1. Types of Library Resources:
Why and when you should use them
Created by: M. Payne, Emerging Technologies Librarian
2. Information can come from many different types of sources.
What kind of sources can I
use for my research?
What kind of sources can I
use for my research?
What types of sources are
available at John B. Cade
Library?
When should I use an article,
encyclopedia, or magazine
article in my research?
When should I use an article,
encyclopedia, or magazine
article in my research?
3. After viewing the types of information in this tutorial, you
should be able to:
ü Identify a variety of sources for information.
ü Identify specific uses appropriate for different sources.
4. Reference Sources
About Reference Sources
Reference Sources are specific types of books that can be useful to your research. Reference sources can be general,
such as the Encyclopedia Americana or Webster's Dictionary, or focused on a specific subject, such as The encyclopedia
of Food and Culture or Black's Law Dictionary.
Types of reference books include:
encyclopedias
handbooks
dictionaries
manuals
statistical sources
Use Reference Books
§ to get background information on an issue or topic
§ to get statistical information
§ to quickly scan a topic for keywords
as learning aids (dictionaries, thesauri, etc.)
§ to get leads to other sources (bibliographies)
5. About Journal articles
Journal articles are written by scholars in an academic or professional field. These articles may cover very specific
topics or narrow fields of research. An editorial board may review journal articles to decide whether they should be
published. Journals with articles that go through this process are called peer reviewed or refereed journals.
Since journals are published at periodic intervals, they are grouped in the category called periodicals.
Journals are usually published only a few times a year, such as bimonthly or quarterly. They may be in print format
or on the Web as electronic journals.
Journal Articles
Use a Journal...
when doing scholarly research to find out
what has been studied on your topic.
To find bibliographies that point to other
relevant research.
Examples of Journals:
Journal of Communication
The Historian
Journal of Business Research
Lancet
6. About Books
Books cover virtually any topic, fact or fiction. For research purposes, you will probably be looking for books that
synthesize all the information on one topic to support a particular argument or thesis. The library organize and store
book collections on shelves called "stacks.“ John B. Cade Library has over 100,000 electronic books covering many
subjects. As an Southern University Student you can assess e-Books in the library, and remotely.
Books
Use a Book...
when looking for an extensive amount of information on a topic.
§ to put your topic in context with other important issues.
§ to find historical information.
§ to find summaries of research to support an argument.
§ to find bibliographies that point to other relevant research.
7. Magazines
About Magazines
Magazines publish articles on topics of popular interest and current events. The articles are written by
journalists and are for the general public. Advertisements usually help keep the cost reasonable for the
average consumer.
Magazines, like journals and newspapers, are called periodicals because they are published at regular
intervals throughout the year. Most are published bi-weekly or monthly.
Some magazines are written for practitioners or professionals of an applied field and are called trade
magazines. Although trade magazines may be specialized, they do not usually include theoretical concepts
or reports of original research, and therefore are not considered scholarly journals.
Use a Magazine
to find information or opinions about popular culture
to find up-to-date information about current events
to find general articles by people who are not
necessarily specialists about the topic
8. Newspapers
About Newspaper articles
Newspapers include articles about current events and are a good source for local information.
They are available in print and electronically. You can access the electronic version of newspaper from
the library’s website.
Newspapers, like journals and magazines, are called periodicals because they are published regularly,
or periodically. Most newspapers are published daily.
Use a Newspaper...
§ to find current information about international, national and local
events.
§ to find editorials, commentaries, expert or popular opinions.
9. Credible Websites
About Websites
The World Wide Web allows access to information on the Internet through a browser or search engine. One
of the main features of the Web is the ability to link quickly to other related information (hyperlink).
There are LOTS of types of user generated media on the open web: Facebook, blogs, videocasts, wikis, and
discussion boards, just to name a few. These sources may help you dream up ideas for your research
projects, but they are NOT usually appropriate for college-level papers.
Use the Web...
§ to find current information.
§ to link to information provided by the library.
§ to find information from all levels of
government - federal to local.
§ to find both expert and popular opinions.
12. Glossary
Hyperlink: A word, phrase, or image that you can click on to jump to a new document or a new section within the
current document.
Peer reviewed: This refers to journal articles or other scholarly works that have been evaluated by a group of
experts in the author's field. Reviewers make sure scholarly works meet the accepted standards of that field. Also
known as "refereed."
Periodicals: Publications which are issued at least twice a year, including
journals, magazines, and newspapers are called periodicals. Bound periodicals are back issues that are shelved in
the General Book Stacks with the regular collection.
Stacks: Refers to the area of a library in which books and other materials are stored. This also refers to the book
shelves, which are "stacked" one upon the other.
