Starting Your Research: Babson Library Sources and Services

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Starting Your Research Babson Library Sources
and Services

• Babson Library Reference

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Babson Library your starting point for research

• Library staff were here for you!
• Internet computers with free printing
• Quiet not-quiet workspace work alone or in
  groups
• Books and journals and videos and microfilm and
  DVDs and newspapers and...!

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The Babson Library Website your
homepage-away-from-home.

• Access library catalog databases from any
  computer
• Ask the Library! form lets you ask reference
  questions anytime
• Interlibrary loan request forms just because we
  dont have it doesnt mean you cant use it!

http//www.spfldcol.edu/library
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Some Types Of Resources

• Books
• Articles (print electronic)
• Scholarly journal articles
• Popular magazine articles
• Newspaper articles
• Websites

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Books!

• Reference Books use in library only
• Circulating Books check out for 4 weeks
• eBooks access and read online
• To find books, search VOYAGER, the librarys
  online catalog
• http//jtbowne.spfldcol.edu/

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Articles

• Scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals
• Also called refereed journals articles
  reviewed accepted by experts in field, contain
  bibliographies
• Magazines, popular and trade journals
• Publishers Weekly, Booklist, People, etc.
• Newspapers
• New York Times, Boston Globe, etc.

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Articles Locating

• To find articles, use one of the databases from
  the librarys Databases and Articles page
• On- and off-campus access
• Dont look for articles in Voyager!

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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.

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Locating your sources

• Now that youve identified some good sources, how
  do you get them?

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1. Check for full-text availability
in original database
through Track It Down!

• HTML vs. PDF full text
• Be careful when emailing, saving.

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2. Check Voyager

• Follow the Springfield College Library Journal
  ISSN and Journal Title links in Track It Down!
• If SC owns the journal, be sure to check and make
  sure we have the issue that you need .
• Not at SC?.

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3. A Couple of Options

• Check CLGS (other local library catalogs) to see
  if they own the journal you need.
• If you cannot travel or have enough time, submit
  an Interlibrary Loan request for the article(s)
  you need. (Allow 1-3 weeks!)

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Articles Suggested Databases

• Academic Search Premier
• Expanded Academic (InfoTrac)

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Articles Academic Search Premier

• Makes finding good, fast, AND cheap easier than
  ever!
• Can limit to peer-reviewed journals. (Good!)
• Many articles available full-text. (Fast!)
• Can email, print or save full text. (Cheap!)

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Articles Expanded Academic

• Same idea as Academic Search Premier different
  coverage, different interface
• Located under InfoTrac on the databases page

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Websites

• Fast cheap, but good?
• How to evaluate information on web pages

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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???

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But how do I cite it?

• A GREAT resource
• http//www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/works_cited
• APA Style Electronic References
• http//www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
• APA Style Handout (SC Writing Center)

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Your mission...

• 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 with
  your mission!

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Babson Library Contact Us

• Ask the Library! form off the library homepage
• Call the reference desk [phone] or
  toll-free, [phone]
• Stop by the reference desk any time the library
  is open
• My email rnaismit_at_spfldcol.edu