Finding Books
Scholarly articles are often found in journals, which compile several peer-reviewed articles on similar topics in the same place. You will often find these articles in online databases or in the periodicals section of your library, but it is still valuable to find pertinent information in actual, physical, books. Books cover virtually any topic, fact or fiction. For research purposes, you will probably be looking for books that synthesize all the information on one topic to support a particular argument or thesis. They will be especially beneficial if you want lots of information on a topic or want to put your topic in context with other important issues.
To find books, you shouldlook in the library catalog, which is typically the main search bar located on the library homepage. The catalog includes books, reference books, media, maps, and titles of periodicals [like magazines, journals, and newspapers]. Note that the catalog does notsearch for articles within periodicals and journals, and you’ll need to utilize a separate article search to find those.
Search result from a library catalog search.
You canlocate the book by finding the call number.Call numbers are arranged in alphanumeric order. The call number is based on the book’s subject, author’s last name, and publication date [so once you find a book on your topic, you may find something even better by browsing the shelves around it!].Call numbers are designated based on the library’s classification system, which determines how books are organized. Many academic libraries use the Library of Congress Classification, while others use the Dewey Decimal System.
Let’s say you are looking for the book called Cyberspace romance: the psychology of online relationships by Monica Whitty and Adrian Carr.You searched in the library catalog and found the call number: HQ 801.82 .W55 2006. Here’s what that means:
- HQ: Subclass HQ refers to The Family, Marriage, Women
- 801.82 refers to Man-Woman relationships, Courtship, Dating
- W refers to the first author’s last name, “Whitty”
- 2006 is the year the book was published
Quick Navigation
Types of Credible Sources for Research
Credible Websites
Credible Journal Articles
Credible News
How To Start A Search For Sources
The Credibility of a Source
Free Resources For Learning
Sites For Scholarly Research
List of Credible Research Sources to Consider
Government Entities
Periodicals
Academic Libraries and Databases
Professional Standards Organizations
Indexes & Abstracts
Newspaper Indexes
Reference Books
Sources To Avoid When Conducting Research
Tips to Finding Research Paper Sources
Writing a research paper requires patience and a lot of in-depth analysis of a topic chosen and the sources used. This assignment is very popular in all college and school classes thus it helps students and writers showcase their basic skills such as critical thinking, cohesive writing, and reading comprehension.
Although this project is highly common, not everyone knows how to make a proper research paper. Therefore the article below can be of great help, thus it includes detailed information about writing a research paper and everything a student or writer needs to know about finding credible sources. Furthermore, lists of trustworthy sources for research in several fields such as periodical, academic, indexes, and government entities.
Lastly, some general tips to prove the credibility of a source and how to begin a source-finding process for an award-winning research paper. The following information can be used as a great guide for those in need of a beacon for creating a quality written composition worthy of academic achievement.