Beaman Library provides many resources and services to support student research, including computers, study rooms, and library staff assistance. The library catalog and databases allow students to search for books, articles, and other materials. Students can evaluate sources found and locate print or electronic versions using tools like the catalog, databases, interlibrary loan, or other libraries. The library instruction teaches students how to effectively organize and evaluate information from various sources for scholarly research.

1. An Adventure in Research
Using Beaman Library
Services and Resources
Fall 2010

2. Beaman Library is your starting
point for research
Research materials at your fingertips!
Computers for your convenience!
Study Rooms available to study by
yourself or for a group to gather!
Our Library Staff is here for you!

3. Your Beaman Library Homepage
• Access the
library catalog &
our electronic
databases from
any computer
• Ask a Reference
Question???
• Find out
information
about the
library or read
the latest library
newsletter

4. Information Resources in
Beaman Library - Organization
Library of Congress Classification
System (LB 2806 .R38)—Read the call number
alphabetically and numerically. Any number after the decimal point
is treated like a decimal number.
Designators (Ref, Oversize, Buffington…)—
Gives you a clue as to where these books are physically located in
library. They are special sections unto themselves.
Local Collections (Special Collections,
Restoration Collection…)

5. Information Resources in
Beaman Library – access tools
Books
Articles (print & electronic)
-Scholarly journal articles
-Popular magazine articles
-Newspaper articles
Websites

6. Books!
• Reference Books:
-use in library only
• General Collection:
-check out = 3 weeks for
undergrads.
• eBooks:
-access and read online. You must
create your own username and password at
netlibrary.com from a Lipscomb computer
and then you can access them from
anywhere.

7. To find a Book…
Use…
The online catalog
• Author Search
• Title Search
• Subject Search—very specific
only searches subject line (which are
Library of Congress approved subject
headings)
• Keyword Search--searches all
lines in the record except for Subjects.
http://library.lipscomb.edu

8. Articles!
• Scholarly journals
-aka “refereed”, “peer-
reviewed”, “academic”
-articles reviewed and accepted
by experts in the field
• Magazines, popular
and trade journals
-Booklist, Southern Living, GQ
• Newspapers
-The Tennessean, Wall Street
Journal

9. To find an Article…Searching
• Use one of the
databases from the
library’s “Electronic
Resources” page
--On- and off-campus
access
• Don’t look for articles in
the Catalog!

10. To find an Article…Sorting
• Citation: gives you
the information you
need to track down
the work
• Abstract: summary
of article + citation
• Full Text: complete
text of article +
citation

11. To find an Article…Locating
• Found sources in a database? Now,
how do you find them?

12. Locating article…pt. 1
• If the source located was cited in a
database…
• Check to see if full-text is available

13. Locating article…pt. 2
• If the source located was not available
in full-text in a database…
• Check the journal title in the Catalog by
doing a Title Search to see if Beaman has
the journal in print
• Check the journal title in Ebsco A to Z

14. Locating articles…pt. 3
• If the source is not available in print in
Beaman Library or full-text via
database…
• Check other local libraries (in WorldCat or
Athena) to see if they have the journal in
print
• Request the article through Interlibrary
Loan (Allow 2 weeks)

15. Periodicals - Location
Current (2011) magazines and journals are
arranged alphabetically on open shelves for
easy browsing.

16. Periodicals - Location
Bound periodicals are arranged
alphabetically and
chronologically.

17. Periodicals - Location
Some periodicals are kept on
microfilm or microfiche.

18. Electronic/ Online Resources:
Types
• General
• Subject specific
• Government
• Military
• Commercial
• Education

19. Databases
Tennessee Electronic Library
• Academic OneFile
• Expanded Academic
• Science Database
• PowerSearch

20. Databases
Also try…
• America: History and Life
• Biography Resource Center
• Business Source Premier
• EBSCOhost
• Facts on File
• LearningExpress Library (for practice
tests and Entrance Exams)
• LexisNexis

21. Search engines
http://scholar.google.com/
search specifically for scholarly literature:
peer-reviewed papers
theses books preprints
abstracts technical reports
arranges search results by relevancy

22. Search engines
http://infomine.ucr.edu/
… a virtual library of Internet resources relevant to faculty, students,
and research staff at the university level.
electronic journals electronic books
bulletin boards databases
articles

23. Evaluating Information
 from monographs [books]
 from periodicals
 from databases

24. Evaluating books
• A recognized author
• Timely content
• Documentation
• Physical appearance

25. Evaluating Journal Articles
Scholarly Journal
Characteristics
Written for scholars or
researchers in a specialized
field (medicine, psychology,
education)

26. Evaluating Journal Articles
• found in specialized (subject) indexes
[Social Sciences Index]
usually published quarterly or monthly
• mostly print
• graphs and/or tables
• few or no ads

27. Evaluating Journal Articles
Scholarly Journal Characteristics
• cites research
• includes notes and/or bibliography
• passes review by panel of experts
• peer reviewed
• refereed

28. Databases
• Academic .edu
• Government .gov
• Specialized/commercial .com/.org/.net

29. Web Site Evaluation—the
WWW’s
Who says it?
 Author or sponsor
 Credentials of responsible party

30. Web Site Evaluation—the
WWW’s
What does it claim, assert, etc.?
 Purpose of web site
 Biased, objective, fair
 Factual…in depth
 Correct grammar, spelling, etc.

31. Web Site Evaluation—the
WWW’s
When was it said?
• Publication date
• Revisions
• Links up-to-date

32. Interlibrary Loan
• Question:
What do I do if a resource I need is not
available in the Beaman Library?
• Answer:
Use the Interlibrary loan service
provided by Beaman Library

33. Interlibrary Loan
Facts about Interlibrary Loan:
• Interlibrary Loan is a service provided by Beaman Library to obtain
materials NOT owned by Beaman Library.
• The conditions of this service are set by the National Interlibrary
Loan Code.
• The loan period is determined by the lending library.
• Athena is an area consortium of local libraries who loan and borrow
from one another without charge.
• Applications are available at the Reference desk or online in
Catacomb.
Access form online: http://library.lipscomb.edu

34. Review: The Power of Five
What does scholarly research require?
A knowledge of
1. The locations of information resources
2. Organization of information resources
3. The access tools needed for obtaining
information regardless of its format
4. The criteria for evaluating information
located
5. The rules of scholarly research
(proper citing/respect for copyright)