Locating Information ResourcesENG 120

Mortola Library

Objectives Use reference tools to locate background

information and statistics Locate books pertaining to your topic using

the Pace Library Catalog. Find articles on your topic in library

databases. Cite resources correctly using MLA

documentation style.

Finding Reference Tools Database of online reference books:

Gale Virtual Reference Library Search the Pace Library Catalog

by keyword for “[subject] and encyclopedias” If you are unsure of the subject area, try a

general source like Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Reference Tools Suggested resource: CQ Researcher

Can provide you with basic information. Can help you focus your research topic. Can lead you to other useful books and

articles. Can sometimes provide statistics.

Search Tip: Boolean Logic Combine concepts using the Boolean

operators AND and OR Use AND to combine concepts and narrow

your search women AND combat

Use OR to search for synonyms or related terms women AND (combat OR military)

Finding Books: the Catalog Keyword searches target entire records in the

library catalog. women and combat

Subject searches target only the Library of Congress subject headings assigned to materials. Search terms must match subject headings exactly. Women and the military United States – Armed Forces - Women

Finding Articles: Library Databases

Provide access to articles (citations, abstracts and/or full text) published in periodicals.

Databases are subscription products available on campus or from home with your MyPace Portal username and password.

Databases to try Academic Search Premier Research Library

Many full-text articles May need to use to locate articles

not immediately available OmniFile

All full-text articles

MLA Citation Style MLA (Modern Language Association) style is

generally used in the humanities.

See the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (on reserve at the Mortola Library Reference Desk) for more information, or visit the guide to Citing Resources on the Library home page.

MLA Citation: Article from a Library DatabaseAuthor(s). “Item Title.” Journal Title volume number.

issue number (if available). (Date): Page number range. Database name. Web. Access date. <URL>.

Tolson, Nancy. “Making Books Available: The Role of Early Libraries, Librarians, and Booksellers in the Promotion of African American Children’s Literature.” African American Review 32.1 (1998): 9-16. JSTOR. Web. 5 May 2009. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3042263>.

Questions?

Mortola Library Reference Desk:

(914) 773-3505

Library Home Page:

http://library.pace.edu