“Using a Library for Research” Chapter Two from Writing the Modern Research Paper By Robert Dees

Chapter Two Layout n Understanding Academic and Public Libraries. n How Libraries Are Organized. n Library Classification Systems. n Working with the Library Catalog. n Library Services and Resources.

Types of Libraries Public Library n Intended for Average Citizen n Primary Stacks are for Entertainment –Fiction intended for entertainment n Academics are for middle and junior high Academic Library n Intended for the research needs of college & professional scholars. n Primary stacks are for Research –Fiction is that of the cannon.

Types of Libraries Continued Public Library n Periodicals –Popular magazines –Local newspapers Academic Library n Periodicals –Journals –Popular magazines –Nation wide Newspaper selection –Local papers

How Libraries Are Organized: n Reference n Periodical Section n Stacks How Not to Feel Overwhelmed:

Reference Material n Encyclopedias –General and Specific n Biographical reference books n Atlases and gazetteers –gazetteer - a geographical dictionary with a varying amount of descriptive, geographical, historical or statistical information n Dictionaries n Indexes n Almanacs and yearbooks n Book Indexes

Periodical Section n Popular Magazines n Journals n Local and National Newspapers n Periodical Indexes

The Stacks n All books –Fiction –Nonfiction –Anthologies n Bounded Periodicals (Journals)

Other Specialized Areas n In addition to the reference, book and periodical areas many libraries will also maintain a separate microform section, a government documents desk a media library, or a special collections library.

Library Classification Systems n Call Numbers –a series of numbers and / or letters identifying it and the group to which it belongs. –Also tells the librarian where in the library the material is located.

The Two Major Methods of Classification (Who do we divide the vast world of human Knowledge?). n Dewey Decimal (DD) –Uses numbers to indicate subjects –Favored by small libraries (simple) n Example of System – General Works – Philosophy – Religion Pages 20-21

Continue Library System n Library of Congress (LC) –Uses a combination of numbers and letters to indicate subjects. –Preferred by larger institutions –Used at MVNU n Call Letters –A – General Works –B – Philosophy and Religion –C – History – Auxiliary sciences

Working with the Library Catalog n The catalogue contains hundreds to thousands of entries. n Card Catalogue (Info in triplicate) –Subject Card (articles are dropped) –Author Card –Title Card

Working with the Library Computer Catalog n Locating a Subject –Use Key words n Locating an Author –A wide number of options can come up quickly. n Other Features –prints the info –accessible over the phone

Using Other Types of Library Catalogs n Book Catalogs--available in some library reference section n Microform Catalogs n Compact Disk Catalogs Library Services and Resources Librarian Assistance Information Service Search Assistance Interlibrary Loan Reserve and Recall Non-print sources Photocopying Remember: Librarians at MVNU have Faculty Status—their work centers on you..