Literary Research Lisa Sloniowski, English Literature Librarian

Libraries are Obsolete. Discuss.

Libraries > Format Babylonian tablets…Papyrus scrolls…

Libraries > Format Books…Ebooks, Ejournals, etc

Library Values: Knowledge (for its own sake) Stewardship of Cultural Memory Sharing/Openness Common Space

Librarians? Research help/teach Build collections Archive, digitize, manage data Negotiate contracts Catalogue/organize/describe Research

Library of Congress System

Where’s the Literary Stuff? PN -- General Literature PR -- English Literature PS -- American Literature (incl. Canadian) (but remember that locations vary)

Issues in the Organization of Literary Material The rise of critical theory & interdisciplinary approaches interdisciplinary The problem of literature itself The emergence of “aboutness”

Search Tools Books, Films, Encyclopedias:  Library Catalogue Journal Articles, Performance Reviews:  Periodical Indexes: MLA Bibliography, International Index to the Performing Arts Factiva

Publication Types Books  Scholarly vs non-scholarly  Critical editions vs scholarly editions Journals – online and print Magazines/Newspapers

How? Search Tools: Catalogues and Periodical Indexes Subject Guides EN1001 Course- Related Library Guide EN1001 Course- Related Library Guide

Good Researchers Know: 1)that the quality of their paper depends on the quality of their sources and how to connect them 2)how to evaluate their search strategies and results -number of results -revise with correct keywords, descriptors -lateral thinking 3)to give themselves enough time to do the job properly 4)to use shortcuts where possible --subject headings --skimming the bibliography --encyclopedias

An updated notion of genius would have to center around one's mastery of information and its dissemination.” ~Kenny Goldsmith