What kind of resource do you want?
| All of
the library's resources are available through the Web -- so, some
books, magazines, journals and newspapers are available online.
If the item is not online, you can find both books and articles that are located in the physical library. |
Test the main concepts or keywords in your topic by looking them up in the appropriate background sources or by using them as search terms in the Library Catalog and in research databases.
If you are finding too much information and too many
sources, narrow your topic by using the and operator: beer and health and
college students, for example.
Finding too little information may indicate that you need to broaden your
topic. For example, look for information on students, rather than college
students. Link synonymous search terms with or: alcoholic beverages or
beer or wine or liquor. Using truncation with search terms also broadens
the search and increases the number of items you find.
Also, the Cline Library's Special Collections department has a number of resources you might want to look at.
Some search tips
- Think of alternative terms for your topic, eg. alcoholism, binge drinking
- Choose a general database that gives both sides of an argument, eg. Academic Search Elite, Expanded Academic Index
- Choose a database that is more specific to one side of the argument, eg. ERIC, Business Source Elite
Some things to consider
- Save your search results to disc or email them to yourself
- Some databases offer the full text of articles/books online
- If it is not full text, does the library have the journal?
- Document Delivery Services can find resources that the Cline Library does not have
- Ask a librarian!!!
