Bodleian iSkills workshops aim to develop your skills in information discovery and scholarly communications, covering a variety of resources across a wide range of disciplines. They are primarily aimed at University of Oxford students and staff. Some workshops take place face-to-face, whilst others are run online.

The workshops are FREE but online booking is essential. A list of the sessions taking place this term can be found on the iSkills Workshops webpage.

Monday 19th May 2025 13:00-14:00

iSkills: Using Scopus for your research

A key database for those researching the social sciences, medical sciences and physical and life sciences, Scopus encompasses more than 94 million records from 5000 publishers. This interactive session will cover basic and advanced searching, highlighting features unique to Scopus and recent updates to the database. Attendees will be encouraged to practice the tips explained during the session. This will be useful for those new to databases and a good refresher for experienced users. By the end of the session you will be able to:

• construct simple and complex searches
• navigate filters
• understand effective search query techniques
• save and export results
• extract further information from your results

Format: Online presentations with live demonstrations and hand-on activities.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20th May 2025 9:30-11:30

iSkills: Unlocking critical thinking for undergraduates

Enhance your critical thinking and research skills in this practical workshop designed for undergraduate students. Learn to question assumptions, analyse sources critically, and develop information discovery and search strategies that will set you apart in your academic studies. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Describe what critical thinking is
• Understand a critical thinking method
• Apply the method to your academic work
• Explain the fundamentals of conducting research, including how to evaluate information sources in SOLO

Format: An interactive teacher-led online session.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20th May 2025 9:30-11:00

iSkills for Medicine: Introduction to Zotero

In this online workshop you will be shown the functionality of Zotero, which is a free-to-use software programme used to manage references and create bibliographies. Zotero will be demonstrated on a Windows PC but users of MacOS or Linux computers will be able to follow the demonstration. The workshop will cover:

• Understanding the main features and benefits of Zotero
• Setting up a Zotero account
• Importing references from different sources into Zotero
• Organising your references in Zotero
• Inserting citations into documents
• Creating a bibliography/reference list

Format: Online demonstration with time for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20th May 2025 13:30-16:30

iSkills for Medicine: Advanced searching clinic for systematic reviews, scoping reviews and evidence syntheses

A practical session 180-minute workshop where participants will work on searches for their review across multiple databases. Librarians from the Bodleian Health Care Libraries will be on hand to demonstrate online tools for facilitating the process and give practical advice on refining individual search strategies. By the end of this classroom-based session you will be able to:

• Improve a search strategy that you are working on
• Adapt the search across multiple databases
• Use tools such as Yale MeSH Analyzer, Polyglot and the SR Accelerator to improve your searches
• Describe alternative methods for identifying references, including citation tracking
• De-duplicate results from multiple database searches
• Start screening results for inclusion in your review
• Report your search methods according to PRISMA-Search

Format: Classroom-based. Time for participants to work on their own searches with advice from a librarian. Explore tools that streamline the review process following a presentation with demonstrations.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room, Parks Road, OX2 3QP

Tuesday 20th May 2025 15:00-16:00

iSkills for Medicine: Poster clinic

Are you preparing a poster presentation for an upcoming conference, meeting or symposium? This interactive session, or ‘poster clinic’, will include a group discussion of different examples of poster presentations, as well as an opportunity to present your own draft of your poster presentation to your fellow attendees. It is expected that the small group of peers in attendance will provide feedback and respectful comments on each other’s work. By the end of this classroom-based session you will be able to:

• evaluate the effectiveness of your poster presentation and others; and
• summarise the content of your poster concisely in preparation for a conference.

This will NOT be a taught session on how to use image processing software.

Format: Group discussion and individual poster presentations.

Location: Beeson Room, Cairns Library, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU

Wednesday 21st May 2025 9:30-11:30

Referencing: EndNote

EndNote is a desktop-based reference management tool for Windows and Mac users. It helps you to build libraries of references and insert them into Word documents as in-text citations or footnotes, and to automatically generate bibliographies. This online introduction to EndNote is open to all University of Oxford students, researchers and staff and teaches you how to use the software so that you can effectively manage your references. Please note that we also run a face-to-face EndNote workshop. Please check the iSkills course listing for availability. The workshop will cover:

• What EndNote can do for you
• Adding references to EndNote from a range of sources
• Managing your references in an EndNote library
• Adding in-text citations and/or footnotes to your essays and papers
• Creating bibliographies

Format: Live interactive session with Q&A.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 21st May 2025 11:30-13:00

iSkills: Newspapers and other online news sources from the 17th-21st centuries

Newspapers are a valuable resource for researching not only news but also many other aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life. In this session we will introduce key online sources of news and how to make best use of them. The focus will be on historical and contemporary newspapers from the 17th century across most countries of the world. After the session participants will understand:

• the value of newspapers in research
• the difficulties of using newspapers in research and effective search techniques, and be able to use a range of sources for searching and reading:
  1. historical newspapers
  2. contemporary newspapers
  3. historical audio-visual news sources

Format: Online teacher-led presentations and live demonstrations (with audience interaction and opportunities for questions via chat function and follow up one-to-one help).

Location: Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 21st May 2025 14:00-16:00

Referencing: RefWorks

Are you looking for a streamlined approach to gathering, managing and citing your references? Join us for this interactive online session in which we introduce RefWorks, a subscription reference management tool that University of Oxford members can use for free during their time at the university and as alumni. RefWorks is web-based and helps you to collect and manage references and insert them into your word-processed document as in-text citations or footnotes, and you can generate bibliographies. Being web-based, RefWorks can be used with any operating system and, to cite your references in a document, provides a plugin for Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac computers. By the end of the session, you will understand:

• How RefWorks can help you
• How to add references to RefWorks from a range of sources
• How to manage your references
• How to add in-text citations and/or footnotes to your documents
• How to create bibliographies
• Where to get help with RefWorks

Format: Live online session with a mixture of PowerPoint presentation, live demonstration and practical exercises.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Thursday 22nd May 2025 12:00-13:00

iSkills: Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 3 researcher metrics

In this session we will examine metrics for individual researchers. Using tools such as Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus you will learn about the researcher h-index and its limitations. You will be introduced to additional metrics tools such as author beamplots which help to contextualise a researcher’s output over time. By the end of the session, you will be familiar with:

• Accessing citation data for specific researchers on Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar
• Understanding how the h-index is calculated and its inherent limitations
• Creating an ORCID number to help track all your own research outputs
• The importance of research outputs beyond journal and conference papers when assessing a researcher’s impact

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room, Parks Road, OX2 3QP.

Thursday 22nd May 2024 10:00-12:00

iSkills: Scholarly literature for your research

In this online interactive workshop, you will learn how to create an effective search query and have the opportunity to try out a range of tools that you can use to search for scholarly materials to support your research. You will:

• learn how to find books and other scholarly items in Oxford libraries using SOLO
• search for journal articles using subject databases and scholarly search engines
• be signposted towards learning materials you can use if you are interested in searching for conference proceedings, theses and dissertations.

Format: Interactive teacher-led online session.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Friday 23rd May 2025 12:00-13:00

iSkills for Medicine: Literature searching – getting started

Puzzled by PICO? Daunted by databases? Baffled by Boolean? This one-hour introductory class will offer top tips and advice on how to find literature to answer a research question. No prior experience necessary! Together, we will break down a question into the PICO format, put together a structured search, and try it out in PubMed. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain what structured searching is, and when to use it
• Break your research question down into searchable concepts
• Make use of Boolean operators (ANDs/ORs) in your structured searches

Please note that we also run this workshop online. Please check the iSkills course listing for availability.

Format: Teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Beeson Room, Cairns Library, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU

Bodleian iSkills workshops aim to develop your skills in information discovery and scholarly communications, covering a variety of resources across a wide range of disciplines. They are primarily aimed at University of Oxford students and staff. Some workshops take place face-to-face, whilst others are run online.

The workshops are FREE but online booking is essential. A list of the sessions taking place this term can be found on the iSkills Workshops webpage.

Monday 12th May 2025 09:30-12:00

iSkills: Using AI to find, analyse, and share information sources

Curious about using AI to find research papers? Not sure how to properly reference GenAI and avoid plagiarism? This beginner-friendly workshop introduces three GenAI tools (ChatGPT, Elicit, and Perplexity), showing how they can support information discovery and analysis. Designed for those new to AI, this practical session will allow you to independently experiment with these tools and participate in group discussions to explore their strengths, limitations, and suitability for different tasks. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain what AI means and some key terms
• Differentiate between several categories of AI tools
• Describe how some GenAI tools can be used to discover information, including their strengths, limitations, and best practices
• Critique GenAI tools and their outputs at an introductory level using evaluative criteria
• State the University’s policies on AI, and avoid plagiarism by creating citations for AI-generated content

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises, group discussions, and an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the session.

Location: IT Services, 7-19 Banbury Road, Oxon, OX2 6NN

Monday 12th May 2025 13:00-14:00

iSkills: Searching for patents and standards

Patents and standards are a valuable source of technical information relevant to the fields of engineering, materials sciences, and more. Together, they provide approved rules and guidelines whilst helping to protect inventions and innovative ideas. They can, however, be tricky to find. Join this session to find out more about what patents and standards are, why they might be useful for your research and how to find them in specific databases. By the end of this session, you will:

• Know what a patent is and where to find it
• Know what a standard is and where to find it
• Be able to reference patents and standards

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with discussion.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Monday 12th May 2025 13:30-16:30

Referencing: EndNote

EndNote is a desktop-based reference management tool for Windows and Mac users. It helps you to build libraries of references and insert them into Word documents as in-text citations or footnotes, and to automatically generate bibliographies. This classroom-based introduction to EndNote is open to all University of Oxford students, researchers and staff and teaches you how to use the software so that you can effectively manage your references. Please note we also run an online EndNote workshop. Please check the iSkills course listing for availability. The workshop will cover:

• What EndNote can do for you
• Adding references to EndNote from a range of sources
• Managing your references in an EndNote library
• Adding in-text citations and/or footnotes to your essays and papers
• Creating bibliographies

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: IT Services, 7-19 Banbury Road, Oxon, OX2 6NN

Tuesday 13th May 2025 09:00-10:00

iSkills for Medicine: An introduction to science communication: Translating your research for a non-specialist audience

Are you looking to learn about the ways in which to transmit scientific ideas and make your research accessible to a non-specialist audience through a variety of mediums? This session will serve as an introduction to science communication and how it can be successfully incorporated into our roles. By the end of this session you will be able to:

• define science communication and provide a list of examples;
• explain why science communication is important for both our CPD and the public;
• list ways in which we can all get involved in science communication.

Please note that we also run this workshop in-person. Please check the iSkills course listing for availability.

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 13th May 2025 10:00-11:45

iSkills: Preparing for your literature review in the Social Sciences

Get ready to understand the stages of your literature review search process by using your own research questions to build a successful search and apply it to a range of library resources. By the end of the session you will be able to:

• Build a successful search strategy
• Use a range of bibliographic databases and search tools in the social sciences
• Source highly cited papers relevant to your research
• Set up alerts for newly-published papers on your topic

Format: Online teacher-led presentations and live demonstrations (with opportunities for questions via the chat function and follow up one-to-one help).

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 13th May 2025 10:00-11:30

Open Scholarship: Logistics of open scholarship

The second in a duo of courses (attendees should attend the Fundamentals course prior to Logistics) that will cover the logistics of researching, publishing, and locating open scholarship resources and tools at the University of Oxford. Subjects include:

• What is the Oxford University Research Archive?
• Depositing work into ORA via Symplectic Elements
• Depositing data into ORA-data
• Applying for one of Oxford’s APC block grants
• Registering or connecting your ORCID
• How to be included in the rights retention pilot
• Locating and checking funder policies

Ideally the ‘Fundamentals of Open Access’ course will have been attended. If you’re not in a position to attend this course you can find similar information in our e-learning package to work through prior to attending Logistics.

Format: Online presentation with time to get answers to your questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 14th May 2025 12:00-13:00

iSkills: Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 2 article metrics

In this session we will examine article level metrics. We will discuss how citation counting can help identify influential papers in particular fields and how altmetrics provide a different perspective on research output. Using tools such as Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus you will learn how to locate different article metrics. The session will also allow you to appreciate the limitations of different metrics and the importance of their cautious interpretation. By the end of the session, you will be familiar with:

• Using Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar to track and count citations to papers and individual researchers
• Measuring impact using altmetrics
• Understanding how to contextualise metrics against other, similar papers in a field
• The limitations of different metrics

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room, Parks Road, OX2 3QP

Wednesday 14th May 2025 14:00-15:45

iSkills: Sources for modern global history

An introduction to key archival, printed and electronic resources, such as finding aids, bibliographic resources and primary sources for post-1800 global history. The focus will be on non-European history but will draw predominantly on English and European language resources. This session is classroom-based. After the session you will have an understanding of:

• the different types of material relevant to researching modern global history
• how to search databases, bibliographies and other online resources
• how to search the Bodleian Libraries resource discovery tool for manuscripts and archives
• how to locate relevant archive material elsewhere

Format: In-person presentation with time for questions

Location: Weston Library Lecture Theatre. Weston Library, Broad Street, OX1 3BG

Wednesday 14th May 2025 15:00-16:30

iSkills for Medicine: Searching systematically

This 90-minute session will cover some more advanced techniques for finding medical literature to answer a research question. We will recap some basics, then demonstrate searching in several medical databases, including using subject headings (MeSH) and the differences between different platforms. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain what subject headings are, and how to use them
• Search for words that appear near to other words
• Take a search from one database into another
• Save a search and document it

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions

Location: Microsoft Teams

Thursday 15th May 2025 09:30-11:00

iSkills: Keeping up to date with research

An online introduction to using alerts to keep up to date with new research and save you time. A combination of presenter-led instruction and the opportunity for participants to set up email alerts to receive notifications for publications in their field of research. We invite you to send any questions you have in advance to usered@bodleian.ox.ac.uk for the instructors to cover in the session. There will also be opportunities to ask questions in the class. The workshop will cover:

• How email alerts can help you
• Setting up alerts on your favourite databases and other platforms for new content in your field
• Managing your alerts

Format: Online presenter-led instruction with opportunity for participants to set up email alerts.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Friday 16th May 2025 10:00-11:00

iSkills for Medicine: Systematic reviews, scoping reviews and other evidence reviews – getting started

In this 60-minute online workshop you will be introduced to the methodologies and principles underpinning the conduct of literature searches for systematic reviews, scoping reviews and other evidence reviews. The session will cover:

• Formulating a focused research question
• Preparing a protocol
• Developing a search strategy to address that research question
• Choosing appropriate databases and search engines
• Searching for grey literature and ongoing studies
• Storing and managing references
• Documenting and reporting your search

Please note, there won’t be an opportunity to search different databases during this session. For practical help on searching databases, please have a look at the search skills tutorials or check the iSkills course listing for the Searching Systematically workshop.

Format: Online teacher-led presentations with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Bodleian iSkills workshops aim to develop your skills in information discovery and scholarly communications, covering a variety of resources across a wide range of disciplines. They are primarily aimed at University of Oxford students and staff. Some workshops take place face-to-face, whilst others are run online.

The workshops are FREE but online booking is essential. A list of the sessions taking place this term can be found on the iSkills Workshops webpage.

Tuesday 6th May 2025 10:00-11:30

Open Scholarship: Fundamentals of open access

Are you baffled by open, confused by embargoes? Does the mention of the colour gold or green catapult you into a realm of perplexed irritation? Come to this session, where we’ll break down open access and all its many jargon terms, confusing publishing structures and hint at the advantages you can reap by publishing open.

• What is open access? Key terms – Gold, Green, Article Processing Charges
• Where to get more information and help
• Where to look for open access material
• Useful tools to assist you in publishing open access

If you’re not in a position to attend a workshop you could also find similar information on our e-learning course, ‘Open Scholarship: Digital Induction to Open Access (MSD)‘.

Format: Online presentation with time to get answers to your questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 6th May 2025 15:00-16:30

iSkills for Medicine: Introduction to EndNote

Do you need help managing your references? Do you need help citing references in your documents? This online session will introduce you to EndNote, a subscription software programme which can help you to store, organise and retrieve your references and PDFs, as well as cite references in documents and create bibliographies quickly and easily. On completing the workshop you will be able to:

• Understand the main features and benefits of EndNote
• Set up an EndNote account
• Import references from different sources into EndNote
• Organise your references in EndNote
• Insert citations into documents
• Create a bibliography/reference list

Format: Online presentation and demonstration with time for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 6th May 2025 15:00-16:00

iSkills for Medicine: An introduction to designing a conference poster

Are you planning to present a poster at an upcoming conference, meeting or symposium? This introductory session will provide you with some top tips on how to create a poster presentation which will help you to communicate your research project and data effectively. There will be guidance on formatting, layout, content, use of text, references and images, as well as advice on printing and presenting your poster. This session will also provide help with locating resources such as templates, free-to-use images and poster guidelines. By the end of this classroom-based session you will be able to:

• evaluate the effectiveness of templates, formatting, text and images;
• plan, prepare and present your poster.

Please note that this workshop is also run online. Please check the iSkills course listing for availability.

Format: Teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Beeson Room, Cairns Library, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU

Wednesday 7th May 2025 13:00-14:30

iSkills for Medicine: Introduction to Zotero

In this online workshop you will be shown the functionality of Zotero, which is a free-to-use software programme used to manage references and create bibliographies. Zotero will be demonstrated on a Windows PC but users of MacOS or Linux computers will be able to follow the demonstration. The workshop will cover:

• Understanding the main features and benefits of Zotero
• Setting up a Zotero account
• Importing references from different sources into Zotero
• Organising your references in Zotero
• Inserting citations into documents
• Creating a bibliography/reference list

Format: Online demonstration with time for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Thursday 8th May 2025 12:00-13:00

iSkills: Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 1 journal metrics

In this session we will cover how to locate and interpret journal level metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor (JIF). We will examine the tools you can use to locate journal level metrics, such as Journal Citation Reports and Scopus Sources. We will also consider the uses, limitations and pitfalls inherent in these metrics and how they can be used responsibly. By the end of the session, you will be familiar with:

• The major journal metrics and how these are calculated
• Accessing journal citation data using Journal Citation Reports and Scopus Sources
• Using JIF, CiteScore and SJR journal metrics to rank journals
• The limitations of different metrics, including how journal metrics may be skewed or distorted

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: Radcliffe Science Library, Seminar Room, Parks Road, OX2 3QP

Thursday 8th May 2025 14:00-16:00

iSkills: Introduction to online resources for historians: show and tell

A general online introduction to the vast range of electronic resources which are available for all historical periods of British and Western European history. Learning outcomes are to:

• Gain an overview of some of the key online resources for medieval, early modern and modern British and Western European history.
• Know how to access subscription resources.
• Gain awareness of key examples of useful resources: bibliographic databases; reference sources; primary sources; maps; audio-visual resources; and data sources.

Format: Online teacher-led presentations and live demonstrations (with opportunities for questions via chat function and follow up one-to-one help).

Location: Microsoft Teams

Thursday 8th May 2025 14:30-16:00

Open Scholarship: Foundations of copyright for teaching

This workshop will cover the basics of copyright as they apply to lecturers and tutors at the University of Oxford. It will explain the different types of copyright work that are used or generated in teaching and the rights and responsibilities for teaching staff and students. By attending this session you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify copyright works and usages in teaching contexts
• Compare different types of licence available for teaching – proprietary and open
• Follow the requirements of the CLA licence
• Apply risk management principles to the use of copyright exceptions for teaching

Format: Online presentation with opportunities for questions and answers, as well as opportunities to share experiences.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Friday 9th May 2025 13:30-16:30

Referencing: Zotero

Zotero is a reference management tool that helps you build libraries of references and add citations and bibliographies to word processed documents using your chosen citation style. This classroom-based session covers the main features of Zotero and comprises a 45-minute presentation followed by practical exercises at the computers. You can leave at any point once you have tried out the software, and do not have to stay until the end. The learning outcomes for this classroom-based session are to:

• Create a Zotero library and add references to it
• Edit and organise references in your Zotero library
• Add in-text citations and/or footnotes to your word-processed document
• Create bibliographies
• Understand how to sync your Zotero library across multiple computers
• Understand how to share your Zotero library of references

Format: Classroom-based. Presentation with practical exercises.

Location: IT Services, 7-19 Banbury Road, Oxon, OX2 6NN

Friday 9th May 2025 14:00-15:00

iSkills for Medicine: Literature searching – getting started

Puzzled by PICO? Daunted by databases? Baffled by Boolean? This one-hour online introductory class will offer top tips and advice on how to find literature to answer a research question. No prior experience necessary! Together, we will break down a question into the PICO format, put together a structured search, and try it out in PubMed. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain what structured searching is, and when to use it
• Break your research question down into searchable concepts
• Make use of Boolean operators (ANDs/ORs) in your structured searches

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Bodleian iSkills workshops aim to develop your skills in information discovery and scholarly communications, covering a variety of resources across a wide range of disciplines. They are primarily aimed at University of Oxford students and staff. Some workshops take place face-to-face, whilst others are run online.

The workshops are FREE but online booking is essential. A list of the sessions taking place this term can be found on the iSkills Workshops webpage.

Monday 28th April 2025 14:00-15:00

iSkills for Medicine: An introduction to designing a conference poster

Are you planning to present a poster at an upcoming conference, meeting or symposium? This introductory session will provide you with some top tips on how to create a poster presentation which will help you to communicate your research project and data effectively. There will be guidance on formatting, layout, content, use of text, references and images, as well as advice on printing and presenting your poster. This session will also provide help with locating resources such as templates, free-to-use images and poster guidelines. By the end of this online session you will be able to:

• evaluate the effectiveness of templates, formatting, text and images;
• plan, prepare and present your poster.

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Monday 28th April 2025 15:30-17:00

iSkills for Medicine: Introduction to EndNote

Do you need help managing your references? Do you need help citing references in your documents? This online session will introduce you to EndNote, a subscription software programme which can help you to store, organise and retrieve your references and PDFs, as well as cite references in documents and create bibliographies quickly and easily. On completing the workshop you will be able to:

• Understand the main features and benefits of EndNote
• Set up an EndNote account
• Import references from different sources into EndNote
• Organise your references in EndNote
• Insert citations into documents
• Create a bibliography/reference list

Format: Online presentation and demonstration with time for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 29th April 2025 10:00-11:00

iSkills for Medicine: An introduction to science communication: Translating your research for a non-specialist audience

Are you looking to learn about the ways in which to transmit scientific ideas and make your research accessible to a non-specialist audience through a variety of mediums? This session will serve as an introduction to science communication and how it can be successfully incorporated into our roles. By the end of this session you will be able to:

• define science communication and provide a list of examples;
• explain why science communication is important for both our CPD and the public;
• list ways in which we can all get involved in science communication.

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 29th April 2025 13:00-14:00

iSkills: Getting started in Oxford libraries

If you are new to the University of Oxford and want to find out more about the University’s network of libraries or have been at the University a while and would like a refresher, join us for this online introduction to understanding and accessing the libraries, their services and resources. By the end of the session, you will:

• Be familiar with the network of Oxford libraries
• Know the logins needed to access Bodleian Libraries services
• Be able to conduct a search in SOLO (the University’s resource discovery tool), filter results and access online and print resources
• Know how to manage your library account including loans and requests

Format: Live online session with a mixture of PowerPoint presentation, live demonstration and practical exercises.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 29th April 2025 13:30-16:30

Referencing: Choosing and using software for referencing

Formatting your in text citations, footnotes and bibliography correctly for your thesis or publication is crucial. Reference management tools make this easier and save you time. This classroom-based session comprises a 30-minute presentation, which gives an overview of reference management tools. The rest of the session is dedicated to practical exercises at the computers, giving you the opportunity to try out four tools (RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley), so that you can work out which one is best for you. Library staff will be there to help and guide you, and answer any questions you might have. You can leave at any point once you have tried out the tools you want, and do not have to stay until the end. At the end of the session you will be able to: 

• Understand how reference management works
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of a range of reference management tools
• Add, edit and organise references using a number of different tools
• Add references to documents and create bibliographies using a number of different tools
• Make an informed decision about which reference management tool works best for you

Format: 30-minute presentation followed by practical exercises.

Location: IT Services, 7-19 Banbury Road, Oxon, OX2 6NN

Thursday 1st May 2025 10:00-11:30

iSkills: Discovering archives and modern manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries

This workshop will introduce participants to the key catalogues and finding aids for post-1800 archives and manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries. In particular the session will focus on Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts, the online catalogue for post-1800 archives and manuscripts. The session will also briefly introduce some of the major UK online gateways for discovering archives. The topics covered include:

• How to use the Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts online catalogue
• Other printed archive catalogues in the Bodleian Libraries
• Major subject areas covered in Bodleian archives and modern manuscripts
• National archive gateways

The workshop will include a question and answer session with Bodleian archivists.

This session does not cover:

• Pre-1800 manuscripts (Medieval and Early Modern periods).
• Manuscripts in Middle Eastern, Semitic, and Asian languages

Format: Classroom-based presentation with a question and answer session.

Location: Weston Library Lecture Theatre. Weston Library, Broad Street, OX1 3BG

Thursday 1st May 2025 13:30-14:30

iSkills for Medicine: Literature searching – getting started

Puzzled by PICO? Daunted by databases? Baffled by Boolean? This one-hour online introductory class will offer top tips and advice on how to find literature to answer a research question. No prior experience necessary! Together, we will break down a question into the PICO format, put together a structured search, and try it out in PubMed. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Explain what structured searching is, and when to use it
• Break your research question down into searchable concepts
• Make use of Boolean operators (ANDs/ORs) in your structured searches

Format: Online teacher-led presentation with opportunities for questions.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Bodleian iSkills workshops aim to develop your skills in information discovery and scholarly communications, covering a variety of resources across a wide range of disciplines. They are primarily aimed at University of Oxford students and staff. Some workshops take place face-to-face, whilst others are run online.

The workshops are FREE but online booking is essential. A list of the sessions taking place this term can be found on the iSkills Workshops webpage.

Workshops taking place in 0th Week:

Bodleian Libraries Refresher Induction
(Wednesday 11^th Jan 15:00-15:30, Thursday 12^th Jan 10:30-11:00, Friday 13^th Jan 13:30-14:00)
Libraries will play a big part during your time at Oxford, whether providing access to online articles on your reading list or helping you find that elusive book. The Bodleian Libraries is the library service supporting the University and can help you get the most out of your course. Our short 30-minute webinars will introduce you to the Bodleian Libraries and how they can help you.
Who is this session for? Existing undergraduate students, taught-postgraduate students and new visiting students at the University of Oxford.
Format: Online using Microsoft Teams.  

Open Scholarship: Fundamentals of Open Access (Tuesday 10^th Jan 14:30-15:30)
Are you baffled by open, confused by embargoes? Does the mention of the colour gold or green catapult you into a realm of perplexed irritation? Come to this session, where we’ll break down open access and all its many jargon terms, confusing publishing structures and hint at the advantages you can reap by publishing open.
Who is this session for? Academic staff, administrative staff, library staff, Oxford University Hospitals staff and all other Oxford staff.
Format: Online using Microsoft Teams.