NSF Students: Orientation for Research Projects
Purpose: To acquaint you with materials in Cornette Library and on the World Wide Web that will make research for your assignment easier.
Reference Sources
- Excellent place to start research.
- Provide background information.
- Include basic information sources like dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, chronologies, and research guides.
Bibliographies
- Provide list of sources (books, articles, etc.) for specific subjects. May include annotations.
Guides to Research
- Provide list of sources (books, articles, etc.) for specific subjects. May include annotations.
Subject Encyclopedias
- Provide in-depth, scholarly articles, focused on a specific subject or discipline. Often include bibliographies.
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Books
- Cornette Library's Online Catalog
- Includes books, government documents, videos, journal titles, etc. available throughout the Library. Suggested searches include:
- a keyword search for your subject, such as organic chemistry.
- the general LC subject heading organic compounds -- synthesis.
- the LC subject heading for a specific time and place such as Chemistry, Organic -- History -- 20th century..
To determine the most appropriate subject headings for your search, refer to the red Library of Congress Subject Headings near the Reference computers in the Library or search the online Library of Congress Authorities Catalog.
- WorldCat
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- Online catalog for libraries around the world.
- Lists Cornette Library books along with many more in other libraries.
- Search by keyword, author, title, or subject.
- Request books not in Cornette Library through the pre-filled Interlibrary loan form. Allow at least two weeks for the books to arrive.
Materials from Other Libraries
Your research is not limited only to what you find in Cornette Library and its online databases. Consider using the resources listed below to expand your research.
- WorldCat
- Lists books and other materials in libraries around the world.
- Interlibrary Loan
- Extends your research possibilities beyond Cornette Library; allow at least 1 week to receive articles, 2-3 weeks to receive books; request ILL materials online.
- TexShare
- Allows you to check out books from numerous college and university libraries in Texas.
- LEIAN Passport
- Allows you to check out books from various libraries in Texas and New Mexico.
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Journal, Magazine, & Newspaper Articles
Provide current information
- Library shelves contain more than 1500 bound and current journals.
- Microform (film or fiche) available for dozens of leading newspapers, as well as other periodicals.
- Databases index articles found in journals and magazines.
- Citation only;
- Citation and a short summary of the article (abstract);
- Full text;
- General, covering many kinds of topics, and specialized, for specific disciplines.
- For this assignment be sure to use scholarly sources, not general interest magazines. The differences are important, for citation and for evaluating reliability.
How to Access Databases
- On-campus: In the library or HELC.
- Off-campus: Login with your Buff Advisor username (for example, js123456) and your Buff Advisor password (for example, buffaloes).
- Database citations not in full-text may be located in Cornette Library's online catalog, or the list of online journals.
- Use Interlibrary Loan to request articles inaccessible through Cornette library. Allow up to 3 weeks for articles to arrive.
Which database?
- Web of Science
- Cross-disciplinary index of significant scientific literature. Full-text access is through the SFX linking software.
- To use the EndNote software for reference storing and formatting, create an individual login.
- ScienceDirect Journals
- Full-text scholarly articles. Very strong in medical and life sciences, also chemistry, physics, and engineering.
- Wiley Interscience
- Several hundred full-text scholarly journals. Search interface is more difficult than others.
- Power Search
- Searches several databases simultaneous. Create an individual login to search a self-defined set of databases.
- Subject Pathfinders -
- Online database description list: indicates best bets for each topic, and access to full-text
- Print indexes or abstracts
- May prove useful for some topics. Shelved in the Indexes/Abstracts area of Reference. Ask for assistance at the Reference Desk.
Logo
- Displays in most of our databases. Links from a citation to one or more of the following:
- One or more links to full-text of the cited article,
- A link to a pre-set search of the Cornette Library catalog for the cited item,
- A link to a pre-filled Interlibrary Loan request form for the article, or
- A link to various help options.
- For more information see the tutorial Using SFX to Link to Articles
Need Help?
- Ask at the Reference Desk (first floor) or Periodicals Desk (second floor).
- Call 651-2215 during the hours Cornette Library is open.
- Use the "Ask A Librarian" form for electronic reference support.
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Government Documents
Cornette Library collects United States federal and Texas state documents on many topics.
- Most U.S. documents published since 1994 are listed in the Cornette Library's online catalog.
- For older documents, you will need to use the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications.
- We also have British Parliamentary Papers from 1731-1978/79 in microform.
Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications
- Indexes all United States government documents made available through the Government Printing Office.
- Includes Congressional reports, hearings, debates, and records; judiciary materials; documents issued by executive departments (Defense, State, Labor, Office of the President, etc.).
- Dates available include:
- Documents/Reference (1913-present).
- Online via FirstSearch. (1976-present)
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Web Sites
- The World Wide Web is an excellent source of information.
- Not everything found on the Web is accurate.
- You must evaluate information on the Web.
Web Guides
- Searchable lists of annotated web sites, discussion lists, and electronic journals that have met specific selection criteria.
- Scout Report Archives
- Scholarly. Keyword or advanced search. Results listed by relevance.
- INFOMINE Scholarly Internet Resource Collections
- Scholarly. Keyword search or browse by general subject area. Can limit to free sites.
- ipl2 - "Information You Can Trust" (merger of Internet Public Library and Librarians' Index to the Internet)
- General public interest. Keyword search, or browse by general topic and subtopic.
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Citing Your Sources
Why must I cite the sources I use for research projects?
- To give credit to the author of the information you use.
- To avoid plagiarism (WTAMU Code of Student Life: Appendix I-Academic Integrity Code)
a serious offense that can result in failure or expulsion. - So that others can verify the information.
- To assist others in doing their own research.
How Do I Cite My Sources
- Style Guides - Ask at the Reference Desk for the APA, MLA, Turabian, Chicago, & AMA guides.
- Additional assistance is available from our Citation Basics web page.
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Your Comments
- Suggestions for improvements?
- Particularly helpful items?
- Please email Linda Chenoweth.
Thank you.
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