Orientation to Libraries

Research Methods and Data

College of Advancing Studies

Brendan Rapple

04/20/23

Today

• Libraries hold much more than just books:– Digital resources, journals, sound and video recordings,

newspapers, government documents, DVD’s, etc.

• Point the user to the world of global information– Not limited to what is physically in the building– Online resources help open up access to the global world.

• Collections can often be accessed remotely.

04/20/23

Some BC Libraries Facts

• Support teaching, learning, and research at Boston College with:

• Well over 2.7 million printed volumes

• Over 500,000 books in e-format

• Over six hundred research databases that can be accessed in the library or remotely

• Specialized libraries throughout campus

• Subject specialists available to assist you.

04/20/23

Boston College Libraries and Centers

Complete List of Libraries and Centers: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/collections.html

Ways to Reach Us

• Call: 617-552-4472 (Reference Desk)

• Chat with a Librarian 24/7Research help from BC Librarians and participating Jesuit institutions across the country.

• E-mail: refer@bc.edu

• Text us at 66746 and start your question with "askbc". Example: askbc how do I find book reviews? 

Ways to Reach Us

• Meet with a Librarian who specializes in your area of study:

http://www.bc.edu/libraries/help/askalib.html

Tech Help in the Library

For printing, scanning, copying, faxing, and basic computer support visit the Technology Support Center, Level 3, O'Neill Library.

It’s staffed quite long hours.

Resources

Research DatabasesFind bibliographic citations for information in your research subject area. Locate full-text resources. Well over 600 databases.

Electronic JournalsBrowse a list of full-text journals in a variety of disciplines and link to full-text articles.

Research GuidesStarting points for subject and general research.

04/20/23

Fee vs. Free

• Subscription Databases:

e.g. – ERIC (education)– PsycINFO 1840-

current– Expanded Academic

ASAP (multidisciplinary)

– Historical New York Times

• Available freely on the Web:

e.g. through search engines

– Google– Yahoo

04/20/23

About Resources in print…

• There is much material available only in print format that remains essential.

• Only a small percentage of the full-text contents of books is presently accessible electronically.

• The percentage is higher for journals. Still, for earlier issues of journals the percentage is again low.

Items from Other Libraries

Boston Library Consortium (BLC)One may check out books of the 17 academic and research libraries in the BLC.

Consortium cards may be obtained at the Circulation Desk in O'Neill Library or at the Law Library.

WorldCat LocalRequest books and other physical items directly from other Boston Library Consortium (BLC) libraries and beyond.

Consortium items are usually delivered to BC in 2-5 days.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)Online forms; delivery by e-mail, campus mail or pickup.

Boston Theological Institute (BTI)The collections of the BTI, consisting of over a million and a half in theology and cognate disciplines, constitute one of the richest theological library centers in the world.

For more information about borrowing privileges contact Jonas Barciauskas (617-552-4447).

Research Support

Citation Management ToolsBoston College Libraries support RefWorks, EndNote Web and others.

Set up automated/e-alertsReceive book citations, tables of contents of your chosen journals or a list of individual article citations via email.

Technology Items for Loan in BC LibrariesThe following are available for loan: Apple iPads; Calculators; Dell Laptops; Flat Screen Adapters; Flip Video Cameras; Headphones; Laptop Power Cords.

04/20/23

Documentation Styles and Guides

– MLA: Modern Language Association

– APA: American Psychological Association standards

– Other styles include Chicago, Turabian (many others too).

04/20/23

RefWorks: A Useful Tool

• Footnotes and bibliography can be generated in a variety of formats such as APA, MLA.

• Web based tool for automatically formatting your paper.

• Allows you to store, organize and keep track of citations.

• References can then be inserted into papers.

04/20/23

RefWorks Help?

RefWorks Tutorial – step by step instruction– Details on setting up your account – Importing records from specific databases

Other Services

Course ReservesInformation and forms for submitting items.

Connors Family Learning Center (O’Neill Library, 2nd floor)

TutoringTutoring in over 60 subjects, including Writing, English as a Second Language and all of the CORE curriculum classes

Learning Disabilities Services and SupportSupport for all BC students with learning disabilities and all BC faculty and TA/TFs who teach or advise students with learning disabilities

Instructional Support for Graduate Students and FacultyClass visits, seminars, practical tips and more

Writing SupportTypes of assistance available, including the Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Other Services

Document ServicesSelf-service copiers; Scans from print to PDF; FAX machine.

Wireless Printing (advice to print wisely—one only has 500 free pages/semester)

Other Services

Media Center ServicesO'Neill Library's non-print collection of films, audio recordings and computer data files.

Contains over 20,000 audiovisual items available for loan to members of the BC community. A portion of the video/DVD collection is restricted to Faculty Loan Only.

Other Services

Popular Reading CollectionA best sellers (and books of current interest) print collection is shelved on the right as you enter 3rd floor, O'Neill Library. 

Items can be checked out by Boston College students, staff and faculty only (28 day loan).

There is also a service, hosted by OverDrive by means of which you can download e-books onto devices such as Kindles, iPads and smart phones.

The collection contains best sellers, top academic picks, and thousands of e-books in the public domain.  BC users can check out up to 2 titles at a time.

Study Space -- O’Neill

Nine Group Study Rooms in O’Neill Level 5 reserve them online or @ the Circ Deskeach room is equipped with flat screen projection capabilities,

white boards and chairs for six. seven of the rooms require a reservation, one of the seven is

reserved for graduate students only. two of the nine rooms are designated first come basis

Group Study Space– Level One– large screen projection each booth.

4th Floor Grad Study Room (Top of stairs on the left)

Study Space -- Bapst

24 Hour StudyGargan Hall on the second floor is open 24 hours Sunday through Thursday for most of the semester.

Bapst Grad LabThere are 60 individual study carrels in the mezzanine area of the Kresge Reading Room.

04/20/23

How long are books loaned out?

O'Neill Social Work Law ERC Bapst

Masters students

120 days 120 days 28 days 14 days 120 days

PhD students 120 days 120 days 28 days 14 days 120 days

04/20/23

Graduate Student Support page

• This page contains brief descriptions of services and resources directly related to research activity, along with some links to the items described.

04/20/23

Evolving Nature of BC Libraries

• More than a repository of published material.

• Increasing its publishing role in the electronic sphere.

• eScholarship@BC

• Digital Library Initiatives