1. Library Research Strategies HS937: Seminar in Modern European History Prof. Peter Weiler Michelle Baildon baildon@bc.edu http://www2.bc.edu/~baildon/

2. Tell Me, Please: –How do I get the library information I need...... at O’Neill?... at BC?... in Boston?... in the world (online and otherwise)? –How do I get primary and secondary sources? –You’ll need the right tools

3. First Things First: Some Important Web Sites  Remember: Michelle’s Home Page (okay, not technically part of the BC Libraries site) URL: http://www2.bc.edu/~baildon It has: –This presentation –History database listing by type –Plus general skills guides

4. Let’s Get to Know the BC Libraries’ Web Site  Library home page: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/  Make it your starting point for research Quick Searches –Quest Quick Search: Remember: this is a “Keyword Anywhere,” not Title search!! –CrossSearch (formerly known as MetaQuest)

5. More on the BC Libraries’ Web Site  Library home page: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/ Research Help –Subject specialists Subject specialists List of contacts in all disciplines –Research Guides Research Guides Comprehensive lists of print and electronic resources in different subjects –How do I... ? How do I... ? Frequently asked questions in library research –Tutorials Tutorials [CHECK OUT THE QUEST TUTORIAL]QUEST TUTORIAL

6. Still More About the BC Libraries’ Web Site  Library home page: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/ Resources –Online Databases Online Databases Listing of BC’s 200+ electronic resources in all subjects –Electronic Journals Electronic Journals Find e-journals by title or subject –WorldCatWorldCat A “union catalog”

7. Different Tools Find Different Things  Some definitions to remember: 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 and other tools all go by the alias “database”

8. Using Quest  Quest is a library catalog  Use Quest for primary and secondary sources Keyword Searching vs. Subject Searching Keywords: –Words normal people would think of –Can appear ANYWHERE in the record (title, author, subject, publisher, notes, blah blah blah) Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): –“Officially sanctioned” by the Library of Congress, you will never guess them on your own –Only appear in the “Subject” section

9. Using Quest (cont.) Basic search: Good for title, author, keyword Advanced search: –Combine searches with AND, OR, NOT –Limit by language, format, library Other catalogs: Journal Titles; Course Reserves Remember... Use these strategies with other catalogs and databases!

10. Using Quest (cont.) Requesting checked-out books, in-process books, and on-order books “My Account”: –You can view loans and renew books –Request books from the Law School –Make Interlibrary Loan Requests Need more info? –Check Quest Help! –Again, check out the Quest tutorial: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/research/tutorials/s-quest1/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/research/tutorials/s-quest1/

11. Secondary Sources: Scholarly Journal Articles What is a scholarly journal? –Contains articles by academics –Peer-reviewed They’re digital and print (and microfilm...) They’re kept in many places in the BC Libraries (mostly this depends on how old it is)

12. Finding Journal Articles: Tell Me How The Old-Fashioned Way: Step 1: Use an index or database (from the Online Databases Page http://www.bc.edu/databases/) to find an article titlehttp://www.bc.edu/databases/ –A key index: Historical Abstracts Step 2: Find the journal in QuestQuest

13. Shortcut #1:  Use full-text journal databases Some key full-text databases: –JSTORJSTOR –Project MuseProject Muse Some Shortcuts to Make Life Easier

14. Shortcut #2:  Look for the Find It Icon You’re in a database and have found an article you want. How do you get it? Easiest way? Click on Find It. Find It will tell you: –Does BC have the article in full text online? –... Or is it in print in the libraries? –... Or can you get it through interlibrary loan? More on FindIt: http://www.bc.edu/libraries/research/tools/s-findit/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/research/tools/s-findit/ Some Shortcuts to Make Life Easier

15. Shortcut #3:  If you know exactly what you’re looking for, use Citation Linker on the E-Journals PageCitation LinkerE-Journals Page  http://www.bc.edu/libraries/resources/ejournals/s-cilinker/ http://www.bc.edu/libraries/resources/ejournals/s-cilinker/ Some Shortcuts to Make Life Easier

16. Finding Primary Sources  See the guide to Finding Primary Sources Finding Primary Sources Print sources –Use Quest and WorldCatQuestWorldCat Digitized sources –See Research Guides, Online Databases Page, QuestResearch GuidesOnline Databases PageQuest –Think critically about free Internet sources Microfilm –Use Quest Advanced Search and limit to microfilmQuest –Newspapers: See Newspapers Research Guide and Newspapers Collection pageNewspapers Research Guide Newspapers Collection Archival sources –Archival Resources, ArchivesUSAArchival ResourcesArchivesUSA

17. Finding Stuff Outside of BC Use WorldCatWorldCat Try Interlibrary loan (ILL)ILL Use your Boston Library Consortium (BLC) cardBLC

18. Some General Tips Get leads from footnotes and bibliographies in books and articles Use call numbers to browse the stacks for similar books

19. Want help from a real person? Contact Michelle Baildon or other subject specialistsMichelle Baildon Visit or call (2-4472) the Reference Desk during these hourshours Email or online chat (Ask 24/7) reference helpEmailonline chat