Course Research Guide
COMP 100: Composition
Spring 2008 - Professor Case
Finding Books in Milne Library | Finding Books in Other Libraries
Finding Periodical Articles | Finding a Copy of a Periodical Article
Finding Books in Milne Library
- For example: Gree* myth* for Greek/Greece myth(s), mythology(ies)
- stem cell* research for stem cell(s) research
- For example: 2/0 (two items available and on shelf)
- 1/1 (one item available and in circulation)
On the library web site, enter search terms in the box under Find Books & Media. Truncate or shorten terms using an *, if you are uncertain of the spelling, or if searching for variations of a word, such as myth(s), mythology(ies), mythical. Press Enter or click on Go.
An “All Fields” search will bring up a list of items that might not all be on your topic. For example, if you enter “music” in the search box, your results will include items with “music” anywhere in the record for the item, which could be in the title, author, publication information, contents notes, or subject headings. To limit your search by author, title, or Library of Congress subject heading (if known), you can use the drop-down menu next to the search box and choose the appropriate field.
In any list of results, the number of items owned by the library will be followed by the number of items in circulation. A zero indicates that the item is not in circulation and should be on the shelf. A number following the slash indicates the number of items in circulation.
Note the call number for the item and click on College at Oneonta to determine the floor on which the item is located or consult Library Floor Plans for specific location.
If you do not find the item on the shelf, ask at the Circulation Desk to see if the book has been checked in and is waiting to be shelved. If still not available, complete a “Search” card for the item. A staff member will look for the item and notify you of the results. Items in circulation can be requested on interlibrary loan from another library.
For more information about any item, click on the title in the results list. To limit the list to those items more specifically about your topic, click on the headings after subject at the bottom of the record for the item. The resulting list should have fewer, but more relevant, items.
Books with no call numbers indicate items that are on order, in process, or part of an electronic book collection. Ask a librarian for help.
Finding Books in Other Libraries
WorldCat is an online database listing materials in U.S. libraries and selected libraries throughout the world. Holdings are indicated for Milne Library, and the Stevens-German Library at Hartwick College. You can search by author, title, subject, and keyword. You can request items needed on ILLiad - Interlibrary Loan, for which a link is provided on the record for each item. You can also check out items at Hartwick College with your SUNY Oneonta ID card.
Finding Periodical Articles
- The following databases are not focused on any one topic area, but provide indexing and access to articles across topics and disciplines. Often these are good places to begin your research, but you may need to use the subject databases for more scholarly research projects.
Central Search lets you search for articles in more than one database at a time. By doing this you can discover which databases are the best for your particular topic. The more advanced search features that each individual database offers are not available through Central Search, nor are the results as comprehensive as they are if you search each database separately. However, it can be a good starting place for you research. You can select which specific databases you'd like to search by going to Central Search.
All of the following databases are linked from the library home page under Articles & Databases, by selecting Databases by Name (A-Z).
GENERAL DATABASES
- Academic Search Premier
- Provides full text for selected scholarly journals and popular magazines across the disciplines.
- JSTOR archive
- Provides access to the full text of journals in many subject areas. There is no coverage for the last 3-5 years.
- LEXIS-NEXIS
- Includes full text from state, national, and international news sources, but generally without illustrations. Also provides full text from selected legal, medical, and business sources.
- New York Times Archive, 1851-2003
- Includes full-text of this major national newspaper.
- Project Muse
- Provides full text of journal articles in the social sciences and humanities.
- Reader's Guide Retrospective 1890-1982
- Index to popular periodicals, many of which are in Milne Library's collection.
- The following databases contain indexing and access to articles which focus on a specific discipline, as each description explains. Use these databases for in-depth research on a topic.
SUBJECT DATABASES
- Business Source Premier
- Provides full text of scholarly journals in business.
- CQ Researcher
- Includes substantial overviews of timely topics accompanied by history, tables, bibliographies, and notes.
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- A collection of full-text electronic reference books covering many subject areas. The print versions of many of these are in the reference collection. They can be searched by keyword, a word in the title, source, subject, image caption, full text, and audience. Good for background or overview of topics. Most entries include a bibliography.
- Health and Wellness Resource Center
- Indexes periodicals, pamphlets, and reference books in the health sciences, with some full text available.
- Opposing Viewpoints
- Includes articles and topic overviews in full text.
- Professional Development Collection and ERIC
- Includes full text for articles in education journals.
- Public Agenda Online
- Web site that includes both in-depth analyses and opinion studies for major policy issues.
Finding a Copy of a Periodical Article
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Locating the full text of the article in electronic form:
- If there is no full text with the citation for an article, click on Find It! If a full text of the article is available in another database, there will be a link connecting you to that database, where you can locate the article in the appropriate volume, or search for the article by title or author.
- You can also determine whether a periodical is available electronically by entering the periodical title in the search box under Find Journals and clicking on Search. If the title is available in electronic form, check the coverage, and click on the database link(s) and search for the item(s) needed.
- Locating the article in print or microfilm, if unavailable in electronic form:
- Click on Check Library Catalog under "Additional Options for Finding Full Text." If the title is listed, click on "Availability" and check to see if the volume needed is included in the "Summary Holdings." Note the location of the periodical title. Periodicals are aranged in alphabetical order by title on shelves or in microfilm drawers on library level B1.
- Requesting an article on Interlibrary Loan:
- If you find an article from a periodical that is not available at Milne Library in any form, you can request the article through ILLIAD - Interlibrary Loan through a link on the record for the article needed (see computer screen that comes up after you click on Find It!). Click on ILLIAD Interlibrary Loan Request Form. You need to be registered to submit ILL requests. See a librarian for help.
Adapted by Logan Rath (rathlt@oneonta.edu)
Mary Lynn Bensen (bensenml@oneonta.edu) & Kay Benjamin (benjamkd@oneonta.edu)
Reference Librarians
Last revised January 2008