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Traditionally many researchers came to the library to browse the contents pages of newly arrived journals that interested them. While this is still a valid technique (and all library branches have displays of recently arrived material), it is possible to browse the contents of many journals online, or to have the latest contents pages emailed to you (sometimes known as Alerting Services).

Many of the electronic journal subscription services and publishers' websites allow you to register your email address for automatic notification when new tables of contents are published.

The Alerting Service will either send you a notification that new issues are available, or will send you the contents pages in full. One of the most effective services is Current Contents. You can use the OVID SDI service to receive updates.

Books

Some of the biggest book sellers are:

• Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble: http://www.bn.com
• Borders: http://www.borders.com

For Australian booksellers try the Australian Book Webring: http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=ausbookweb;list

For a large list of book publishers and their websites, try the Publisher's Catalogues Home Page: http://www.lights.com/publisher/

At present the Library is unable to automatically generate lists of new books that have been added to the collection. It is hoped that this service will be available during 2000. New books are displayed within each branch on a regular basis.

SDIs (AutoAlerts)

This means that you can save searches in your area of interest, and when the database is updated you will be emailed the newest records that match that search.

You can also use this facility in the Current Contents database, which will ensure that the latest contents pages of selected journals are emailed to you.

Saved database searches

Databases that allow you to save searches include:

• OVID: Web and Java versions only, you will need to use your AuthCate password when you enter the database. More instructions (Opens new window).
• Informit: using WebSpirs 4.1 only, based on email address. More instructions (Opens new window).

Look for opportunities to register for these services, but keep in mind that some sites sell your details to other companies, which may result in unwanted mail (spam). Check the site's privacy policy before enrolling.

The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/) seeks to list only valuable academic websites. You can subscribe to mailing lists in various subject areas to be informed when new sites are added.

Monash & Library news

To find out about news at Monash:

• try the Monash News & Events page

To find out what new services and materials are made available by the Library you can:

• check the library catalogue - new issue of journals appear within the journal record
• scan the News section of the library web site.
• new books and journals are displayed after arrival in each branch of the library

Australian News Network
http://news.com.au/newspulsestory/: emails headlines from News Limited newspapers to you each day.

F2 network, eg The Age, newsletters
https://f2members.f2.com.au/f2Reg/f2members/: Choose from over 40 subject specific eNewsletters

LexisNexis
http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/databases/jm.htm#LexisNexis: allows you to browse the full text of several important financial papers, including the Australian Financial Review.

Many other news organisations offer similar services. Try the Library's Current Affairs on the Net page for more sources.

Research in progress

• Search the web:
  • check university webpages
  • use search engines to look for current research and your area of interest (e.g. current research Australian history)
• join a discussion list
• check out recently published theses using Dissertation Abstracts (DAO - mainly US) or Index to Theses (mainly British)
• the Social Science Research Network (http://www.ssrn.com/) provides updates of new working papers and research in economics and law

A useful resource on the internet for researchers are email discussion lists. They enable you to communicate with, and ask questions of other people who are interested in similar topics. When you send an email message to an email discussion list it is forwarded to all of the people who are members of that particular list.

There are different types of discussion lists:

• open list: open to anyone and the messages are forwarded automatically without human intervention
• closed list: available only to certain people, e.g. employees of a company
• moderated list: messages are looked at by a person, often known as the list owner, who decides whether or not to forward the messages to other members

Many lists maintain archives of past discussions. You can use these to find the answers to common questions, or to keep up with issues on the list whilst not actually becoming a member.

To find appropriate lists you can use directories. Once you have identified a suitable discussion group you will need to join by sending a special message to a given email address.

Some useful directories include:

• Ozlists: http://www.gu.edu.au/ozlists/ Australian electronic mailing lists
• National Academic Mailing List Service (UK): http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ (previously named Mailbase)
• CataList: http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.html
• Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/ (Usenet discussion forums)

There will be instructions available for joining and leaving a particular list. For example, many lists use the LISTSERV® software to manage and control e-mail lists. The instructions for these will be something like:

1. Send an email message addressed to the email address provided in the "Subscription" field.
2. Leave the subject line blank. The text of the message must read:
   SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME Yourfirstname Yourlastname Your Institution

To find out about upcoming conferences in your field:

• check current journals, which often contain notices of forthcoming conferences
• Some sites list conferences:
  • Conference alerts (http://www.conferencealerts.com/index.htm) - search for and advertise conferences relevant to your interests
  • FAIR Guide (http://www.fairguide.com/) - searchable database of trade shows and conferences
  • WWW Virtual Library (http://vlib.org/) - collection of resources, contains links to conferences in many fields
• websites of professional organizations and societies also list conferences - try searching for the name of the society
• you can also try using the subject resources pages, which may contain links to lists of conferences

• using alerting services to find out about:
  • latest journal contents
  • new books
• using SDIs
• saving database searches where possible
• checking web sites
• checking news updates
• looking for current research listings
• using discussion and mailing lists and other forms of electronic communication
• attending or participating in conferences, either face to face or electronically

If you need more help contact the library.