Transcript Orientation to Libraries Research Methods and Data College of Advancing Studies Brendan Rapple.

Orientation to Libraries
Research Methods and Data
College of Advancing Studies
Brendan Rapple
Today
• Libraries hold much more than just books:
– Digital resources, journals, sound and video recordings,
newspapers, government documents, DVD’s, etc.
• Point the user to the world of global information
– Not limited to what is physically in the building
– Online resources help open up access to the global world.
• Collections can often be accessed remotely.
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Some BC Libraries Facts
• Support teaching, learning, and research at Boston College
with:
• Well over 2.7 million printed volumes
• Over 500,000 books in e-format
• Over six hundred research databases that can be accessed
in the library or remotely
• Specialized libraries throughout campus
• Subject specialists available to assist you.
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Boston College
Libraries and Centers
Complete List of Libraries and Centers:
http://www.bc.edu/libraries/collections.html
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Ways to Reach Us
• Call: 617-552-4472 (Reference Desk)
• Chat with a Librarian 24/7
Research help from BC Librarians and participating Jesuit
institutions across the country.
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Text us at 66746 and start your question with "askbc". Example:
askbc how do I find book reviews?
Ways to Reach Us
• Meet with a Librarian who specializes in your area of study:
http://www.bc.edu/libraries/help/askalib.html
Tech Help in the Library
 For printing, scanning, copying, faxing, and basic computer support
visit the Technology Support Center, Level 3, O'Neill Library.
 It’s staffed quite long hours.
Resources
Research Databases
Find bibliographic citations for information in your research subject area. Locate
full-text resources. Well over 600 databases.
Electronic Journals
Browse a list of full-text journals in a variety of disciplines and link to full-text
articles.
Research Guides
Starting points for subject and general research.
Fee vs. Free
•
Subscription Databases:
• Available freely on the Web:
e.g. through search engines
e.g.
– ERIC (education)
– PsycINFO 1840current
– Expanded Academic
ASAP
(multidisciplinary)
– Historical New York
Times
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– Google
– Yahoo
About Resources in print…
• There is much material available only in print format that remains
essential.
• Only a small percentage of the full-text contents of books is
presently accessible electronically.
• The percentage is higher for journals. Still, for earlier issues of
journals the percentage is again low.
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Items from Other Libraries
 Boston Library Consortium (BLC)
One may check out books of the 17 academic and research libraries in the BLC.
Consortium cards may be obtained at the Circulation Desk in O'Neill Library or at the Law Library.
 WorldCat Local
Request books and other physical items directly from other Boston Library Consortium
(BLC) libraries and beyond.
Consortium items are usually delivered to BC in 2-5 days.
 Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Online forms; delivery by e-mail, campus mail or pickup.
 Boston Theological Institute (BTI)
The collections of the BTI, consisting of over a million and a half in theology and cognate
disciplines, constitute one of the richest theological library centers in the world.
For more information about borrowing privileges contact Jonas Barciauskas (617-552-4447).
Research Support
 Citation Management Tools
Boston College Libraries support RefWorks, EndNote Web and others.
 Set up automated/e-alerts
Receive book citations, tables of contents of your chosen journals or a
list of individual article citations via email.
 Technology Items for Loan in BC Libraries
The following are available for loan: Apple iPads; Calculators; Dell
Laptops; Flat Screen Adapters; Flip Video Cameras; Headphones;
Laptop Power Cords.
Documentation Styles and Guides
– MLA: Modern Language Association
– APA: American Psychological Association standards
– Other styles include Chicago, Turabian (many others too).
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RefWorks: A Useful Tool
• Footnotes and bibliography can be generated in a variety
of formats such as APA, MLA.
• Web based tool for automatically formatting your paper.
• Allows you to store, organize and keep track of citations.
• References can then be inserted into papers.
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RefWorks Help?
RefWorks Tutorial
– step by step instruction
– Details on setting up your account
– Importing records from specific databases
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Other Services
 Course Reserves
Information and forms for submitting items.
 Connors Family Learning Center (O’Neill Library, 2nd floor)
Tutoring
Tutoring in over 60 subjects, including Writing, English as a Second Language and all of the CORE
curriculum classes
Learning Disabilities Services and Support
Support for all BC students with learning disabilities and all BC faculty and TA/TFs who teach or advise
students with learning disabilities
Instructional Support for Graduate Students and Faculty
Class visits, seminars, practical tips and more
Writing Support
Types of assistance available, including the Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Other Services
 Document Services
Self-service copiers;
Scans from print to PDF;
FAX machine.
 Wireless Printing (advice to print wisely—one only has 500 free
pages/semester)
Other Services
Media Center Services
O'Neill Library's non-print collection of films, audio recordings and
computer data files.
Contains over 20,000 audiovisual items available for loan to
members of the BC community. A portion of the video/DVD
collection is restricted to Faculty Loan Only.
Other Services
 Popular Reading Collection
A best sellers (and books of current interest) print collection is shelved
on the right as you enter 3rd floor, O'Neill Library.
Items can be checked out by Boston College students, staff and faculty
only (28 day loan).
 There is also a service, hosted by OverDrive by means of which you
can download e-books onto devices such as Kindles, iPads and smart
phones.
The collection contains best sellers, top academic picks, and thousands
of e-books in the public domain. BC users can check out up to 2 titles at
a time.
Study Space -- O’Neill
 Nine Group Study Rooms in O’Neill Level 5
 reserve them online or @ the Circ Desk
 each room is equipped with flat screen projection capabilities,
white boards and chairs for six.
 seven of the rooms require a reservation, one of the seven is
reserved for graduate students only.
 two of the nine rooms are designated first come basis
 Group Study Space– Level One– large screen projection each
booth.
 4th Floor Grad Study Room (Top of stairs on the left)
Study Space -- Bapst
 24 Hour Study
Gargan Hall on the second floor is open 24 hours Sunday through
Thursday for most of the semester.
 Bapst Grad Lab
 There are 60 individual study carrels in the mezzanine area of
the Kresge Reading Room.
How long are books loaned out?
O'Neill
Social Work
Law
ERC
Bapst
Masters students
120 days
120 days
28 days
14 days
120 days
PhD students
120 days
120 days
28 days
14 days
120 days
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Graduate Student Support page
• This page contains brief descriptions of services and resources
directly related to research activity, along with some links to the
items described.
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Evolving Nature of BC Libraries
• More than a repository of published material.
• Increasing its publishing role in the electronic sphere.
• eScholarship@BC
• Digital Library Initiatives
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