The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for finding information for research papers and class assignments and for evaluating and documenting the resources you use. (click on the links to see the next page; to return to this page, click on the "back" button)

1. SELECT A TOPIC.

Academic libraries the world over use the Library of Congress Subject Headings to shelve resources http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html. Notice that class "Q" is "Science" in which there are the following subclassess with further divisions to help you focus even more narrowly for chemistry:

Q Science QA Mathmatics QB Astronomy QC Physics. QD Chemistry QE Geology QH Natural History - Biology QK Botany QL Zoology QM Human Anatomy QP Physiology QR Microbiology

QD 1 --- General, including alchemy QD 71 -- Analytical QD 146- Inorganic QD 241- Organic QD 415- Biochemistry QD 450 -Physical & Theoretical QD 625 -Radiation QD 701 -Photochemistry QD 901 -Crystallography

 

2. FIND AND EVALUATE THE INFORMATION: The alpha and numeric elements are the codes, or call numbers, that are placed on a book, media, etc. that identifies an item's location on library shelves. Example of a section of shelved resources in correct order:.

QD 75 E 62 F38 1972 v. 65

QD 75.5 B 12 G7 1964 v. 1

QD 106 A11 L34 1711 v. 1

QD 195 V2 L34 2004 .

QD 274 G64 1956

QD 812 L5 1869- 1889

Resources listed in a library catalog are shelved in various locations. Examples: Media for Media Dept, Ref for Reference Room, Doc for Government Documents Room, Atlas for Atlases/Maps Room, Thesis for Thesis/ Dissertations Room. Click on "Details" to see location and to see if the resource has not been checked out.

In addition to resources you find on the McKee Library's shelves, there are databases with fulltext books and journal articles that you can access from your computer anywhere in the world you happen to be. Remember to use your southern.edu login and password since hotmail and other .com e-mails won't work. The library also has wireless access if you are in one of the "bubbles" on campus. Just bookmark http://library.southern.edu/research to access and download electronic data. Once you are on the research page, click on the varied links to learn of the resources. "Chemistry" in the "Subject Resources" section retrieves a page with fulltext links to books, journal articles, and websites that librarians and faculty have chosen for students. See the search input screen of a fulltext journal/magazine database where you need to click the "fulltext" box when you type search terms. The Reserves link retrieves electronic resources, or refers you to other information, if your class instructor has set any Reserves aside for you to study. The Tutorial link routes you to specific instructions if you need more details than this brief tutorial offers. Other tutorials relating to chemistry specific search terms, the reliability of information found on the Internet, and the citing of information for a paper are available for you. Also, Ask-a-Librarian is a link when you need personalized assistance.