Welcome to the start of school! This semester, SMU Libraries are introducing new ways to sharpen your skills, find what you need faster, and more.
Your Research Toolkit Just Got Even Better
Get access to tools and resources to help you work faster and smarter.
Full Text Access, Directly from ChatGPT, Claude and More
LibKey Nomad browser extension links you directly to our subscribed resources without going through the library search and authentication process.
It now works with AI platform tools too — this browser extension now surfaces full-text access links directly inside ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Gemini and Copilot — no more hunting for PDFs behind paywalls. Pair it with Consensus and Scite MCP to connect your AI assistant directly to scholarly databases for grounded literature summaries and Smart Citations.
LIB002: Build Your Research Skills at Your Own Pace
Our new self-paced module brings literature searching, data management, and publishing guidance together in one place — a starting point for any stage of your research journey.
Understand Your Research Reach
Altmetric Explorer shows how your work is being discussed in news, policy and social media — going beyond citation counts. Join our webinar on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 to see it in action.
Plus: SAGE Campus, DataCamp, PhD-level training with Instats (from September), Covidence for systematic reviews, and a refreshed SMU Libraries Search with natural language searching.
Workshops: Mark Your Calendars
Don't miss these opportunities to sharpen your skills and learn with your peers.
Skill Myself Up: AI-Literacy Workshops
AI tools are everywhere — but knowing how to use them effectively, critically and responsibly is a different skill altogether. Whether you're just getting started or ready to build your own AI-powered workflows, there's a library workshop for you.
A few to get you started:
- Learning to Learn With AI — Information Literacy in an Age of Fluent Answers
- Research Ready: "Spark to Insight" — Leveraging Tools to Ignite Ideas for Assignments and Projects
- Generative AI Powered Search Engines for Literature Search — When to Use and What to Look Out For
- What Sets You Apart from AI: Arguing Your Case
- Agentic Workflow Series:
- Fundamentals: Web vs Code vs Cowork
- Vibe-coding & Version Control in your Codex/Claude Code
- LLM-Assisted Text Analysis: From Open-Ended Responses to Structured Insights
- Build your own "advanced" workflow with MCP and Skills
See the full schedule and sign up: AI-Literacy Workshops
Everyday Essentials: Find It, Ask It, Share It
New conveniences worth knowing about this semester.
Browse Before You Write — Then Join Them
Not sure how to structure your literature review, or what a finished thesis in your programme actually looks like? InK, SMU's institutional repository, hosts every SMU PhD dissertation and Masters by research thesis — a ready reference before you start writing your own.
When yours is done, it joins them there too, read and downloaded by researchers worldwide — the first stop on your work's research impact journey.
Explore the collection: ink.library.smu.edu.sg
Search Smarter, Find Faster
No need to wrestle with AND/OR/NOT — the refreshed SMU Libraries Search now understands natural language, so you can type your question the way you'd ask a friend, and it converts it into a proper search strategy behind the scenes. It also comes with improved navigation and a more streamlined search flow.
The Database A-Z directory got the same treatment, now with a cleaner, more intuitive interface.
Try them out:
Ask Anytime: SMU Libraries AI Chatbot
Got a question? Just ask — anytime:
- "What time does the library close today?"
- "Where are the library's printers?"
- "How do I access a database off-campus?"
Look for the chat icon 🦁 at the bottom-right of any SMU Libraries webpage.
Learn more: Library Chatbot FAQs
Your Seat. Reserved.
Starting August 2026, you can book your spot at the LKS Level 4 Quiet Area in advance online — pick your date, time, and exact seat, all from your phone or laptop.
Learn more: Reserve your spot pilot
24/7 Course Textbook Borrowing
New borrowing experience coming in September. Borrow your course textbook 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the Li Ka Shing Learning Commons.
