Expert Searching
How Can the Library Help?
The Upstate Health Sciences Library has a number of librarians who can assist with a literature search.
A literature search consultation might include one or more of the following:
- Refining the research topic to an answerable question
- Recommending information sources or databases for the search topic
- Identifying relevant search terms
- Creating and executing search strategies
- Suggesting reference management software and strategies
A librarian can also provide you with an expert search, which may include:
- Refinement of the search question
- Search term identification
- Identification of sources and databases to be searched
- Search strategy formulation and documentation
- Execution of searches
Are you interested in performing a systematic review? These types of reviews are more complex than a general literature review. See our Systematic Review Methods guide to learn more.
Do you want to meet with a librarian? Complete our Literature Review Request Form:
Before You Meet With Your Librarian
A meeting with a librarian will be most beneficial for you if you first do a little bit of planning and searching on your own. Prior to meeting with an librarian, we recommend that you:
- Have a clear and concise understanding of your research question
- Be prepared to discuss the scope of your project, including limits on the body of literature
- Brainstorm search terms associated with your topics (acronyms, synonyms, and variations on spelling)
- Note any relevant literature you have found so far
Image Attributions and Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, these guides are derived from a similar guide at Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University. The original guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License and are attributable to the Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University . Image and Icon Attributions: Icons8, licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0; WebFont Medical Icons Project, designed by Hablamos Juntos; Font Awesome 4.7
About The Health Sciences Library
The Upstate Health Sciences Library is a core service supporting students and employees across all Upstate Colleges, Programs, Centers of Excellence, and Clinical Locations. Together we are dedicated to providing exemplary customer service.
Learn More at: https://library.upstate.edu
Contact The Health Sciences Library
Contact us for additional help with using Library resources (databases, e-journals, e-books or interlibrary loan) and services (reference, library instruction, study rooms, etc.).
- Chat with a librarian
- Call the Library front desk at 315-464-7091
- Email us at library@upstate.edu
- Use our staff directory to find a specific person or department
- Last Updated: Jan 14, 2021 2:50 PM
- URL: https://guides.upstate.edu/expertsearching
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