Lecture topic: Getting Started on the Research Process

• The most intelligent and successful people surround themselves with others who know more than they do.
• Make your project a successful one by surrounding yourself with the library staff: they know more than you do.
• Librarians have different areas of expertise.
• Reference librarians are trained to know the OSU Library database, with regard to books, journal articles, and all subscription services, such as ProQuest, Ebsco, and so on.
• They know how and where to locate information such as articles and books.
• The OSU Edmon Low Library actually increases the reference librarian staff during the time that 1213 students are working on their research projects. They are serious about being there to assist you.

It is easy to find the right librarian

• If possible, work at a computer that is located near to the reference desk, which is where the reference librarians work.
• You will often find reference librarians walking the computer isles announcing their willingness to help students.
• If you have a question or a problem, then go to the reference desk and ask for assistance or advice on the best way to proceed.
• Give the reference librarian some useful information.
• Tell her what topic you are researching, and that you need books and articles on the subject.
• If you are working off-campus call the reference desk at the Edmon Low Library and ask for advice.
• You can turn your off-campus computer into an on-campus computer terminal by logging with your okstate email address and password when directed to do so.

Turn one hit into many:

• Books on similar topics are shelved nearby one another.
• When you locate a book and go to the shelf, take a moment to examine the books on either side of it.
• Chances are they too are books that relate to your topic.
• Check the works cited entries at end of your article.
• The author of the article has also engaged other sources and he has cited them. They relate to the topic of his article, which is also the topic you are writing about. You have just found, then, a goldmine of resources.

Recap:

• Ask the reference librarian.
• Give the reference librarian useful information.
• Turn one hit into many.
• Research the article’s works cited section.