Welcome to Your Library Recommend access to Libraries’ website via: NOTE: STLCC Links appear at the top of every Blackboard page. For the best experience from off-campus, log in to Blackboard first, and then use STLCC Links to get to the Libraries’ web site.

Library Instruction: Three Takeaways Develop an effective research mindset (think like an explorer). Discover useful resources and search tools on the Libraries’ website. Build confidence to begin research for your assignment or project.

Three Questions to Think About Before You Begin Your Research: What question will you be exploring for your current assignment? What kind of information will you search for? Where will you search? As you think about the answers these 3 questions, you are starting the research process. You are beginning to determine the scope of your research. TIP: Your teacher has often done a lot of work in determining the scope of your research for you. Let’s take a look at your assignment…..what are some of the requirements stated that will help you? (write your ideas down)

Develop the mindset of an explorer. Think of Research as Strategic Exploration; driven by questions and a little bit messy… First, focus your topic: What about it? Ask questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? Develop a research question & identify useful search words to start. Research looks like this: not: As you become a practiced researcher, you will discover that the research process is never linear. View research as strategic exploration; develop the mindset of an explorer. Tap into your intellectual curiosity, ask questions and be flexible; ambiguity can help the research process. Be tenacious. Plan to learn along the way. Do background reading to develop an understanding and working knowledge of your topic. Identify “best” sources of information to start the research process. Often finding one excellent article can help reframe and refocus your research. Evaluate search results; expect and welcome twists and turns; keep an open mind, and keep asking questions throughout the process. Use many different kinds of search tools, resources, and conduct many, different kinds of searches. Research can be fun, and it is a useful and valuable skill to learn. Discover the vocabulary used to discuss the topic. This is useful in creating new searches. What do you need to know? Is there a debate surrounding your topic? Understand the arguments (pro/con) surrounding the topic. Narrow topic to something workable, and restate it as a research question. Identify keywords, synonyms, related concepts and subject headings to begin a precision search. Clarify your goals; re-focus your topic? Develop the mindset of an explorer.

Research Strategies: Determine the scope of your research (read assignment) Begin looking where you’re likely to find the best information Do some background reading to understand topic and to be able to develop an effective research question Discover vocabulary used to discuss your topic Choose useful search words Evaluate your results Repeat; research is repetitive; keep asking questions; change search words and do more searching Your teacher has done a lot of work for you in helping you understand the scope of your research. READ the assignment requirements. View research as strategic exploration; develop the mindset of an explorer. Tap into your intellectual curiosity, ask questions and be flexible; ambiguity can help the research process. Be tenacious. Plan to learn along the way. Do background reading to develop an understanding and working knowledge of your topic. Identify “best” sources of information to start the research process. Often finding one excellent article can help reframe and refocus your research. Evaluate search results; expect and welcome twists and turns; keep an open mind, and keep asking questions throughout the process. Use many different kinds of search tools, resources, and conduct many, different kinds of searches. Research can be fun, and it is a useful and valuable skill to learn. Discover the vocabulary used to discuss the topic. This is useful in creating new searches. What do you need to know? Is there a debate surrounding your topic? Understand the arguments (pro/con) surrounding the topic. Narrow topic to something workable, and restate it as a research question. Identify keywords, synonyms, related concepts and subject headings to begin a precision search. Clarify your goals; re-focus your topic?

Recommend access to Libraries’ website via: Let’s get started. Recommend access to Libraries’ website via: Image of STLCC Libraries website - (refer to your handout with labels describing main features) Describe Ask a Librarian Try Search It! to research your topic. Search It! is a consolidated search tool (discovery service) that searches in many different places simultaneously. You will find books from the Library Catalog (Books+), ebooks, videos, articles from over 50 databases or freely accessible repositories, and links to databases or library guides. Learning how to refine/filter your search results is key to getting the most out of Search It!  Books+ is the STLCC library catalog (below). MOBIUS is a statewide library catalog (MOBIUS link in navigation menu) Select Articles (Databases) to view a list of individual databases in an A-Z alphabetical list. This link also appears under Search It! From resulting page, use the “All Subjects” drop-down menu to select a subject area and view related databases. Select the “Current Events and Issues” subject area to see a list of useful databases for researching controversial topics. Use the “All Database Types” drop-down menu to select a category like E-Books, Encyclopedias, Newspapers or Videos.