This document provides an overview of research resources and strategies available at the Southern Connecticut State University library. It discusses navigating the library catalog and databases, evaluating sources, searching techniques, interlibrary loans, and getting research help. Key resources covered include the catalog, periodical databases, reference materials, and subject librarian assistance.

1. Library Research
Winnie Shyam
Shyamw1@southernct.edu
(203) 392-5762
BU 122G
Fall 2013

2. What you will learn in this session
 Navigating the library home page
 Layout of the library
 How to find books in the library
 Search tips and strategies
 How to request books and other materials from another library
 How to find periodical articles using the databases
 How to evaluate information in print and on the web
 Citing information
 Subject librarians
 Where to get additional help

3. How Books Are Arranged
 Books are arranged by the Library of Congress
Classification System.
 Each book has a call number which consists of letters
and numbers. The call number is like an address and
tells you the location of the book.
 The letter in a call number represents a major subject
area. Books on a subject are grouped together.

4. What’s where
 Ground Floor
Periodicals (Magazines, Journals, Newspapers),
Theses, Microfilm, Microfiche
 First Floor
Reference Books Maps, Videos, DVDs, Music CDs,
Leisure Reading
 Second Floor
Circulating Books A-PN
 Third Floor
Circulating Books PN-Z, Theses, Juvenile Collection,
Oversize Collection, Special Collections and Archives,
and Curriculum Lab Collection

5. Finding Books, DVDs, eBooks, etc.
On the library home page, enter your search in the CONSULS quick search box
http://library.southernct.edu/
CONSULS displays the holding of all four state universities – Central (CCSU), Eastern
(ECSU), Southern (SCSU), and Western (WCSU), and the State Library (StLib).
You can search CONSULS by Keyword, Author, Title, Subject, ISBN or ISSN. The default is
keyword. Use the pull-down menu next to keyword for other options.
Enter search terms in the quick search box
Click here for advanced search options
Pull-down
menu

6. Subject Search
 Use SUBJECT search to find information on a broad topic.
 In a SUBJECT search, only the subject/descriptor field of a record is
searched.
 SUBJECT search has a high degree of relevancy and the number of items
retrieved are fewer than those retrieved in KEYWORD search.

7. Keyword Search
 Keyword search uses natural language search terms.
 Keyword searches retrieve many records, some of which may
be
 irrelevant.
 In a keyword search the search term you enter may appear
anywhere in the record (title, subject, notes, table of contents,
etc.). In the record below, “cloning” appears in the title.

8. Reference Books
 Reference books such as subject encyclopedias are excellent for background
information on your topic.
 To find an encyclopedia on a subject, do a keyword search in CONSULS.
Example: “education encyclopedia”.
 Reference books cannot be checked out. Scanners are available on the main floor
for copying materials. You can scan to print, email, or save to a thumb drive.
Scanning is free; printing charges apply.

9. Requesting items from another CSU Library
You can request items that are available at the other three state
universities, online. Reference cannot be requested.
Select the “Request” link next to the title you want. Enter your username
and password making sure to select Southern Connecticut State
University from the pull down menu (the default is CCSU).
Select the radio button for the item you want and click on “submit”. Allow
2-3 days for delivery. You will be notified by email when your book is
here.
Click on “Request” and
follow the directions

10. Advanced Search
The advanced search screen allows you to limit your
search by
 Location (CCSU, ECSU, SCSU, WCSU, StLib)
 Relevance, date, or title
 Material type (Print material, visual medium, journal,
DVD, video, thesis, e-book, e-journal, etc.)
 Language
 Date

11. Advanced Search Screen

12. Search Strategies
 Combine your main search concepts with operators such as
“and”, “or” or “not” to give your search focus
 Do not use phrase words in a search
 To search an exact phrase type the phrase in quotations
Example: “Stand your ground”
 Look at the subject headings or descriptors in the records in
your results list to see what search terms are being used in the
database for your topic

13. The AND operator
 The AND operator retrieves records in which all
search terms are present.
 Example: liberal education AND success
In this example, all records that contain liberal
education and success will be searched.
 AND can be used more than once in a search. The
more terms or concepts combined using AND, the
fewer the records retrieved.

14. Illustrating AND operator
 Liberal education and success
The shaded overlapping area represents the number of
records that contain the terms, liberal education and
success.

15. The OR operator
 The OR operator retrieves records that contain at
least one of the search terms.
Example: liberal education OR higher education
 OR is most commonly used to search for
synonymous terms or concepts
 OR can be used more than once in a search. The
more terms or concepts combined using OR the
more the records retrieved.

16. Illustrating OR operator
liberal education OR higher education
The shaded area represents the number of records that contain
either liberal education or higher education.

17. The NOT operator
NOT excludes keywords from a search. It
forbids the word(s) after it from appearing in a
search.
Example: college NOT school
In this search, only the term college is present.
The word school is excluded.

18. Illustrating NOT operator
college not school
The yellow circle represents records that contain the
word college. The pink circle represents the records
that contain school.

19. Using Parentheses
Parentheses are used to group search words
for more complex or focused searches.
Example: higher education and (success
or failure)
In this search, documents that contain the
word higher education and either the word
success or the word failure ,or both, are
retrieved.

20. Finding Periodicals in the Library
Click on Journals by Title on the library home page to see if the
library has a journal, magazine or newspaper. The journal locator
will let you know if a periodical is available electronically, in print, in
microfilm, or in microfiche

21. Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If the library does not have the periodical you need we can get the article for you
from another library through interlibrary loan. This service is free. Interlibrary loan
forms are available online under “Library Services”.

22. Finding Journal, Magazine, and
Newspaper Articles
Search Databases to find journal articles.
Databases index, abstract and provide select full-text journal
articles. They can be accessed from the “Articles” tab on the library
home page or by clicking on “Research at Buley” and selecting
“Article Databases”.
There are general and subject specific databases.
Off-campus users require an SCSU Username and Password or an
SCSU ID Number and library PIN to access the databases.
Each user creates a PIN which has got to be at least four characters
(letters, numbers or both).

23. Which databases?

Select “Articles” on the library home page and then click on “All
Databases” to get an alphabetical listing of the databases.

Click on “By Subject” to get a listing of databases by discipline.

Databases listed under the “General and Multidisciplinary” category are
good starting points for your research.

24. Scholarly or Peer-reviewed
Journals
 Articles are written by a scholar or researcher
in the field
 The language is that of the discipline covered
and usually requires the reader to have some
knowledge of the subject.
 May often contain graphs and charts.
 Cite sources in the form of bibliographies
 Most often published by a specific
organization.

25. Some Scholarly Journal Titles
 American Nineteenth Century History
 Energy and Environment
 Journal of Social Issues
 Nineteenth Century Fiction
 Nineteenth Century Literature
 Social Justice Research
 Workforce Management

26. Popular and Other Periodicals
 Usually written by a member of the editorial staff, a scholar, or a
free-lance writer.
 Contain general interest articles aimed at a broad audience.
 Articles have illustrations or photographs.
 Articles usually do not cite sources.
 Generally published by commercial enterprises or an individual
though some may be published by a professional organization.

27. Some Popular Periodical
Titles
 Ebony
 Newsweek
 Rolling Stone
 Sports Illustrated
 Time
 U.S. News and World Report

28. Why use Databases?
 Databases, not internet search engines, should be the first stop for any
academic research assignment.
 You may use the internet for browsing or getting acquainted with your
topic but use library databases to find quality information for your
papers.
 Databases contain magazine, journal, newspaper articles, books or
book chapters, conference proceedings, technical publications.
 Information in databases goes through a review process before it is
published in print or electronic format and is therefore accurate and
reliable.
 Information in databases is updated regularly.

29. Why not search engines?
 Search engines can be used for finding leisure or entertainment
related information, directory information, current news, or basic
consumer information.
 Search engines retrieve links to fee-based sites and databases
and contain very few free journal, magazine and newspaper
articles.
 Information does not go through a review process and needs to
be evaluated.
 Information may not be updated regularly. May include links to
pages that no longer exist.

30. Evaluating Information in Print
and on the Web
 Authority
 Bias
 Content
 Date
 Ease of use

31. Authority
 Author’s credentials – educational
background, well-known in his/her field?
 Is the author associated with an institution or
organization?
 Can author be contacted? Is there an email
address provided on the web page?
 Is the publisher well-known?

32. Bias
 Is the author objective and
impartial?
 Is the information fact, opinion, or
propaganda?
 Language free from bias?

33. Content
 Is the information well researched?
 Is there supporting evidence?
 Is the information too elementary, technical or
advanced? Who is the intended audience?
 Does the work update other sources or
contain any new information?

34. Date of Publication
 When was the information published?
 Editions or revisions?
 When was the web page last updated?
 Is the source current or out-of-date for your
topic?

35. Ease of Use
 Is the information arranged in a logical manner?
 Is the text easy to read?
 is the web page well organized?
 Is it easy to navigate the web page to find the
information?
 Are the links valid?

36. Research Guides
 Guides on various topics such as research skills, course
specific guides, citation styles, plagiarism, Google Scholar, etc.,
are available to help students with their research. Click on
“Research at Buley” on the library home page and select
“Research Guides” to access these guides.

37. Need help?
You can approach the Reference Desk on the main floor of the library for help at
any time.
You can schedule an individual appointment with your subject librarian by clicking
on “Library Services” and selecting “One-on-One Instruction”. Fill in the form and
submit.
You can “Ask Us” a question, “like” us on Facebook, or “follow” us on Twitter by
using the relevant icons at the bottom of the library home page.