Starting Your Research at the

Library

Asa H. Gordon LibrarySavannah State University

Adapted from the Babson Library Information Literacy Project

Where to start?Where to start?The Library is the starting point The Library is the starting point for researchfor researchThe Library staff is here for you!Computers and wireless accessQuiet & not-quiet workspacesUse study rooms (for one or two)

or conference rooms (for groups)Books and journals and videos

and microfilm and DVDs and newspapers and...!

The Library Website: your First Stop Access library catalog

& databases from any computer

Ask-A-Librarian link to ask reference questions

GIL Express: if we don’t have what you need, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it! http://library.savannahstate.edu/

Some Types Of ResourcesBooksArticles (print & electronic)◦Scholarly journal articles◦Popular magazine articles◦Newspaper articles

Websites

BooksReference Books: use in library only

Circulating Books: check out for 28 days, up to 20 items, and two renewals

eBooks: access and read onlineTo find books, search the library’s online catalog:

https://gil.savannahstate.edu/

ArticlesScholarly (peer-reviewed or refereed) journals

Magazines, including popular and trade journals

Newspapers

Locating ArticlesTo find articles, go to the databases link on the home page or

Use Galileo Express Links from the home page

On- and off-campus accessDon’t look for articles in the Catalog!

Articles: Sorting out your results

Citation: gives you the information you need to track down the work

Abstract: summarizes content of article & provides citation

Full Text: complete text of article, along with citation. From: Babson Library Information

Literacy Project

Locating your sources

Now that you’ve identified some good sources, how do you get them?

Check for full-text availability

Full text in HTML (text) vs. PDF (image of article)

Be careful when emailing or saving documents

In database

Articles: Suggested Databases

Academic Search Complete

Research Library

JSTOR-full text (scholarly)

LexisNexis (newspapers)

Articles: Academic Search Complete

Makes finding good, fast, AND cheap easier!

Can limit to peer-reviewed journals. (Good!)

Many articles available full-text. (Fast!)

Can email, print or save full text. (Cheap!)

Articles: ProquestSame idea as

Academic Search Complete:

slightly different coverage,

different interface

Located under Galilleo quick links

WebsitesFast & cheap,

but good?Carefully

Evaluate all sources, especially web resources

Think about using the CRAAP test

Finding Websites: Search Engines

Vast quantity of information (2 billion+ sites!)The good, the bad, and the ugly. Evaluate!Keyword searching: can be like finding a

needle in a haystack. 3 million results???

How do I cite it, once I have found it, and decide to use it?

Go to the Style Manuals link on the Library Homepage

Use the appropriate format for your assignment:◦APA◦MLA◦CHICAGO/TURABIAN

http://library.savstate.edu/resources/style_manuals/index.php

If you need to:

Come up with a suitable topic (not too broad, not too narrow)

Be able to find resources in all formats (books, articles, websites, etc.)

Incorporate & cite these sources correctly (be careful not to plagiarize!)

Remember: librarians are here to help you!

Contact Us at the LibraryUse the “Ask-a-Librarian” link on the library homepage

Call the LibraryStop by the reference desk

Remember: The best resource is a human resource