Ingram Library Biology Research

Library Reference Desk:                                               678-839-6495             ASKAL@westga.edu

Biology Library Liaison: Jean Cook                               678-839-6356             jcook@westga.edu

Nursing Library Liaison: Mary Jane Rootes                   678-839-6363             mrootes@westga.edu

 

Finding Materials: Once you’ve picked a topic, how do you find materials on it?

Your Account: find the current database password, renew items

Catalog: find books that provide an overview of your topic, government documents

Databases: find articles that cover the most recent research, highly subject specific

 

Search Tips:

Use subject specific databases. Browse or use search to find databases that cover your topic.

            keyword search for botany, toxicology, genetics, nursing, psychology, newspaper,

Use scientific names. Scholarly journals and books generally use field-specific vocabulary.

epistaxis for nose bleed orca orcinus for killer whale                  etiology for cause

Use truncation (usually an asterisk). Truncated terms retrieve all variations of that term.

            therap* retrieves therapy, therapies, therapist, therapeutic

Use one good article or book to find more.  Research tends to build on itself.

Use the author’s and librarian’s efforts to supplement your own by:

            a. following citations in the material’s bibliography.

            b. searching the subject terms in the material’s database or catalog record.

 

Getting Materials: Once you’ve found the article or book you want, how do you get it?

Books, videos, government documents, maps:

Start by using our Catalog.

1. If it’s in our (blue) catalog, it’s in our library.  Use the call number.

2. If it’s in the GIL Universal (orange) catalog, use GIL Express Request at top of record.

3. If it’s not in either, or you can’t request it, use interlibrary loan (Illiad).

Articles:

If you’re starting from a database, many articles are full text.  Click the “Full Text” link.

Otherwise, click “Find a Copy”, , or  .

If you’re looking up an article citation from scratch, start by using the Journal Locator.

            1. Enter the journal’s name.

2. If it’s online, click the journal’s title link (in blue).

            Check that the databases cover the publication date of your article. 

Enter any information you have, then click the blue database link.

            3. If it’s not online, or online doesn’t cover the article’s date, click “Search 2” at top.

                        Use the record to see if we have that volume in print.

                        If so, come to the library to retrieve a copy.

            4. If it’s not in print here, click “Search 3” at top.

                        If it is in print at another library, you can go there to retrieve a copy.

5. If it’s not in print at a library you can reach, click “Request a copy” at top.

            Log in and follow the directions.

                        If you haven’t created a user profile, click “First Time Users” to register.

If you ever need help, please contact any of the numbers above.