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Using the Library
Many people see the library as obsolete with the advent
of internet research, but that is far from the truth. There
are many print resources that you cannot access online and
for an in-depth research project you would be remiss if you
overlook library resources. Besides finding printed
material, you will find reference librarians who are very
helpful in locating various source materials for any topic
you can name. Here are a few reasons to use the library
versus the internet.
- You can focus more of your time on research, instead
of trying to decide if the information you find is true.
Reliability is important.
- Most Microfilm is not available online and would
have to be obtained at your library.
- Many print sources are not available online because
it is not financially advantageous for authors and
publishers to provide this service.
Using the Libraries Online Resources
- Some libraries have digitized archival resources and
also provide access to their special collections online.
- Your library can also give you access to online
subscription databases that you would not be able to use
without your library card. Some of these are accessible
via your home computer with your student ID
number/password; others can only be accessed at the
library.
- Don't overlook the library as a quiet place to study
- but check it out to make sure their facilities, hours
of operation, and patronage frequency are conducive to
your study plan.
Research on the Internet
When writing a short paper on a general topic or on a
current topic, the Internet can be a wonderful tool. Being
able to access the information at home saves both time and
money. As long as the student finds several resources and
checks their validity, using the internet makes sense. There
are several ways to evaluate the credibility of online
sources such as:
- Evaluating the validity of their documentation. Do
they document their sources and are they scholarly?
- Are the links valid and up-to-date? Follow a few of
them to see where they lead.
- Can you tell who the author is and can you contact
them?
- Can you tell how old the information is and if it is
still valid. Does it contain the latest statistics for
your subject? If your subject is health related, does it
include the last medicine or treatment for disease?
Using outdated web pages can pose a serious problem if
you base your research conclusions on old data.
- Sites maintained by state and local government and
academic institutions are normally trustworthy.
- What is the purpose of the site? Is the information
slanted for personal gain?
- What are the affiliations of the author? Is the
author an academic, or is this a personal blog that has
turned into a commercial web site for personal gain?
Plagiarism and the Internet
You commit plagiarism when you use others’ ideas and
words without clearly acknowledging them as the source of
those ideas and words. Plagiarism is serious and can be a
reason for failing a course or expulsion from school. The
Internet has a wealth of information at the click of a
mouse, and because of this plagiarism has become a
widespread problem. Many colleges and universities use
anti-plagiarism software to evaluate term papers and other
written assignments. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to
know what constitutes plagiarism at your school. Some
students plagiarize unknowingly, which is not an excuse.
- Don’t put yourself in the position to cheat. Lack of time
management skills doesn’t constitute a reason to do things
illegally.
- Know what plagiarism is before you start gathering sources
for your project.
- If you are unsure on how to cite a particular source, look
in the style guide that is used by your instructor or ask
the instructor.
- Don't be tempted by "paper mills," online retailers of
pre-written term papers, or other homework assignments. Most
likely your instructors can spot these quick-fix solutions
to poor time management.
Footnotes and References There are various style guides available to help structure
your paper and to cite sources. The most common are APA,
MLA, Chicago/Turabian Citation Guide for Writers, and AMA.
In most cases your instructor will have a preference, so be
sure and find out which they prefer.
- Once you find out the style guide to use, use it
consistently throughout the paper.
- If your style manual doesn’t include your type of source,
ask your instructor.
- When gathering your sources for your paper, try and locate
as many primary sources as possible.
- Many schools are now requiring students to be computer
literate - testing or requiring a demonstration of computer
literacy, which may include the use of certain word
processing software. The most popular word processing
software has an excellent footnote option that will help you
to annotate your work as you write.
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