Anglais 111113: Research in the Library and Online

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Anglais 111/113 Research in the Library and
Online

• Diane Delongchamp, Alison Henry and Kim Frail
• Fall 2007

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Outline

• Getting started with research
• Books vs. periodicals
• Searching databases
• MLA International Bibliography
• Accessing periodical articles online/in print
• Become familiar with the English Language and
  Literature research guide
• Locate MLA International Bibliography
• Locate MLA Style Guides
• Locate online dictionaries and encyclopedia
• Recap

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Objectives

• Understand what information is available from the
  library catalogue and from databases
• Understand how to access articles online and in
  print
• Locate and become familiar with the English
  Language and Literature resource guide
• Understand how to search for and retrieve
  articles from the MLA International Bibliography
  database

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Books

• Books are a good place to start if the author is
  well known (Margaret Atwood, Shakespeare, etc.)
• The bibliographies within books on your topic
  provide references to other books and articles.

(NEOS Libraries) Catalogue
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For works or critiques about the author, search
the author as a subject
http//www.ualberta.ca/
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Find books about both an author and a specific
topic

• Type an authors name and a topical term,
  joining these with and
• oscar wilde and victorian
• sophocles and (fate or destiny or gods)
• james joyce and modernism

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Periodical Articles

• Periodical articles are a good starting
  point if
• An authors reputation is recent or local
• You are looking for something very specific
• (e.g. The symbolism of flowers in Hamlet)

Search databases to find periodicals on a
specific topic
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What is a periodical?

• Periodical
• Published on an ongoing, regular basis
• Also known as journals
• Magazines, journals, newspapers

• Formats
• electronic,
• paper
• microformat

Periodicals may be scholarly or of general
interest. Select carefully.
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Citation

• The written reference to a periodical article
• The information you need to
• find the article
• include in a list of sources used
• (e.g. bibliography)

Keep your citations!
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Citation example
Article title
Periodical title
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Finding Periodicals in the Library

• When all you have is a citation
• Search the NEOS Libraries Catalogue
• Search by Periodical title

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Search the Catalogue for the periodical title
The Wordsworth Circle Does the Library have
Vol. 20 (1989)?
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Locating paper periodicals

• Current Issues
• Kept on the 2nd floor of Rutherford South
• Shelved around the perimeter
• Organized alphabetically by title
• Older Issues
• Located in Rutherford North or South, interfiled
  with books by call number

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Help is available at the Rutherford Reference
Desk ?
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Part 2 - Databases

• Identify articles for your research in databases
• DBs may be subject specific (MLA International
  Bibliography) or have broad coverage (Academic
  Search Premier)
• May include citations, or full text, or a mix
• There are hundreds of databases (600)
• Databases are organized in different ways
• You should adapt your search techniques to each
  database
• HELP information is always available

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MLA International Bibliography

• Modern Language Association
• The primary source for research articles in
  literature and language
• Citations to journal articles, books, and
  chapters in books
• Links to full-text articles
• International in scope very scholarly
• 1963 present

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Finding MLA from the library home page
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English Language Literature Subject Guide
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MLA search tips
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More databases!

• The Cambrige History of English and American
  Literature
• Literature online
• Literature Resource Centre
• Critical essays about the authors works

English Language Literature subject page
Handout
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Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, etc.

• Print largest selection is at Rutherford some
  volumes at BSJ.
• Example Reference Guide to English Literature.
  2nd Ed. PR 106 R332 1991
• For complete listing of reference works in
  English literature (print and online)

English Language Literature subject page
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MLA Citation Style

• The standard  style  in English literature for
  citing (acknowledging) the articles and books
  used to write your paper
• Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of
  Research Papers. 6th edition. New York The
  Modern Language Association of America, 2003.
• Call number LB 2369 G52 (Reference General
  Collection)
• Learn it, love it.
• More help with MLA citation is available from La
  Centrale
• MLA Style Guides available on the English
  Language Literature subject page

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Recap

• Search the (NEOS Libraries) Catalogue to find
  books and periodical titles
• Search databases to find articles
• esp. MLA International Bibliography for articles
  in English Literature
• Use the English Language and Literature subject
  guide to remember useful databases and find more
  specialized research guides, online dictionaries
  and encyclopedias
• MLA Style Sheet is the official way to cite
  articles and books used in your papers

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Recap Catalogue vs. Databases

• Library Catalogue
• Search for books by title, author or subject
• Search for periodical titles by title or subject
• Access the title and call number of the book or
  periodical

• Databases
• Search for articles about a topic
• Access the citation or the full text of articles

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Rememberresearch help is available!
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Copy of todays presentation
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• Thank you for your attention.
• Happy Searching!