Research Methods & Data AD140Brendan Rapple 2 March, 2005

Today  Libraries hold much more than just books:  Digital resources, journals, sound and video recordings, newspapers, maps, government documents, DVD’s, etc.  Point the user to the world of global information  Not limited to what is physically in the building  Online resources help open up access to the global world  Libraries acquire, organize and make accessible information in traditional and digital formats  Collections can often be accessed remotely

Modern Research Libraries  Increasingly Electronic  Very Dynamic -- Ever Changing  Highly Complex  Very Varied  Not Always Intuitive

Boston College Libraries Facts Support teaching, learning, and research at Boston College with: Over 2 million printed volumes Over three hundred research databases that can be accessed in the library or remotely Specialized libraries throughout campus Subject specialists available to assist you with all your information needs

Boston College Libraries and Centers Complete List of Libraries and Centers

What is a Library?  Wrong to think of libraries as entities with four walls.  They’re far more than that

Role of Libraries  Places of learning and knowledge pursuit  Repositories for published material  Provide access to electronic resources as well as print material  Quiet study places  Social places  Access to variety of equipment Photocopiers Printers Scanners Computers

Online Databases

Advantages of Online Databases  Preliminary research from home or office  Search whole database at the same time  Online searching is much faster

Advantages of Online Databases  More complex searches than with print (BODY IMAGE AND ADVERTISEMENTS AND (ANOREXIA OR BULIMIA)) NOT FEMALES  Generally, more sophisticated research

Advantages of Online Databases  Limit searches by restricting to a range of years a particular language a specific document type a particular audience group

Advantages of Online Databases  Download and manipulate search results  Even printing is preferable to writing or photo-copying from print indexes  Searches to another

Advantages of Online Databases  Alert you by to new publications  Able to specify peer reviewed articles  Immediate online help  Direct links to Internet Sites

Examples of Databases  Online database page from libraries web site:  Online Databases Online Databases  Browse databases by title  Browse databases by subject

Scholarly vs. Popular Resources

Scholarly  Scholarly:  Scholarly journals contain reviews and articles written by experts in the field. Scholarly journals always cite their sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies. They are generally published four or six times a year and are peer- reviewed journals.  Often contain original research Examples: American Journal of Education; Harvard Business Review; Mind

Popular  Popular:  Popular journals come in many formats and are most often colorful in appearance, with lots of photographs and/or graphics. The most reliable kind of popular periodical often cites sources (though perhaps not in standard bibliographical format), but the less reliable kind will seldom cite sources.  Often cover current events and topics  Examples: Business Week; Time; Cosmopolitan

Other Useful Resources/Services  Boston College Library Web page Boston College Library Web page  Research Guides Research Guides  How do I…? How do I…?  Subject Quick Start Subject Quick Start Contact a Subject SpecialistSubject Specialist

TIPS  Learn physical layout of library  Read help screens  Read instructions re. databases  Browse reference stacks  Ask for help

Remember  Everything not on computer  Not everything is available on the internet

Libraries are still useful, still essential for research!!

Types of Libraries  Public Libraries  Business Libraries  University Libraries  National Libraries  Historical Society Libraries

 Company or Corporate Libraries  Government Depository Libraries  Special Libraries/Archival Centers  School Libraries