Why should I use articles?

• Because articles tend to focus on a single topic, they are a great place to find highly specific information.
• Articles are often the first place where new research is discussed, and in some disciplines, may be the primary means of conveying information.
• Articles cover many types of publications: journals, magazines, newspapers, chapters in books, conference proceedings, technical reports, and trade journals

How do I find articles?

1. Identify a database that searches many journals in your broad subject area. (Use the "subject guides" to help you decide what databases are best for your topic.)
2. Search the selected article database using words you might expect to find in the title or subject of the article. Review the "how do I improve my search?" section of this guide if you do not get good search results.
3. Locate the article.

More and more databases offer some or all articles full text online. The (Full Text) icon indicates that a database provides at least some full text articles.

If you find an article that does not immediately link to the full text look for the button, to see if the article is available in another database or directly from the publisher.

If there are no links to the full text article you need in any of our databases, search for the journal title (not the article title) in the Library Catalog.

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why should I use books?

• books contain summarized knowledge on established areas of research
• books are a good starting point for selecting and refining a topic
• books have bibliographies and reference lists that will help you identify other important works on a subject

how do I find books?

Use the College of Charleston Library Catalog to find books in the library.

Search by:

• title - exact title or beginning of title
• keyword - word or words (nouns tend to work best) that describe your topic
• author - last name, first name
• subject - library subject headings

I have identified a book that I would like, how do I find it in the library?

floor map of the library

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Why should I use Web sites?

• Web sites are a great source of information about organizations and institutions and government generated statistics and reports. They are also useful for comparing popular perceptions to scientific research findings.
• The free Web contains a vast collection of resources - some worthwhile

How do I find good Web sites?

Start by reviewing the Web Searching Guide for expert advice on the best search engines--both general and specialized.

Of particular note are the "academic web resources" which includes a link to Google Scholar and other search engines that focus on, credible, scholarly information available on the Web.

note: no single search engine comes close to indexing all of the Web. Be sure to search two or three different search engines if you want to be thorough.

For every major, most minors, and other special topics, librarians have put together a subject guide with links to quality sites (near the bottom of the guide).

For quick and mainly free Web-based reference information such as encyclopedias, check out the online reference page.

8 great Internet search tips:

1. Use phrase searching for multiple word phrases by enclosing the phrase in quotation marks--Example "War and Peace.”
2. Use advanced searching mode whenever possible for more precise searching.
3. Use the most specific or esoteric words you can think of to describe your search
4. Use the command "Control-F" or "Edit > Find in Page" to search for a word within a long Web document.
5. Understand the difference between domains-- .com, .org., .gov, .edu-- and limit your search to the best domain.
6. Use "+" to require a word in your search or "–" to eliminate a word from your search.
7. Change the word order or try new words if your search doesn’t bring you the desired results.
8. Ask a Librarian for help or use the Subject Guides

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