Develop digital library skills with LibSmart

Build your library skills with our online library skills course LibSmart I, including literature searching, managing references and avoiding plagiarism. Then develop advanced searching skills with LibSmart II.

What is LibSmart?

LibSmart I and II are online Learn courses, in Learn's Essentials area, developed with the aim of ensuring that every student is digitally capable in using online library resources for their study and research. Open to all students, both courses can be worked through in their entirety, or one or two of the most relevant modules selected instead. The courses can be begun at any point in the academic year. 

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Banner image for LibSmart programme. University crest is visible on the left. The central image is of the Main Library. To the r

LibSmart I

Designed to help you get started using library resources at the University, LibSmart I can be studied how and when it suits you. It has five modules that will take you step by step from starting to use the library to researching a topic for a report or essay. You can choose to work through every module or just those most relevant to you.

You can revisit the course at any point during your studies, and use it as a hub of resources to support your personal and academic development. The content covers:

 

Getting started with the Library Get started with accessing and using online library resources for your studies
Your information landscape Explore and use key library resources appropriate to your discipline
Finding and retrieval Find material for an essay or report on a topic
Managing information Manage the information you’ve found and avoid information overload
Referencing and avoiding plagiarism Use Library tools to develop good academic practice with citation and referencing

LibSmart I includes reflective activities to get you thinking about your own skills, experiences and what you hope to achieve.

LibSmart I is in the Essentials area of Learn.

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Banner image for LibSmart programme. University crest is visible on the left. The central image is of the Main Library. To the r

LibSmart II

The LibSmart II Learn course takes you further into the library landscape, aiming to help you undertake dissertation, thesis or project research.  These stand-alone modules will help you in develop knowledge of a wide range of digital resources, to learn specialised or advanced digital search techniques and to develop the skills to manage your research literature and data effectively. We recommend you complete LibSmart I before moving on to LibSmart II, as you will build on the foundations developed in the first level of the course as you complete each of your chosen modules. 

Options include:

Business information Data mindfulness: finding and managing data for your dissertation
Digital news sources Digital primary sources and digital scholarship
Literature searching for systematic reviews Health literature
Data literacy for beginners  

In LibSmart II you can choose to complete any number of modules that interest you from those available. 

LibSmart II is in the Essentials area of Learn.

An Introduction to LibSmart (video)

 

 

How to find LibSmart on Learn

From September 2023:

  • All new students (undergraduate and postgraduate) will have been enrolled on LibSmart I
  • All students (new and existing, undergraduate and postgraduate) will have been enrolled on LibSmart II

 

To locate the course in Learn Ultra:

  1. Visit www.learn.ed.ac.uk
  2. Log in using your UUN (normal university username and password)
  3. From the left hand navigation, select 'Essentials'
  4. Locate LibSmart I: Your Library Research Starts Here or LibSmart II: Advance Your Library Research from the list. 

 

Please use the IS Helpline if you:

  • are a member of staff who wants to use or review content in either LibSmart course
  • cannot see, in your Learn Essentials area, the LibSmart course you want
  • have problems accessing LibSmart

Contact the IS Helpline about problems accessing the LibSmart courses

 

Contact Us

To contact the Academic Support Librarian working with your subject area and talk about LibSmart, extra training or anything library-related, please use one of the pages below, or submit a request through EdHelp.  

Academic Support Librarians by subject 

Information Literacy training

EdHelp