Library & Research Overview

LIBRARY RESEARCH FOR ACADEMIC WRITING

In this guide, you will find an introduction to Library Research and information about using Academic Resources for your coursework and assignments.

• For academic papers, essays, and research project assignments, it is best to use scholarly or professional resources that are reliable, accurate, and valid.
   
• Academically appropriate resources are mainly books and scholarly journal articles that are reviewed before publication, but may also include magazines, media and websites from authoritative organizations and institutions.
   
• First Read, then Write. When you write a research paper, you will read journal articles to see what others have done and then build upon the work created by other scholars and professionals.
   
• Library Research is a skill you can learn and improve with practice and experience.Start with this overview of Library Research Basics.
   
• Library Staff are here to help you with your research, finding information or using the library.
  Please visit the Library Help Desk on the main floor (which is the 3rd floor) or Ask Us.

Searching is a process, you will try one search, evaluate your results, modify your strategy and try again.

• Start with simple keyword searching
   
• Use the Database Options to Refine or Limit and narrow your search
   
• LIMITS include;
  • Scholarly & Peer Review
  • Full-Text
  • Date of Publication
  • Format or Document Type e.g. article, book review, letter to editor
     
• Evaluate an article by reading the Abstract or summary.
   
• Review your results to identify concepts & terminology that can help improve your search results.
   
• Look at Subject Headings & Descriptors, standard vocabulary terms that describe the contents of articles
   
• Use the Advanced Search screen to mix and match keywords and subjects and more.

​Advanced Search Tips

Phrase Searches    
Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in quotation marks. Words enclosed in double quotes will appear together in all results exactly as typed, e.g. "culinary science", "fast casual"

Truncation & Wildcards *  
The asterisk ('*') matches non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, "farm*" will match "farm", "farmer", "farmed", "farming", "farmworker", "farmhouse", etc.

Boolean Operators
Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words.

• stocks AND sauces {search results must have both terms}
• stocks OR sauces {must have at least one of the terms}
• stocks NOT sauces {must have first term and must not include second term}
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• Use the Database Tools to Email, Save & Cite articles.