Mastering Library Research

Researching with Books and Library Catalogs

• Books provide more detail than other sources and are important for research.

• Scholarly books contain intricate details, organized logically into chapters, and carefully documented with bibliographies, endnotes, footnotes, or references.

• Books can lead you to other useful sources and should be used strategically.

• Strategies for using books in research include searching a library's online catalog, using WorldCat, locating books on a library's shelves, and using interlibrary loan to obtain books not available in your library.

• A research log is important when investigating books to guide the investigation.

• A card catalog is a system for finding books in a library using 3-by-5 cards arranged alphabetically in wooden cases.

• The electronic version of a card catalog is an online or library catalog, which requires a login for affiliated people to save records, keep search histories, and export citations.

• Online catalogs provide information about each book, including the call number and status, and offer keyword, author, title, and subject searches.

• Boolean operators are a type of search technique using words like "and" and "or" to refine searches in online catalogs.

• Call numbers are unique identifiers assigned to each book in a library's collection, and academic librarians use the Dewey Decimal Classification or Library of Congress Classification system to classify books.

• Interlibrary Loan is a service that allows users to borrow books from other libraries for free or a small fee and can include books, book chapters, journal articles, videos, and reels of microfilm.

• If you can't find a book in your local library, use Interlibrary Loan to borrow it from another library.Tips for Conducting Research Using Library Resources

• E-books are electronic versions of physical books that can be accessed through library websites.

• E-books have the advantage of being searchable by keywords and easier to navigate.

• E-books can be accessed through a link in the book's item record on the library website.

• Libraries purchase both physical and e-books for their collections.

• Free online books can be found through Project Gutenberg, Google Books, and author sites.

• Google Books is a website that features scanned pages of numerous books about various topics.

• Searches can be run within Google Books to find specific information.

• Not all books on Google Books are available in full.

• Skimming the table of contents and chapter titles can help determine if a book is relevant for research.

• The bibliography of a book is a list of sources used in the book.

• Interlibrary loan can be used to order physical books or electronic versions of book chapters and journal articles.

• Starting research using Interlibrary Loan several weeks before a deadline is recommended.

Learn how to conduct research using books and library catalogs with this informative quiz. Discover the benefits of scholarly books, strategies for using library catalogs, and how to utilize interlibrary loan services. Test your knowledge on call numbers, Boolean operators, and e-books. Whether you're a student or researcher, this quiz will help you sharpen your research skills and make the most out of library resources.