GEOG 5441A/5441G
Change of Mentality
Part of the Process
Recognizing that searching library resources - finding, reading, evaluating, and synthesizing literature/data/documents- is an integral part of any research project, is the first step in preparation. Searching for resources should not be left as a last minute activity. The process involves thought, multiple searches, organization, and knowledge of where/how to find the resources required. Use this guide to help you navigate the process, and please remember to reach out to your library liaison if you need additional assistance.
Take the Time
- To create an Illiad account if you don't already have one! Interlibrary loan will probably be a reality at some point in your research future. Save time now, and create your account. This will alleviate a great deal of frustration and confusion once you are researching and find something that the library does not subscribe to.
- Remember, even if you are on campus, your personal laptop will have an IP address that is not recognized. You will need to authenticate (your GS credentials) to fully access materials. Sometimes the initial login does not complete this. If you are searching the databases and see a yellow bar at the top of the page - you need to click and authenticate!
- Ask-A-Librarian Chat is there for a reason! There is no need to second guess and deal with major frustration while searching library resources. The library chat function is on the library home page, and is also available through our library guides (little golden bubble on each page). Use it and receive an immediate answer to your question!
More Tips:
Take Notes! Library Research is an Active Process!
Do the same search more than once!
Notice Author Names, Journal Titles, Databases, of ANY sources that look promising. (Remember, the databases help you with this!)
Use the References of a source to help you find additional sources! If you need help going from a citation to a source in hand, ASK!!
Use the Cited BY, or Times Cited in this Database , or Citing Articles, to find more current articles than the one you found.
Learn to set up Alerts. You can set up Alerts for Specific Journals, Specific Articles, and also Search Alerts! Alerts essentially create a situation where you can monitor and continue to search without actually being in the database. If you need assistance setting up alerts, please contact your library liaison!