Mrs. B’s Guide to Library Research
Compiled from Thomas Mann (2005) The Oxford Guide to Library Research
“One can reasonably say that libraries today routinely encompass the entire Internet – that is, they will customarily
provide terminals allowing free access to all of the open portions of the Net – but that the Internet does not, and
cannot, contain more than a small fraction of everything discoverable within library walls” (Mann, 2005, p. xiii).
“If you wish to be a good researcher you have to be aware of the trade-offs between virtual and real libraries” (p. xiii).
Other helpful research tips:
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Do not procrastinate – good research takes time. This project is based on the quality of research you
do, so be sure to take time on this step of the process.
When reading through any source, always consider the following in relation to the topic or question
you are researching:
o AUTHORITY, ACCURACY, CURRENCY, RELEVANCY, BIAS, APPROPRIATENESS
When reading through search results, read the abstract, summary, or keywords to decide if it is worth saving,
printing, or using in your research. If you decide that a source might be useful, save it, print it, or take adequate
notes while reading it.
o Create a system of organization that will help you keep track of your research.
o I create research notes, either hand-written or typed, where I copy down source information (so I can
write my citation later and also so I can go back and find the source later, if needed) and take notes on
what I have read that is relevant to my research question. If I write down a quote from the source, I
always include the page number. I go back to these research notes when I begin outlining and writing
my paper.
When you come across a great source, read through its references and mark any that sound relevant to your
research. Utilize your research skills to locate this source, read it, and evaluate whether or not it is useful to your
research.
General and Focused Browsing of the Bookstacks – in the Library
 “The fact that books in libraries are shelved by subject, rather than by accession numbers or by the
height of the volumes, gives researchers a major advantage in gaining subject access to their contents
– one that, in many cases, cannot be matched by any computer searches” (46).
 “The segregation of books into defined categories also enables you to see whatever words you spot
within the boundaries of the given subject concept. Such shelving allows for – indeed, positively
encourages and enables – discovery by serendipity or recognition” (49).
 Considering Mann’s points, you can do a search in the library’s online catalog, go to the stacks to find
that book, and then take a look around and see what other books are on the surrounding shelves.
o I have found many helpful sources with this method.
 “If your topic is indeed scattered among many class areas, how do you determine which areas to
search? Here again the complementary nature of the library catalog comes to the rescue… The
catalog, via its subject headings, thus serves as the functional index to the classification scheme in the
bookstacks – that is, a single subject heading in the catalog may bring up records that steer you to
several areas of the class scheme” (59).
Subject Headings
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“The most frequent, and most serious, problem that people have in looking for books in the catalog is
determining the right subject headings to use” (18).
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
 red books in the library
You can browse through these to find the specific WORDS to use in your keyword or subject search.
These subject headings can be used to search for books within the library as well as for journal articles
or other sources on databases.
You can also do a keyword search in the library’s catalog using your own terms and browse through
the results to find better subject search terms.
Go to rattler.tamucc.edu > Find Books & More > Word Search
o You can then use the Subject terms to search under the Subject tab
Subject Headings and Databases
 Many databases will have their own version of subject headings or descriptors (similar to the LCSH).
 The best idea is to brainstorm a list of related terms on your topic or issue that you can begin to
search with.
o Begin entering these terms in the search box and browse through the results.
o The page listing the results for each source will have subject headings or keywords listed that
you can use to find more sources.
 Go to rattler.tamucc.edu > Find Articles > You can select a database from the tabs, search by title, or
use the subject guides along the right hand side.
Researching Your Issue: Finding a Variety of Sources
What textbooks will I rely on for basic, introductory information?
Sometimes a textbook (in history, political science, biology, etc.) will work well to find background
information. Print and online encyclopedias will also provide basic information. There are several print
encyclopedias dedicated to various topics in the Bell Library. Wikipedia (can be) a good place to begin your
research and gain some basic information about the context of your subject – tip: use the sources at the end
of a wiki article to read the sources yourself. YOU CANNOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE.
What specialized books are available on the topic and can I access them?
The TAMUCC online catalog uses Library of Congress subject headings. Subtopics are categorized
alphabetically. Some books will be in the stacks on the second floor while others will be located throughout
the library. If you need assistance finding something in the library, please ask a librarian (they are very nice
people!) In addition to Portal (which tells you what our Library holds), you can access lists like Academic
Search Premier and even amazon.com for a fairly complete list of what is in print. If you find something that is
not available in the Bell Library, you can access ILIAD - InterLibrary Loan and have any book sent to you here at
TAMUCC. The book can be checked out to you and returned to the Bell Library. ILIAD is a wonderful resource
you should absolutely take advantage of. NOTE: Processing on requests may take as little as two days or as
long as two weeks - allow yourself time!
What articles have been published in scholarly journals and are they available to me?
A scholarly journal, academic journal, or peer-reviewed journal is a collection or articles on a subject or
discipline that is published multiple times per year. The articles go through a process of peer-review, meaning
that the article is reviewed by multiple experts in the field before being published. This process verifies
credibility. There are both online and print indexes that help you locate sources by subject within academic
journals. There are various research guides available through the Mary and Jeff Bell Library website. These
guides are labeled by subject area and contain specific databases that are most relevant to each subject area.
 Some of the most useful databases are: Academic Search Complete, Points of View Reference Center,
LexisNexis Academic, Credo Reference, JSTOR, Project Muse, America: History and Life,
Communication & Mass Media Complete
What articles have been published in popular magazines?
Articles from magazines such as Time, Newsweek, Life etc., are often listed in the indexes above. If our library
doesn't subscribe to the magazine you need, you can retrieve an article through ILIAD.
What articles have been published in newspapers?
The library provides access to major newspapers and their back issues (i.e. The New York Times). You can also
search for these sources online, through Google or other search engines; however, you should never pay for
source material. Always check with a librarian to see if the source can be retrieved through the library at no
cost to you.
 Databases for newspapers: America’s Historical Newspapers, Newspaper Source
What is available on the Internet?
The Internet offers a wide variety of resources, both good and bad. The most important thing to remember
when you are doing research online is CREDIBILITY. How do I know that this source is offering me credible
information?
1. Source. Many web sites that are sponsored by organizations can be an reliable as print sources. For
example, major newspapers now make some or all of their reporting available on the Web. If a Web
site doesn’t indicate ownership, then you have to make judgments about who put it up and why.
 The suffix can offer clues: .org is used by organizations, including nonprofits, .gov by
government bodies, and .edu by educational institutions, generally colleges and universities.
2. Author. Often Web sites give no information about their authors. In such cases, it is difficult or
impossible to determine the author’s qualifications.
3. Timelessness. Many Web pages do not list when they were last updated, which means that you cannot
determine their currency. Furthermore, there are thousands of deserted ghost sites on the Web – sites
that the owners have abandoned but search engines still turn up.
4. Evidence. The accuracy of any evidence found on the web can be difficult to verify. The most reliable
information on the Web stands up to the tests of print evaluation, with clear indication of the
sponsoring organization. Any factual information should be supported by indicating where the
information came from. Reliable Web sites will cite and list their sources.
5. Biases. Many Web sites announce their viewpoint on controversial issues, but others conceal their
attitude with a reasonable tone and seemingly factual evidence such as statistics. Citations and
bibliographies do not ensure that a site is reliable. Look carefully at the links and sources cited.
6. Advertising. Many Web sites are infomercials aimed at getting you to buy a product or service. While
they might contain useful information, they may be biased or untrustworthy.