researching at the millsaps library. goal for today prepare you for research you will be asked to...

Researching at the Millsaps Library

Goal for Today

Prepare you for research you will be asked to perform in your classes at Millsaps

What type of sources do I need?

Most research assignments will require scholarly sources Includes books and scholarly articles

Popular vs. Scholarly

We will complete the evaluating sources activity

Links to the sources are available in the library’s Core 1 guide

Scholarly and Popular Sources

Scholarly Popular

Title often contains the word Journal Journal usually does not appear in title

Source is available mainly through libraries and library databases

Source is generally available outside of libraries (at newsstands or from a home Internet connection)

Few or no commercial advertisements Many advertisements

Authors are identified with academic credentials

Authors are usually journalists or reporters hired by the publication, not academics or experts

Summary or abstract appears on first page or article; articles are fairly long

No summary or abstract; articles are fairly short

Article cites sources and provide bibliographies

Articles may include quotations but do not cite sources or provide bibliographies

Page 180 of Easy Writer

Formulating a Research Question

Examine your assignmentChoose an appropriate topic that

interests you Your topic may change as you research

Example: Topic: microfinance Narrowed topic: microfinance and women Research question: What impact has

microfinance had on women?

Choosing Keywords

State your topic as a questionIdentify the main concepts or keywordsIdentify synonyms and related wordsUse keywords and synonyms as search

termsQuestion Keywords Synonyms &

Related Words

What effect does globalization have on workers' wages?

globalization, workers, wages

worldwide integration, employees, pay

Choosing Keywords Practice

Questions Keywords Synonyms & Related Words

What effect does globalization have on workers' wages?

globalization, workers, wages

worldwide integration, employees, pay

What impact has microfinance had on women?

Finding Books

Use broad keywordsSearch in Big Search

“Limit to Library Catalog Only”Or search in the Millsaps Library

Catalog

Search also for eBooks In Big Search or in the EBSCO Academic E-

Book Collection database

Using Call Numbers

We use the Library of Congress Classification System

Call numbers are in order by subjectFind a call number and browse books on the

shelf nearbyLibrary’s Guide to Call Numbers

Checking Out Books

Once you find a book you’d like to check out… Bring the book(s) to the front desk Give the student worker your Millsaps ID card

and the book(s)

Borrowing and Circulation Policies Up to 25 books at a time 3 weeks with 2 renewals

Finding Peer Reviewed Articles

“Limit to Peer Reviewed” in Big Search and databases

Peer Review is a process journals use to ensure the articles they publish represent the best scholarship currently available

Searching for Articles

Library databases are searchable collections of information from published works Often contain full-text articles

Big Search includes most of the library’s databases

Subject specific databases only include articles from a specific discipline

Practice Finding Articles

Find 2 articles in Big Search and 2 articles in a subject specific database on:

What impact has microfinance had on women?

Interlibrary Loan

Request books and articles not available at Millsaps

Use the electronic forms on the ILL web page

Use WorldCat for books

Practice Finding Books (time permitting)

Find the call number for any one book Use Big Search or the library’s catalog Write down or take a picture of the call number

and location

We are going to go on a tour! During the tour, you will find the book you

selected on the shelves

Questions?

Anytime you need help with research:Call us at 601-974-1073 Email us at librarian@millsaps.edu Drop by the front desk We are here to help!