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Library Research
for the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)

OVERVIEW OF UM LIBRARIES LIBRARY RESEARCH RESOURCES
7 Campus Libraries Plan ahead before researching
Policies: Food/drinks & behavior Conducting background research
Security and theft Libraries' Catalog: Books & More
Cards for photocoping & printing Databases: Articles & More
Using laptops in McKeldin Library How to use "find-it"
Library Lingo Finding articles that *are not* fulltext
Library Hours Research guides by Subject Discipline
UM's Acceptable Use of Computers Policy  

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Do not use your red I.D. Card as a copy card. Use it for identification purposes only. To make photocopies or print from library terminals, purchase a Visitor's Copy/Print Card.

Overview of UM Libraries

7 CAMPUS LIBRARIES

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POLICIES: FOOD/DRINKS & BEHAVIOR

Do the libraries have policies regarding behavior, food and drinks?

  • Yes. UM Libraries have a Code of Conduct Policy for Library Users.
  • The libraries are places for work and study.
  • Except for water in clear plastic bottles, the libraries are a no-food, no-drink zone.
  • The exception is an Eat-in Lounge located just inside McKeldin Library, which includes Footnotes Cafe. The cafe's summer hours are: Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
  • Also, consider using the eateries at the Adele Stamp Student Union.

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SECURITY and THEFT

  • It only takes a minute for a thief to strike!
  • Do not leave personal belongings unattended, even for a few minutes.
  • Leave heavy bags and electronics in your room; bring as little as possible with you.
  • If you do not have borrowing privileges, do not remove library materials or property - otherwise, Campus Police will be called.

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CARDS for PHOTOCOPYING and PRINTING

  • UM Libraries charge 10 cents a page to copy or print.
  • There are no coin-operated photocopiers or printers in the Libraries.
  • Library photocopiers and printers accept two types of cards: a Visitor's Copy Card and an official UM I.D. card.

How to purchase a Visitor's Copy/Print Card

  • Students can purchase a Visitor's Copy Card by using a Copy Card ATM/Vending Machine
  • This card costs $1.00 (use a one-dollar bill to buy it). It comes with a balance of 20 cents on it, enough for 2 photocopies.
  • Students should add additional money right away to this card in order to make more copies.
  • Copy Card ATM/Vending Machines are found in all campus libraries. They accept $5, $10 and $20 bills.
  • Need smaller bills? There is a bill-to-bill changer next to the Copy Card ATM Machine on the 1st floor of McKeldin Library. Or, go to the McKeldin Copy Shop, Monday to Friday, 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Important Note about I.D. Cards

  • The campus issues many different types of I.D. cards for students attending summer programs.
  • Some of these are not official UM I.D. cards.
  • Using improper cards in library equipment will shut down the system!
  • Students should ask library staff for help in identifying which I.D. cards can be used to copy or print.

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LIBRARY RESOURCES for RESEARCH

PLAN AHEAD BEFORE RESEARCHING
  • Researching and writing a good paper requires time, planning and creativity;
  • Research always takes longer than you think; start early to avoid stress;
  • Do not be surprised if your research takes unexpected twists and turns along the way;
  • Stuck? Ask a librarian for help in suggesting appropriate resources and search strategies.
  • From the start, keep accurate notes of where you are finding information;
  • When you find a relevant source, immediately record the complete citation;
  • You will need to cite all sources you use in your bibliography.
  • Understand the requirements and goals of the assignment;
  • Unsure about what you are expected to do? Ask your Instructor for clarification.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION on a TOPIC

To locate background information on your topic, or to look up definitions of words/terms that are unfamiliar to you, consider using these resources:

Note: these resources are available to you from on-campus computers only.

SpecializedDictionaries & Encyclopedias
Access Science
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Medical Encyclopedia
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Other Reference Sources/Guides:
Reference shelf
Research and Library Skills
How to evaluate web sites.

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LIBRARIES' CATALOG: Books & More

Note: you may search the Catalog from off campus without restriction.

Libraries' Catalog
The catalog provides access to the holdings of the UM Libraries, listing records of its books, nonprint media, technical reports, government documents, periodical titles, videorecordings and more!

Finding Books on a Topic describes how to search the catalog.

Call Numbers: Finding Library Items helps you locate items in the library.

McKeldin Library Floor Plan (PDF) helps you locate items on the shelf.

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PERIODICAL DATABASES: Articles & More

To find articles on a topic, search a periodical database. Periodical databases may contain articles from scholarly publications, popular magazines, newspapers, technical reports and more.

  • Access databases and e-journals through Research Port, linked off the Libraries' home page.
  • It's suggested that you open a 2nd web browser window so that you can read these directions and (at the same time) access the resources we're directing you to. To open a 2nd window, press Crtl-N.
  • Begin at the Libraries' home page (www.lib.umd.edu)
  • Click on Research Port
  • You can search journal databases by either:

    • Selecting an appropriate subject listed under the by Subject Category tab
      (e.g., Biology, Environmental Studies, News Sources/Current Events).

    • Or, by clicking on the by Database Name tab and searching these suggested databases (available only on campus):

    • Popular magazine articles are indexed in these databases:
    • Academic Search Premier
    • Biology Digest
    • General Science Abstracts
    • Newspaper articles are indexed in these databases:
    • Academic Search Premier
    • Lexisnexis Academic (Click on Guided News Search)
    • Baltimore Sun 1990-present
    • New York Times 1980-present
    • Wall Street Journal 1984-present
    • Scholarly (peer-reviewed) journal articles are indexed in these databases:
    • Academic Search Premier
    • LexisNexis Academic (Click on Medical)
    • Biological & Medical Sciences
    • Cambridge Scientific Abstracts
    • LexisNexis Congressional
    • Contemporary Women's Issues
    • History of Science, Technology
    • Philosopher's Index
    • ScienceDirect
    • Social Science Abstracts
    • CQ Supreme Court Collection

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FINDING ARTICLES THAT *ARE NOT* FULL TEXT ONLINE

Did you search a database and found only the citation to an article? Click find it button to see what options are available.

You may see a link to the libraries' catalog. If so, determine if the library has the journal or magazine and volume you need. A sample citation:

Williams, Keisha. "Bioethics: A 21st Century Debate."
Journal of American Science. 112 (5) June 2002: 789-795.
  1. If find it button links you to the catalog, you will see the Full View of Record screen.
  2. Write down the library location (e.g. McKeldin Library Periodical Stacks) and the call number (e.g. HF5801.J6).
  3. Click on Availability to determine if the library has the volume you need.
  4. If the journal is in McKeldin Library, examine the floor map to determine where to go to. If located elsewhere, review the map of library locations.

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© 2006 University Libraries. University of Maryland. College Park, MD 20742-7011, (301) 405-0800
Last modified: December 15, 2005

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