Part 1:
Selecting A Library
Although you will most likely use the Claude R. Rickman Library on the campus of Southern Wesleyan University, you may at times find it more convenient to use a different library. For that reason, we offer the following information.
There are two points to consider when selecting a library in which to do research: (1) Will that library have enough information on your topic? and (2) Will its policies allow you to work easily? (i.e., Are its hours convenient? Will you be allowed to check out materials? Are photocopy facilities available to copy journal articles, etc.?)
The second group of questions can be answered easily by contacting the library information desk. But to answer the first question, you must consider where you are in your research work and what needs to be accomplished that day. There are probably several types of libraries in your vicinity, any one of which may serve your purpose at a given moment or for a certain task.
All libraries are basically the same, but they have different purposes and, therefore, different kinds and levels of resources. You will need to decide which type of library, and which branch in particular, will meet your needs.
1.1 PUBLIC LIBRARIES
A public library has the advantages of nearness and ease in getting a library card. Because it is meant to serve the community’s information needs, its collection is likely to give general coverage to all topics and "in‑depth" attention to few. But the basic reference books, standard texts, and journal indexes are contained there and should be used to begin your research. Keep in mind that the quality of a public library’s collection depends upon the size and amount of tax support of the community in which it is located.
Most public libraries are part of library systems or networks. Through interlibrary loan, the public library may be able to obtain a book for you from a distant library or from one at which you have no borrowing privileges. Many public libraries offer reference services, including computer searches, through an area reference center.
1.2 ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Every technical school, college, and university has a library for support of its instructional programs. If you have a choice of academic libraries in the area, it would be wise to determine which school has a strong education department, for this strength will be reflected in its library collection, and you will have a good one‑stop research source. Two disadvantages of academic libraries should be considered:
1. Access to the book stacks or borrowing privileges may be restricted.
2. These libraries often operate on limited schedules when their traditional students are on vacation.
1.3 SPECIAL LIBRARIES
Many private corporations and public agencies maintain libraries in their areas of interest. These collections may not be large, but they give excellent coverage to their special areas. An example of public agency libraries would be the law libraries found in most county courthouses. Other county departments (public health, probation, etc.) may also have collections for their staff. These libraries may well be open to you, but it would be advisable here, and necessary with private company libraries, to check in advance. Special libraries are uniquely organized, and most librarians will be happy to explain the library's system to you.
Part 3:Beginning Your Research
3.1 KEEP THE FULL RESEARCH PROCESS IN MIND
The basic steps in the research process are as follows:
1. Choose your research topic.
Decide on the general topic in which you are interested. Make sure that it is limited enough in scope to meet your needs, but not so narrow that it will be impossible to research. Next, identify some terms to use for searching. For example, suppose that you are interested in buying and managing a for-profit daycare. Some subject headings for which you would search may include "Daycare Management," "Small Business,” or “Business Administration.” These are the topics that seem most obvious to you. Some that may not be as obvious are “Child Care,” and variant spellings (e.g. Daycare and day care). Remember that your search terms will probably change somewhat as you proceed.
2. Gain a general overview and perspective.
After using your selected terms to browse through the library's catalog, some periodical indexes, and/or some databases, you will begin to get an idea of the types of information available. You will also discover other, and possibly better, subject headings with which to search.
3. Refine your search topic.
It will become evident to you that such topics as "Small Business" and "Business Administration" are too broad. These subject headings will encompass everything from art studios to selling stuffed zebras. Since you are interested specifically in "Daycare," you will need to focus on this area.
Also, in your initial investigation, you will realize that daycares often provide services to the mentally handicapped and to the aged. Some daycares include preschools and kindergartens as well. Some only care for school-aged children and have “after school” hours only. You may want to broaden your search somewhat to investigate these alternatives.
Your research topic is now: "Private Day Care for Preschoolers: A Business Strategy."
4. Plan your search strategy.
Now you need to decide which types of information will best suit your needs. If you wish to pursue a retrospective viewpoint, you will probably need books on the subject. You should begin with the library's catalog. If you need statistics, check in the Reference Area of the library for statistical abstracts, government documents, corporate reports, etc.
If you want the most current information, you will also need periodical literature. This will involve searching in periodical indexes and/or databases. Compile two lists of valid subject headings, one for use in the OPAC and one for use with periodical indexes or databases.
Subjects for which to search for our sample topic will include "Day care—buildings, facilities, etc.," "Family Day Care,” "Day Care Centers—Law and Legislation." (See Sections 4.1 and 5.3 for more information on subject searching.)
5. Identify potentially helpful documents.
Take note of all items that might be useful. You can eliminate them later. Using the form indicated in the approved style manual, copy the complete citation. You may want to use 3" x 5" index cards, putting one title on each card. (See Section 3.7 for more information on note-taking.) Many libraries have online catalogs and/or databases on CD-ROM, making it easy to print out complete citations or to download them onto your own computer disk.
6. Locate the documents.
Retrieve the books you need by using the classification number (shelf number) in each citation. (See Section 4.3 for guidance if you cannot locate a book.) If you search in a periodical index or database, you may find citations for sources not available at that particular library. In that case, talk to library staff in the Reference or Interlibrary Loan departments to help you determine the most efficient method of obtaining these documents. (See Section 5.6 for more information about this procedure.)
7. Scan the documents to evaluate their usefulness to you.
This evaluation process will become easier for you as you become more familiar with your topic. Skim introductory material, read chapter or section titles, notice tables or graphs, and read any stated conclusions. Also, confirm that the copyright date falls within your desired criteria.
Make a note of the authors or editors and their qualifications. Every field has noted authorities. You will encounter them repeatedly in the literature, and it will help you to know who they are.
8. Read and take notes on your selected sources.
You will eliminate a good number of sources as you move through the research process. But you will also discover new sources, and eventually you will have a substantial foundation upon which to build your own conclusions. Take good notes--be thorough and accurate. It will be well worth your effort.
9. Repeat steps two through eight if your research takes you in a direction different from your original plan.
You may encounter a "dead end" or discover a topic of more interest to you. Do not discard any of the work you have already done. You may be able to use this information in conjunction with your new project. In any case, be just as conscientious in your new search as you were in the previous one.
3.2 GO TO THE LIBRARY WITH A DEFINITE PURPOSE IN MIND
Know which topic you intend to work on and what tasks you hope to accomplish. Have with you all the materials you will need – supplies, previous notes, and lists of materials you plan to check.
3.3 BE OPEN TO NEW DIRECTIONS
Without becoming diverted from your purpose, take a little extra time to scan "marginal" materials. This may turn up a valuable new lead for you. It may involve reading titles on the shelves or trying a few extra index terms. If you have selected a journal issue for a specific article it contains, glance at the other articles in the issue. Journal issues are frequently organized around a theme, so that other articles also may be of interest to you.
3.4 EVALUATE YOUR RESULTS AS YOU GO
Are your chosen subject headings getting you the type of citations you want? Does your source cover your topic well enough? Is it easy to use? No one source or book is necessarily the right one. If you are not getting the information you want from it, try another source.
3.5 THINK OF ALTERNATIVE SEARCH STRATEGIES AND SOURCES
Different sources will give varying amounts of coverage to a topic. The most "logical" source may or may not present information in a form that is useful to you at the moment, or it may give less (or more) detail than you need.
Think of the likely synonyms for your chosen subject headings. Different indexers may categorize the same document in different ways. For example, a study of the effect of hard rock music on the behavior of teenagers may be indexed under Music, Hard rock (music), Rap music, Behavior, or even under Teenagers. Experiment with different phrasings of your search concept until you find the ones that get results in that index. For some sources, a thesaurus is provided to guide you in selecting the right terminology. (See Part 5, Searching for Journal Literature).
3.6 COVER ALL SECTIONS OF YOUR SOURCE
Many indexes and reference works come in periodic installments - each different from the others. Be sure that you have checked all the cumulative volumes and supplements for the time period you intend to cover.
3.7 TAKE CAREFUL AND COMPLETE NOTES
The best time to get the full citation to a book or journal article is the first time you encounter it, usually in the OPAC or in a periodical indexing database. Be sure to include a complete classification number for all books. You may need this citation for more than your bibliography. For instance, if you have trouble locating the document, you may have to turn your citation over to a librarian or research service to find it for you. It will slow their work considerably if they have to correct or complete the information you give them.
Make sure any quotations are accurate.
If you make use of symbols or abbreviations in your notes, be sure that they are not ambiguous and that you will remember their meanings months from now when you are writing your report.
3.8 ASK THE LIBRARIAN FOR HELP
If you are lost, confused, frustrated, or cannot find something you want, do not hesitate to ask for help from the librarian. It is the librarian's job to help you, and he or she knows more about that particular library than you can ascertain on your own.