Library and Research Skills Micro-Course

Once you've done some background reading and come up with a manageable starting topic or question, you need to locate relevant information sources:

1. First, view the Library video tour for a quick overview of how to use and navigate library collections and services.
2. Next, consider what types of sources could be useful to you. It often pays to consider sources outside of traditional journal articles and books. Statistical data, newspapers, primary source materials and many other types of information exist that may contain invaluable information on your topic. View these brief videos: 
   • One Perfect Source? (video)
   • Identifying the Types of Information Needed (video w/ transcript)
3. Choose relevant search tool(s): 
   • In the library, there are 2 main ways to search for sources:
     1. OneSearch (search box on the library home page): searches almost all of the library's collections at once (which means it searches information from all fields of study and often gets huge numbers of results). View the brief OneSearch Tutorial. This can be a great place to find journal and newspaper articles, books and videos, but for some topics or assignments (those that fit within one discipline) it may not always be the best way to search. This tool also features a built-in interlibrary-loan tool so you can request articles, book chapters and dissertations not immediately available in our collections (after you search, click the "expand your search" link above the first result).
     2. Discipline-specific databases (scroll below OneSearch on the library homepage, click 'Subject Guides' then choose a guide that fits your topic to see relevant search tools). If your topic fits within a specific discipline, you should explore a relevant subject guide to find a discipline-specific search tool. The library has dozens of search tools designed just for this (such as the arts, business, law, sciences, computers, gender, history, nursing, or psychology). In addition, the guides often contain links to quality open web resources and portals (for example statistics or government information).

A word about generative A.I., like ChatGPT: Generative artificial intelligence tools are not a substitute for library search tools and the scholarly content found within them. Library resources provide access to millions of full-text peer-reviewed and trade journal articles and e-books that AI cannot access. In addition, your professors expect original work that reflects your understanding and effort. Relying on A.I. to do the course work you are expected to do can lead you to cross ethical boundaries or commit unintentional plagiarism. A.I. can be effectively used as a helpful tool and guide (for example, to generate topic ideas or summarize scholarly content), but not as an easy shortcut to learning or completing coursework. Ensure all work submitted is your own, representing your unique voice and ideas. When permitted, you can use AI tools for help but not to do the work for you, unless your professor says it’s okay to use AI in a specific way. For a fuller discussion see: Ethical and Social Responsibility Considerations of Gen AI.