Search, evaluate, and reference
Through the library, you have access to a wide range of databases and search tools. This page provides an orientation in searching for information, evaluating the scholarly quality of sources, and managing references. You will also find links to in-depth guides and support from library staff.
Access to the university's e-resources
As a student or employee at Halmstad University, you have access to the e-resources that the University subscribes to, wherever you are. You can access the e-resources via the library's website. The library has created a guide where you can read more about how to access the different e‑resourses on campus or from home.
Searching
Search tools
OneSearch is the library’s primary search service for both print and digital material. It includes the university library’s books, e-books, and journals, as well as a large selection of articles and reports.
The search tool is well suited for exploratory searches on a topic, for locating a specific title, or for interdisciplinary subjects.
Subject databases
Subject databases specialise in specific subject areas and can provide different and more relevant results than OneSearch. They are also suited to more advanced and structured searching. Much of the content consists of peer-reviewed journal articles, but you can also find other types of material.
You can find all the library’s databases in the database list. The library’s guides contain recommendations for databases organised by subject. The guide Searching for academic information introduces you to basic search techniques for all databases.
Which search tool is the best fit?
| What are you looking for? | Recommended tool |
|---|---|
| Books and e-books | OneSearch |
| A specific article | 1. OneSearch 2. List of journals (search by journal title) |
| Articles on a subject | Subject database |
| Journals | OneSearch or List of journals |
| Theses and degree projects from Halmstad University | DiVA |
| Theses and degree projects from other Swedish universities | DiVA or Essays.se |
| Titles held at Swedish libraries | Libris |
| News material | Retriever Research (Mediearkivet) |
List of journals External link.
DiVA External link. (Halmstad University)
DiVA External link. (common search function for multiple Swedish universities and research institutions)
E-books
The library purchases a large number of e-books and provides access to the EBook Central database, which contains a large collection of e-books on a wide range of subjects. The number of simultaneous users and available download options depend on the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Literature about Halland
The Halland Collection holds over 6,000 titles about the Halland region. The collection is found on the first floor and is searchable in OneSearch.
The Halland collection (Swedish info)
Evaluating
Source critisism is essential when evaluating information you intend to use. The library’s guide Värdera och granska källor offers useful tips and step-by-step methods. (The guide is in Swedish but you can enable automatic translation in your web browser for English.)
The guide covers, amongst other things:
- a three-step approach to source criticism
- the differences between AI-generated content, search engines, and scholarly databases
- how to recognise and assess different source types: scholarly articles, theses, research reports, conference papers, and academic books
Referencing
In academic writing, you must cite the sources for the information and arguments you present. The library’s guide References and reference managements tools covers:
- why references are required and the consequences of plagiarism
- how to reference correctly in three steps
- how to reference AI tools
- how to format different referencing styles (e.g. APA, Harvard, IEEE)
- reference management software (EndNote, Zotero)
Help and guidance
If you have any questions about searching for information, referencing or evaluating sources, you can use the library’s guides, ask at the information desk or visit the online support service.
If you are writing a thesis or degree project, you can book a consultation with a librarian (duration about 45 minutes).
