Methodology course

Theories, methods, information literacy “Information Expertise in East European Studies” – introduction to academic resources and research strategies

Together with Dr Gudrun Wirtz from the Eastern Europe Department of the Bavaria state library, Professor Martin Schulze Wessel developed a special introductory course for students in the first semester of the graduate program. In the theory part, students are introduced to regional studies with particular reference to Eastern Europe and basic principles of the subjects involved in the graduate program (humanities, social sciences and cultural sciences). The practical part of this course then teaches information literacy skills and library literacy for East European studies. What relevant resources (libraries, archives, internet) are available within Germany and outside of Germany? Which aids should be selected for which research questions (catalogs, repositories, full text data base systems, search engines, etc.)? How can these resources be used efficiently and appropriately?