Launching Monday, 2 December 2024, the Library will pilot Research Assistant, a new tool in the Library catalogue that summarises the top content from your search query and provides links to trusted library resources, making it the perfect way to start researching a topic.
Searching in the Library catalogue just got easier
Research Assistant is easily accessible from anywhere across the catalogue (once signed in), simply start a new search query from the menu bar or use the Research Assistant widget on the side of the screen.
When you ask Research Assistant a search query in natural language it will:
- Scan the Library collection and provide a summary based on the top 5 relevant resources to give you a quick understanding of the topic.
- Connect you directly to the original resources with in-text references, allowing you to trace information back to its source and build your knowledge.
- Provide search suggestions to help you expand your topic and explore related search queries.
Research Assistant responds to natural language and supports search queries in multiple languages, making it easier to start your research on a topic you’re unfamiliar with and know you’re getting linked to quality scholarly resources you might not find searching the web.
Things to note
While using the tool, it’s important to note that Research Assistant:
- Handles each query independently, meaning it can’t carry a conversation or answer follow-up questions related to your initial query.
- Draws from the abstracts and descriptions of scholarly resources to generate summaries, so exploring the subject further by following the related sources will help build your knowledge on the subject area.
- May cite resources which won’t be immediately available from the UTS Library collection, however you can request to loan resources the Library doesn’t hold.
- Might recommend related resources with full-text restrictions.
- Doesn’t currently draw upon all databases to generate summaries, meaning you should continue to search your preferred databases to deepen your knowledge about a subject area.
- Is still in development and will likely continue to have functionality and search improvements over time.
Details for academics
Research Assistant can be a great starting point for students when that are completing assignments, and an easy way to introduce scholarly literature to your students. With the roll-out of this new tool, your faculty librarian will be reaching out to offer demos, training, and resources in early 2025. Additional points to consider about Research Assistant:
- The Library is considering the impacts to academic integrity and how students should indicate the use of this tool with the Learning Design and Technology Unit.
- The response is generate mostly from abstracts and descriptions and may include resources that are unavailable. Further, some databases have not agreed to be included in the responses which may omit particular subject areas. Students should be reminded that this is a good starting point for research, and encouraged to investigate cited resources further.
Help with searching the catalogue
- Watch a short tutorial on getting started with Research Assistant
- Explore other search features in the Library catalogue and tips on getting the most out of your search.
- Chat to the Library for quick advice and help if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
