Need Help starting on your research? Follow these steps.
Start with general reference books to get a short definition or explanation of your intended topic. You have access to electronic reference books through Credo and/or Oxford Reference Online which will provide you with reliable information about a number of topics. This will also lead you to other resources.
Check the library catalog to determine if there are library books or electronic books available on your topic.
Search in GALILEO for articles from magazines/periodicals/serials/journals about your topic.
Search in the GALILEO special databases for articles from a variety of resources specific to topics. Choose the subject most closely related to your topic, and see what might be available.
If the information gathered through these resources is not enough, speak to a librarian for help with your topic, and perhaps about getting material from another library.
Books
Library books can be found in the library catalog. The shelf order is by Library of Congress classification which starts with letters and then uses a combination of letters and numbers. You need this letter/number combination to locate materials on the shelves in the building.
Electronic books
The library catalog also gives access to a number of electronic books. These were originally published in hard copy, but we now have access to them via the Internet. Instead of a call number, they are designated as an EBOOK and there is a URL in the record that takes you to the electronic book.
General Databases
The GALILEO databases will be very useful for you.
You can use Academic Search Complete , Research Library, and OmniFile Full Text to research your topic. These are large databases that have information on a broad range of subjects. By selecting the FULL TEXT option, you can access the full article. By selecting the PEER REVIEW option, you are certain to get results that are appropriate to academic papers.
