Finding
Materials at the University Library
Let's face it, finding what you want in any library is a challenge.
Most users are looking for
- Print books
- All older books (before 1991) are in Rover, the ASRS. Others
are on library shelves. The web page on Obtaining
Books helps with these details.
- Electronic books
- Electronic books are in several databases, and there are many
free collections of older books and classics. These collections
are described on this page.
- Journal articles
-
The articles in journals are found in databases containing
that journal. Sometimes a journal is in more than one database.
Use Finding Journals to get
help with databases of journals.
Watch this
YouTube video made by the Peabody Library for help in separating
scholarly v. popular articles.
Especially important to you as a student judging quality. This
video contrasts databases provided by CSU with what can
be found using Google.
- Audiovisual media
- DVDs, music CDs, some fiche or film, and a few other oddities
are available.
Other libraries have provided help
- http://spcollege.libguides.com/content.php?pid=99283&sid=745016
- http://www.law.drake.edu/library/?pageID=libMaterials
- http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/basics/workshops.html
The kinds of library materials
Books come in various forms and formats. Use these links to help
locate and use the items.
Library Tools
- Call Number Guides
- Call numbers are used to shelve and locate materials in the library.
- Terminology Used in the Library
- A glossary of library terms
- Guide to “MyAccount” in
I-Share
- You must login in order to access your MyAccount information,
to settle library fines and fees, to renew books, to access your
Remembered Searches and Remembered Titles, or to set up your search
Preferences.
- Tutorials
- Guides to using the library catalog, using journals, finding
articles, researching topics, and more
Various Guides, How-To's, and Skill-builders
Research Tools
- Guide to Citation Styles
- Here are guides to how to cite using standard format. The page
provides links to university courtesy pages detailing American
Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language Association
(MLA) style guides.
- How to Research a Topic
- Identifies and describes research steps and library resources
appropriate to completing a paper
- Print and electronic resources for obtaining funding and aid
-
- RefWorks—an online research management, writing and
collaboration tool—is designed to help researchers easily
gather, manage, store and share all types of information, as
well as generate citations and bibliographies.
RefWorks
Basics 
RefWorks
Tutorial RefWorks
Login
A library, the "old" library, was thought of as a collection of
items rather than a place to find many services. The words from
the older practices linger, and library materials are thought
of as the "core" or the library. As a result, whether things are
big or little, hardback or soft bound, physical or virtual, or
limited in number still dominates some thinking. These formats
(scrolls, books, maps, and so on) are often placed apart from
the subjects to which they lend support. Just ask.
Find research sources, strategies, and support from your Chicago
State University librarians.
This is list of old and new search engines useful for finding general and specific information in ‘blogs and sites on the World Wide Web
