1. Library Sources for Biology Students Lisa Rose-Wiles
Science Librarian/Associate Professor
Seton Hall University Libraries
updated 9/10/19©

2. Let’s talk about research (and why we do it!)
Google – Surface fishing
Library Resources – Dive Deep
You may have already done a Google search on your topic, but for your Recitation you will need to delve below the surface into the scientific literature, which means using the scholarly resources provided by your library. (analogy: you can see the surface of the ocean from onboard the ship but to experience and understand what’s going on you need to put on your scuba gear, dive down and spend time in the underwater world).
By Walton LaVonda, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

3. Library Homepage (under “academics” tab)
You need to move from “general topic” to “research question”, which means doing some background research first
BEFORE you leap in and start looking for peer reviewed articles …..

4. Get familiar with the library website (and the “research help” tab)
For help navigating the library home page & using library tools, see our great Library Video Tutorials

5. Finding background on your topic
A simple search for Zika virus using the library search box (SHUsearch) gives nearly 200,000 results (not good!) but the first one is a “research starter” (helpful).
You might also find a “Credo Reference” link on the right hand side of your results – or you can go directly to Credo from the “reference” tab

6. Try Credo Reference under the “reference” tab

7. You can also use GREENR (now called “Gale in Context: environment studies”) to explore or refine environmental topics
How to get to it – check out the “databases tab”

8. How to find GREENR (and other biology databases)

9. Or – go to your course libguide (under “research help” – “research guides”)

10. It also has pages for databases & journal articles

11. Now you’ve done a surface check: Let’s start really searching
Sometimes just a simple search will produce good results,
But usually you will get too many results
And advanced search can help …

12. Advanced Search can up your game by being more precise
You can also limit to “peer reviewed” and “full text”, limit by date and language --- all before you search.
Remember the video tutorial!
Choose a discipline, add more search terms
… scroll down for more choices!

13. Peer reviewed and full text limits
This will limit your results to peer reviewed journal articles available through the library

14. More ways to refine a search
Look to the left
And right sides
Of your results
Make a matching Top Hat for this after live review of results

15. Finding full text
If you don’t see a PDF, follow the link below the record. If you have NOT limited to “full text”, the link may take you to an interlibrary loan request

16. Useful tools
BEWARE: you “own” mistakes made by the cite or save feature so check them. I encourage copying the entire citation that is generated, including the database information and link. At the end of this session we will play with some common citation errors.
Remember: you must cite sources that you use to avoid plagiarism!
Click on “Save” or “cite” – choose APA format

17. Saving Results in Your Folder –before you start, “SIGN IN”
Get in the habit of signing in to your account before you save results
to your folder –so they will stay there after you finish your search. You will need to “sign in” every time to see them.
Sign in is your Pirate Net ID and password
Remember the aim is to gather promising articles in your folder – you’ll be doing multiple searches and can make a final choice later.

18. Saving to your folder
Make sure you are signed in

19. Quick citation tool

20. Choose APA style
CHECK the citations (make sure all elements are there including
Publication year (correct “n.d” if it appears)
Cut and paste into your bibliography

21. Remember: you can also search individual databases (like ScienceDirect)
You can also access databases from the ‘FIND’ tab or from your libguide
And don’t forget the video tutorials under “research help”

22. Some suggested databases
ScienceDirect
ProQuest Biology Journals
Nature Journals

23. Now let’s practice searching

24. Remember, if you need help …
For help navigating the library home page & using SHUsearch, see our great Library Video Tutorials

25. Questions … Problems ==== email me!
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