Reference Books
Look in an encyclopedia to
get ideas or background information on a particular topic. Articles
in subject encyclopedias, such as the Encyclopedia of Marriage
and the Family are written by experts in that subject and usually
include a bibliography of recommended readings. To locate a subject encyclopedia article, use CREDO Reference using your topic as your keyword. Ask a librarian if you need help locating an encyclopedia article appropriate to your subject area.
Library Catalog: Books
and Audiovisuals
Access the Library
Catalog. You can use the keyword search box or the "Heading" tab to locate books
on your topic. If an item is located at the campus you attend, use
the call number to find the book on the shelf. Items
located in libraries at other Blinn College campuses may be ordered
by clicking on the "Request" button below the item you
want. Items are generally delivered to your home campus library within
24 hours or less.
Periodical Databases: Articles
from Magazines, Journals, & Newspapers
The best way to find articles
on your topic is to use a periodical database. Periodical databases (sometimes also referred to as periodical indexes)
can be searched by keyword or subject. In some databases, the article
citations in your results list might have a link to the article itself.
If so, you can read it and print it out. You might also have the option
to save it to your computer, or e-mail it to yourself. If the full
text of the article is not available in the database you are searching,
Finding
Periodical Articles can help you find a copy of the article from
another database, from an e-journal, or in printed form in the library.
For links to periodical indexes,
go to: General
databases / Databases by Topic / Newspaper
Databases
Government Publications
Selected full-text government
publications can be accessed through SIRS
Government Reporter, a full-text online database. The Internet
is also a good source of government information. USA.gov
and FDsys: Federal Digital System are excellent
websites to begin your search for government publications.
For additional links, go to:
Federal,
State, and Local Government Links
Internet
Thousands of high-caliber
web pages and well-regarded databases are available on the Internet.
However, many more are unreliable, inaccurate, or even deceptive.
It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether the Internet
resource is worth using in a research project.
For help in assessing web
sites, go to: Evaluating
Websites
Librarians: Ask for Help
The resources mentioned above
are a selection of many available to you. Librarians are available
to help you in the library, by telephone, live chat, and by email.
