Research

Research

The End Has Come

The End Has Come

The end of the semester is upon us!  If you have last-minute research needs, we are here to assist. Perhaps an article you selected earlier in the semester doesn’t quite fit the way you thought it would, or you need one or two more sources to elucidate on some point.  Your Campus Library has many tools to assist you. These include on-site books and ebooks and full text articles in databases.  You may have special restrictions on the material you choose – for example, that it be peer reviewed (most databases can limit to solely this type of article), or that it be primary – that is, created by a participant in the event described.  Fortunately, a lot of primary … Continued
Under Construction

Under Construction

As construction continues apace in the library, the louder sounds of power tools accompany the more traditional whispers usually heard here.  Stacks of construction materials move in – steel and drywall and paint and glass and tiles.  Electricians and plumbers and painters handle their specialized tasks.  And as different as the fields of construction and libraries are, there are lessons we can learn from our builder colleagues. After all, this is the time of year that your research should be ‘under construction’, as well.  Now that we are over a third of the way through the semester, if you have not already done at least some of your final research by this point, you are falling behind.  Now, chances are … Continued
Your knowledge routine for 2019

Your knowledge routine for 2019

As tempting as it may be to “just google it” your Campus Library offers a vast array of reliable resources, and qualified human support, to help you be successful in your academic endeavors. No matter how long you have been a student, there is always new content and resources to discover. You can enhance your knowledge routine in 2019 by visiting the Library, in person or online! In person, we are here for you with assistance to find books, articles and more – just connect with Matt, KT, Beth or Frances. The Library also houses the Center for Service-Learning, so if you’re interested in serving our community, Ann is the person to see. Online, we offer virtual reference service…simply click … Continued
Nearing the Finish Line

Nearing the Finish Line

A semester can seem like a marathon, but we’re in the final stretch of it now.  With final exams upon us, many papers and projects are coming due.  Most students have probably completed the majority of their research by this point, and may only need one or two extra articles or books to cite.  But even if you haven’t got that far, all hope is not lost. The first step is to focus on what you know.  Pick a topic that you already know a lot about, even if it doesn’t excite you.  This will reduce the amount of exploratory time you need to spend getting up to speed, and as you evaluate claims authors make, it will be invaluable … Continued
Organizing Your Research

Organizing Your Research

Research is changing. Experts from the EBSCO corporation, which produces library databases, spoke recently with IU East library staff about their internal studies on how students used their products – and what the emerging trends are that they plan to address.  Their evidence shows that more students are doing initial research for final projects and papers much earlier in the semester, and doing it more frequently on a smartphone or mobile device, making note of or saving those materials to look through in greater depth closer to the project’s due date.  Generally, students still choose to read them on a traditional computer or laptop, but the importance of mobile devices to the research process has never been greater. But there … Continued