Library Research

Bibliographies

+ list of information sources about a certain subject + end of encyclopedias, journal articles, and books

What is an example of an "all purpose database?"

Academic Search Comple, ProQuest Research Library, Expanded Academic Index, or Gale Reference Center Gold

"and," "or," and "not"

Boolean operators

What is an example of a "pros or cons" database?

Issues and Controversies, Points of View Reference Center, Opposing Views in Context

The most important words and phrases that describe the significant concepts and ideas of your topic.

Keywords

Periodicals

Magazines or journals that are published regularly (weekly, monthly, quarterly). May be popular or scholarly.

What are the characteristics of a "good" topic?

Meets the requirement of the assignment; Is interesting to you; Is neither too big or too small (the right size)

What is a database?

Online collection of materials (periodical articles, newspaper articles, book chapters) that can be searched by subject, author, or keyword.

What is truncation?

Searching for the "root" of a word using an "*"--example "teen*" to search for teens, teen, teenager, teenagers.

What is phrase searching?

Searching for the words next to each other within quotation marks--example "New Mexico"

What criteria are used to evaluate sources?

Timeliness, Relevancy, Authority, and Purpose

A concept map is used to brainstorm about your topic.

True

Library Catalog

Usually online database used to determine what books, and other materials a library owns.

What are the "w" questions?

Who, what, where, why, when, and how

periodical

a journal, magazine, or any other publication produced at regularly recurring intervals

bibliography

a list of information sources about a certain subject

call number

a number used by libraries to show both the subject of the book and its location on the shelf

bias

a preference for or against something or someone

Indexes.

alphabetical list of topics that can be found at the end of a book or as an independent source. Online may also be called a database.

reference materials

books that provide general information and include dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes, directories, handbooks, atlases, guides, and yearbooks

Beginning the research process starts with what?

choosing your topic

What is the primary purpose of LIBROS

to locate a book materials owned by the UNM-Valenica Campus Library