Library Research Strategies: Finding Secondary Sources PO548: Religion & Politics in Latin America Prof. Jennie Purnell Michelle Baildon instruc/s-xbaildon/ Shari Grove instruc/s-xgrove/

So What’s the Point? Yes, to learn about Quest, databases, etc. Yes, to learn how to find stuff for your papers Most important: To get the big picture –What’s the information landscape? What’s out there in the world? What’s here at BC? How do I find it? Who can help me? –You’ll have a clue for the rest of your lives

First, a Whirlwind Tour of the BC Libraries Web Site Home page Subject specialists Research guides Online databases Quest Electronic journals How do I... ?How do I Tutorials

Not All Information Is Created Equal What kind of source? Primary source Secondary source What kind of material? Books Journal articles Government documents Archival material Music Film Etc. etc. etc. etc. What format? Print Digital (online) Microfilm DVD CD Etc. etc. etc. etc.

Different Information Is Kept in Different Places at BC Books: Stacks, Off-site Storage (Kenny-Cottle, NEDL, Newton Resource Center), and Other Libraries Reference Books: Reference Stacks, Reference Desk, Reference Index Area Newspapers: Current Periodicals, Online, Microfilm Journals: We’ll get to that later Films, music recordings: Media Center Government Documents: Guess where? Gov Docs Archival material: Burns Library Remember: The call number is key!!

Different Tools Find Different Things Catalogs: Everything a library holds Union catalogs: Everything that many libraries hold (see WorldCat)WorldCat Indexes: Show you where to find specific articles –Take you down another level of specificity Finding aids: Manuscripts and archival records These all go by the alias “database”

Using Quest Basic search: Good for title, author, keyword Use keyword to get LC subject heading “Boolean logic” Advanced search: –Combine searches –Limit by language, format, library

Using Quest (cont.) Requesting checked-out books or in- process books Create lists, save records Other catalogs: Journal Titles; Course Reserves; WorldCatWorldCat Check Quest Help!

Finding Journal Articles What is a scholarly journal? –Contains articles by academics –Peer-reviewed What formats are they in? –Some are in print –Some are online –Some are both

Where are the journals? Current Periodicals Stacks Offsite Storage Microfilm Online

Finding Journal Articles: Tell Me How Finding articles the old-fashioned way: –Step 1: Find your article in an index –Step 2: Find your journal in a catalog The crucial step in Quest: VIEW HOLDINGS The miracle of full text and “FindIt” (Welcome to the 21st century) –If you know exactly what article you’re looking for, use Citation Linker on the Electronic Journals page Electronic Journals

Finding Journal Articles: Databases Some databases are just indexes Some are indexes with “FindIt” buttons and/or links to articles –Hispanic American Periodicals Index (HAPI); Worldwide Political Science Abstracts; Historical Abstracts and America: History & Life; ATLA Religion DatabaseHAPIWorldwide Political Science AbstractsHistorical Abstracts America: History & LifeATLA Religion Database Some are indexes with “selected full text” –Expanded Academic ASAPExpanded Academic ASAP Some are journal collections –JSTORJSTOR There are many more... Please see: –PO548 Guide to ResourcesPO548 Guide to Resources –Political Science Online DatabasesPolitical Science Online Databases –History Online DatabasesHistory Online Databases –Latin-American Studies Research GuideLatin-American Studies Research Guide –Theology Research GuideTheology Research Guide

What if BC Doesn’t Have It? How would you find something BC doesn’t have? –An index or database –WorldCatWorldCat –Someone tells you about it, it’s in a bibliography, book review, etc., etc., etc. How do you get it? –Interlibrary loan (ILL)ILL –Boston Library Consortium (BLC) cardBLC

More Information on Bibliographic Formats Step-by-Step Guide to Doing Research: Use a Standard Format for Your BibliographyUse a Standard Format for Your Bibliography Ready Reference: Writer’s ResourcesWriter’s Resources At the Reference Desk: –Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed. New York : Modern Language Association of America, (O'Neill Reference Desk LB2369.G ) –Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, (O'Neill Reference Desk LB2369.T8 1996)

Want help from a real person? Contact Michelle Baildon, Shari Grove, Jonas Barciauskas, or other subject specialistsMichelle BaildonShari Grove Jonas Barciauskas Visit or call (2-4472) the Reference Desk during these hourshours or online chat (Ask 24/7) reference help online chat