your research on a topic. However, it’s highly recommended that you use the SPU library catalogue, as it offer reliable and credible research materials.

The SPU invests significantly in providing you with access to trustworthy information resources to support your assignments. Lecturers also strive to ensure that the references on your reading lists are available through the SPU library.