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Articles may include quotations but do not cite sources or provide bibliographies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 [email protected] Drop by the front desk We are here to help!