Skills at Library home

Sharing information

Publishing with the Essex Student Journal

Research profiles

★★★ advanced

Welcome to the final section of our Skills at Library guide! By now, you should be familiar with:

• Why information skills are important
• How to meet your information needs by staying organised and using search techniques
• Using information ethically and checking the quality of your sources
• How and when to reference sources
• Tip: If you aren't confident in these areas, be sure to visit the links above!

Now it's time to shift the focus over to you, the information you create, and how you navigate the digital world. Academic and professional success requires being able to communicate and share information strategically. Taking the time to learn about different methods for presenting yourself and your work will help you decide what approach works best for you and is most suited to your goals.

This section on sharing information introduces:

• Inclusive information
• Best practice for sharing information
• Tips for developing your digital profile
• How to start sharing or publishing your work

If you are a taught student, continue reading below to learn how to get started with sharing information effectively. If you are a researcher, explore our Research Support guide.

Click to expand presentation: Sharing and publishing your work outside the classroom

To truly get the most out of the Library and your time at Essex, you need to become an information expert. Check your current knowledge and identify knowledge gaps by completing the Academic Skills Audit, or return to the Skills at Library homepage​ to select another lesson.

Here's some quick ideas to help you get started on sharing information:

• Assess your digital capabilities and communication skills, and add to your personal development plan
• Consider your audience and the types of conversations you want to be part of
• Create your LinkedIn profile (if you haven't already)
• Start reflecting on your learning and experiences

Sharing and publishing information responsibly requires advanced information literacy skills. You can refresh your library skills by completing either all sections of our Skills at Library pages or focusing on the ones that you aren't fully confident with.

Want to learn more?

• Register for our 'Information Skills' course on Moodle to access additional learning exercises and discussions.
• Keep a look out for our 'Making information inclusive' open workshop. This session is offered regularly online and in person as part of the Skills at Library open workshop programme, and will give you an opportunity to practice skills, learn alongside your peers, and get instructor feedback.
• Find resources and further reading on our 'Making information inclusive' reading list.
• Learn how to get the most out of your LinkedIn profile from Careers Services.
• Access support on academic writing and creating presentations from Skills for Success.
• Find out more about various online research profiles, including ORCID, Scopus, and Google Scholar, on our online research profiles page.
• Explore content on building your academic visibility and reach via our research visibility guidance.
• Check out this three-part blog series from our Research Services colleagues to learn more about building your visibility, managing your social media presence, and sharing your work using social media.
• Making your online profile work for you (LinkedIn Learning)
• Blogging and using networking sites (LinkedIn Learning)
• Writing a Compelling Blog Post (LinkedIn Learning)
• Creating your personal brand (LinkedIn Learning)
• Explore resources and support from the University's Brand Management Team on writing for the web, communicating a brand through tone of voice, and How to sound like Essex course on Moodle.

Except where otherwise noted, this work by University of Essex Library and Cultural Services is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.