1. LBST 175
Florence Tang
Research Services Librarian
Social Sciences Team
678-547-6261
tang_fy@mercer.edu

2. Cornell University Library definition of
a reference librarian
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/vocab.html
Reference Librarian
Reference librarians are specialists
in the field of information retrieval.
Generally they have a Masters
degree in library science… They
are available at reference desks to
help you find the information you
are looking for.

3. Florence’s office
10:00 AM -7:00 PM
May be working weekends or nights.

4. Questions? Ask Reference!
(678) 547-6282 (Atlanta)
library_reference@mercer.edu
Reference Hours
M - Th 9AM-9PM
F 9AM-6PM
Sat 10AM-6PM
Sun 1PM-9PM
Add askmercer as your buddy!

6. Printer Email Address
print@printme.com

7. Tonight’s Presentation
• Books vs. Journals
• Popular vs. Scholarly Journals
• Keywords vs. Subject Headings
• Boolean search operators
• Library guide for class
• Library catalog
• Article database
• Citation manager
• Game with prizes!

8. Remember to start your research early.
Not everything can be found full-text
online or at all hours.
o Interlibrary Loan
o Interlibrary Use
o Print copies of books and
journals
o Reference Librarian

9. Sources of Information
• Books
• Internet
• Periodicals - Journals, Magazines,
Newspapers
• Primary sources (e.g. historical letters)

10. Encyclopedias
• Background Reading & Brainstorming
• Develop the topic
• Focus the topic

11. Books
 Good for background
 Comprehensive
Information may not be as
current as what you would
find in journal articles or web
sites.
That might or might not be
important.

12. “Scholarly” Journals
• Periodicals used by researchers
to share their findings with one
another and the public.
• They contain articles describing
new research or ideas written in a
formal manner that includes
background information, methods
used, results/interpretation and
significance.
• Research articles are peer-
reviewed

13. Scholarly Journals
How do I tell?
• May contain graphs and charts.
• Written by a scholar in the field or by
someone who has done research in
the field. Degrees attained and
institutional affiliations are often
included by the authors’ names.
• Always cite their sources in the form
of footnotes or bibliographies
• No glossy pages or pictures

14. Examples of Scholarly Journals

15. Examples of Popular Magazines

16. Both are
considered
scholarly

17. Finding Books
Use the CATALOG to find books
http://catalog.mercer.edu
When you search the catalog,
you will find books that are
located in the Swilley Library or
another Mercer Library.

19. Subject Headings Exercise
What is inside all three cans?

20. A long keyword search
(soft drink) or pop or soda or cola or (carbonated beverage)
Search

22. AND
A AND B

23. OR
A OR B

24. NOT
A NOT B

32. Do not
• Share your MUID and
password with others.
• Upload an article to a
webpage that others can
access.
• Copy and paste sections of
an article into your paper
without using quotations.

34. http://departments.mercer.edu/arc/atlanta_schedule.html

35. Kahoot.it contest with prizes for
winners!
Kahoot.it

36. END