Mrs. B’s Guide to Library Research
Compiled from Thomas Mann (2005) The Oxford Guide to Library Research
“One can reasonably say that libraries today routinely encompass the entire Internet – that is, they will customarily provide terminals allowing free access to all of the open portions of the Net – but that the Internet does not, and cannot, contain more than a small fraction of everything discoverable within library walls” (Mann, 2005, p. xiii).
“If you wish to be a good researcher you have to be aware of the trade-offs between virtual and real libraries” (p. xiii).
Other helpful research tips:
· Do not procrastinate – good research takes time. This project is based on the quality of research you do, so be sure to take time on this step of the process.
· When reading through any source, always consider the following in relation to the topic or question you are researching:
o AUTHORITY, ACCURACY, CURRENCY, RELEVANCY, BIAS, APPROPRIATENESS
· When reading through search results, read the abstract, summary, or keywords to decide if it is worth saving, printing, or using in your research. If you decide that a source might be useful, save it, print it, or take adequate notes while reading it.
o Create a system of organization that will help you keep track of your research.
o I create research notes, either hand-written or typed, where I copy down source information (so I can write my citation later and also so I can go back and find the source later, if needed) and take notes on what I have read that is relevant to my research question. If I write down a quote from the source, I always include the page number. I go back to these research notes when I begin outlining and writing my paper.
· When you come across a great source, read through its references and mark any that sound relevant to your research. Utilize your research skills to locate this source, read it, and evaluate whether or not it is useful to your research.
Researching Your Issue: Finding a Variety of Sources
What textbooks will I rely on for basic, introductory information?
Sometimes a textbook (in history, political science, biology, etc.) will work well to find background information. Print and online encyclopedias will also provide basic information. There are several print encyclopedias dedicated to various topics in the Bell Library. Wikipedia (can be) a good place to beginyour research and gain some basic information about the context of your subject – tip: use the sources at the end of a wiki article to read the sources yourself. YOU CANNOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE.
What specialized books are available on the topic and can I access them?
The TAMUCC online catalog usesLibrary of Congress subject headings. Subtopics are categorized alphabetically. Some books will be in the stacks on the second floor while others will be located throughout the library. If you need assistance finding something in the library, please ask a librarian (they are very nice people!) In addition to Portal (which tells you what our Library holds), you can access lists like Academic Search Premier and even amazon.com for a fairly complete list of what is in print. If you find something that is not available in the Bell Library, you can access ILIAD - InterLibrary Loan and have any book sent to you here at TAMUCC. The book can be checked out to you and returned to the Bell Library. ILIAD is a wonderful resource you should absolutely take advantage of. NOTE: Processing on requests may take as little as two days or as long as two weeks - allow yourself time!
What articles have been published in scholarly journals and are they available to me?
A scholarly journal, academic journal, or peer-reviewed journal is a collection or articles on a subject or discipline that is published multiple times per year. The articles go through a process of peer-review, meaning that the article is reviewed by multiple experts in the field before being published. This process verifies credibility. There are both online and print indexes that help you locate sources by subject within academic journals. There are various research guides available through the Mary and Jeff Bell Library website. These guides are labeled by subject area and contain specific databases that are most relevant to each subject area.
· Some of the most useful databases are: Academic Search Complete, Points of View Reference Center, LexisNexis Academic, Credo Reference, JSTOR, Project Muse, America: History and Life, Communication & Mass Media Complete
What articles have been published in popular magazines?
Articles from magazines such as Time, Newsweek, Life etc., are often listed in the indexes above. If our library doesn't subscribe to the magazine you need, you can retrieve an article through ILIAD.
What articles have been published in newspapers?
The library provides access to major newspapers and their back issues (i.e. The New York Times). You can also search for these sources online, through Google or other search engines; however, you should never pay for source material. Always check with a librarian to see if the source can be retrieved through the library at no cost to you.
· Databases for newspapers: America’s Historical Newspapers, Newspaper Source
What is available on the Internet?
The Internet offers a wide variety of resources, both good and bad. The most important thing to remember when you are doing research online is CREDIBILITY. How do I know that this source is offering me credible information?
1. Source. Many web sites that are sponsored by organizations can be an reliable as print sources. For example, major newspapers now make some or all of their reporting available on the Web. If a Web site doesn’t indicate ownership, then you have to make judgments about who put it up and why.
· The suffix can offer clues:.orgis used by organizations, including nonprofits,.govby government bodies, and.eduby educational institutions, generally colleges and universities.
2. Author.Often Web sitesgive no information about their authors. In such cases, it is difficult or impossible to determine the author’s qualifications.
3. Timelessness. Many Web pages do not list when they were last updated, which means that you cannot determine their currency. Furthermore, there are thousands of deserted ghost sites on the Web – sites that the owners have abandoned but search engines still turn up.
4. Evidence. The accuracy of any evidence found on the web can be difficult to verify. The most reliable information on the Web stands up to the tests of print evaluation, with clear indication of the sponsoring organization. Any factual information should be supported by indicating where the information came from. Reliable Web sites will cite and list their sources.
5. Biases. Many Web sites announce their viewpoint on controversial issues, but others conceal their attitude with a reasonable tone and seemingly factual evidence such as statistics. Citations and bibliographies do not ensure that a site is reliable. Look carefully at the links and sources cited.
6. Advertising. Many Web sites are infomercials aimed at getting you to buy a product or service. While they might contain useful information, they may be biased or untrustworthy.