Library and Research Skills
Build your research skills and confidence to succeed at King's and beyond.
Libraries & Collections can help you find, access, evaluate and use information effectively and responsibly.
Whether you're finding sources for an assignment, searching for literature for your dissertation or undertaking a research project, you can develop the skills to find reliable information, evaluate evidence critically and use your sources appropriately.
Support is available through workshops, self-paced online learning and personalised guidance from librarians.
Explore Library and Research Skills
Finding and evaluating information
Learn how to find high-quality academic information and develop effective literature-searching strategies.
Build your confidence using databases and other information sources, and develop the skills to assess the authority, relevance and quality of the information you find.
Develop Your Literature Searching Skills
Critical appraisal and evidence skills
Develop more advanced skills for working with research and evidence.
Explore critical appraisal of qualitative and quantitative research, advanced database searching, systematic review search techniques and other approaches to evidence synthesis.
Explore Research and Evidence Skills(opens in new tab)
Citing, referencing and academic practice
Develop your confidence in using information appropriately and acknowledging the work of others.
Access guidance on citing and referencing, copyright, open access publishing, and managing and sharing research data responsibly.
Get Support with Citing and Referencing
AI and information literacy
Develop the skills to navigate an information environment increasingly shaped by generative AI.
Learn how to critically evaluate AI-generated information, consider its authority, provenance and potential biases, and understand how established research and information skills can help you use AI more responsibly.
Libraries & Collections' approach explicitly treats AI literacy as an extension of information literacy rather than a separate skill.
Develop Your AI Literacy(opens in new tab)
Archives and Special Collections
Discover how King's archives and Special Collections can support your studies and research.
Develop confidence finding and working with archives, rare books and other primary sources as part of your academic work.
Explore Archives and Special Collections
One-to-one support
Need help with a literature search, research strategy or finding the right sources?
Book a one-to-one appointment with a librarian for personalised guidance. Support is available online and in person across King's library sites.
Libraries & Collections reports more than 1,300 bookable appointments in the most recent year, with 98% of students reporting that they felt more confident afterwards.
Book a One-to-one Appointment
Learn in a way that suits you
Library and Research Skills support is available in different formats to fit around your studies:
- Online and in-person workshops
- Self-paced online learning through KLaSS on KEATS
- Library Guides and digital resources
- One-to-one appointments and drop-in support
- Sessions integrated into some King's programmes
Whether you need help finding one source or want to develop advanced research skills, support is available throughout your time at King's.