1. Research Methods & Data AD140Brendan Rapple 2 March, 2005

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. Boston College Libraries and Centers Complete List of Libraries and Centers

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

7. 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

8. Online Databases

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Scholarly vs. Popular Resources

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

21. Libraries are still useful, still essential for research!!

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

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