Information for Summer Students
www.lib.umd.edu/UES/summer_students.html
Planning to come to the library to research?
Make your visit a successful one by reading this first:
Library Basics: The 8 Campus Libraries
Who can help me?
24/7 Access to journal databases
Study spaces: Individual & Group
Using my laptop in the Libraries
Library Computers: Email, Word & My flashdrive
Printing & Photocopying in the Libraries
2 Important Rules: Behavior and No Food/Drink
Lost & Found and Safety of your Belongings
Emergencies
- Step 1 - Get Organized
- Step 2 - Choosing a Topic
- Step 3 - Where do I begin?
- Step 4 - Identifying Keywords
- Step 5 - Search the Libraries' Catalog to find books
- Step 6 - Search Research Port to find journal articles
- Step 7 - Cite Your Sources!
LIBRARY BASICS: THE 8 CAMPUS LIBRARIES
- UM Libraries' home page: www.lib.umd.edu
- "How Do I...?" page
- Campus map of library locations.
- Library hours for the summer.
The University of Maryland Libraries are rich in print, online, and nonprint resources, as well as in U.S. government documents and a variety of special collections. These materials are housed in seven libraries on the College Park campus, as well as one located in Rockville, MD:
Art Library
Houses collections in art, art history, history, archaeology, studio arts, including photography and graphic design.Architecture Library
Houses collections in architecture, urban studies & planning, historic preservation.Chemistry (White Memorial) Library
Houses collections in chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, enzymology, immunology, microbiology, & molecular genetics.Engineering and Physical Sciences Library
Houses collections for biomedical engineering, physics, mathematics, civil, chemical & environmental engineering, physical sciences, electrical & computer engineering.Hornbake Library
Houses the Maryland Room, University Archives and many special and rare collections.McKeldin Library (Main campus library)
Houses collections in the life sciences, humanities, social sciences. The life sciences collection is divided between McKeldin Library and the Chemistry (White Memorial) Library.Performing Arts Library
Houses collections in music, theatre, & dance materials, as well as some special collections.Shady Grove Library (Located in Rockville, MD)
Houses collections to supports the Universities at Shady Grove (USG)
WHO CAN HELP ME?
Research can be challenging. Library staff are available to help you find what you need. Come to any campus library for help in-person or seek help online at: www.lib.umd.edu/help.html
24/7 ACCESS TO JOURNAL DATABASES
The Libraries' online resources are available 24/7. Find articles using one of the Libraries 300+ databases by starting at the Libraries' homepage: www.lib.umd.edu, click Research Port then choose a subject area.
STUDY SPACES: INDIVIDUAL & GROUP
In McKeldin Library, Group Study Rooms (that accommodate about 10 people) are available on the 2nd floor. All campus libraries offer many quiet individual study areas throughout each building.
USING MY LAPTOP IN THE LIBRARIES
Yes. Bring your laptop to the library, plug it in and go! Note: Wireless access to the campus' Internet connection is limited to those students who have been issued a UM I.D. card. If you have been issued an I.D. card, logon to the campus network using your Directory ID and Password. Need help? Contact the campus' Office of Information Technology at 301-405-1500.
LIBRARY COMPUTERS: EMAIL? WORD? MY FLASHDRIVE
Library computers come loaded with Microsoft Office installed on them, which means you can use Word, PowerPoint and Excel, as well as get access to the Web to check your e-mail. We advise that you carry a flashdrive with you since you cannot store you work on library computers.
PRINTING & PHOTOCOPYING IN THE LIBRARIES
The price is 10 cents a page to print/copy in Black & White; it cost 50 cents a page to print in Color. If you were issued a U.M. ID Card, you can add money to it and use it to print & copy library materials. Or, purchase a Visitor's Card in any library and use it to print & copy too! Need more information? Contact the McKeldin Library Copy Shop at: 301-405-9057
2 IMPORTANT RULES: BEHAVIOR and NO FOOD/DRINK
Your behavior:
Campus libraries are places for work and study. We assume that you possess the appropriate levels of maturity to be productive in a scholarly environment. Abide by the Code of Conduct for Library Users when visiting the libraries.Libraries are No Food/No Drink Zones:
Eating food and drinking liquids (other than water in clear, closed containers) and not permitted in the libraries. Why? Review this guide on why eating and drinking are not permitted. Save our collections!
LOST & FOUND and SAFETY of your BELONGINGS
Lost & Found:
In McKeldin Library, the Lost & Found is located at the 1st floor Information/Reference Desk. The University Police house the campus' lost and found.Safety of your belongings:
Campus spaces (including libraries) are public spaces. The theft of personal items is sometimes a problem. Keep your personal items with you at all times. Bring as little as possible with you to safeguard losing items or having them stolen
EMERGENCIES
If there is a fire drill or should another another emergency occur that requires you to evacuate the building, please follow the directives given by campus police and library staff without delay.
The Research Process
Step 1 - Get Organized
Know the Assignment, Plan Ahead, & Take Clear & Accurate Notes
- Understand the requirements & goals of the assignment
- Unsure? Ask your instructor for clarification so you don't waste valuable time
- From time to time, review the requirements of the assignment to make make you're on track
- Researching & writing a good paper takes time and effort
- Start early to avoid stress
- Do not be surprised if your research takes longer than you think!
- From the start, keep accurate notes of where you are finding information
- As you go along, record the citation of sources used:
Author, Title, Publisher, Place & Date of Publication - Before handing in your paper, accurately & completely cite all sources used
Step 2 - Choosing a Topic
- Choose a topic that fits the assignment and that interests you
- Don't choose a topic so recent or so narrow that little information is available
- Don't choose a topic so broad that the amount of information available is overwhelming
- If you not sure if your topic fits the assignment, ask your instructor before proceeding
Step 3 - Where do I begin?
Step 4 - Identifying Keywords
What is your research topic about? Here's a sample:
Is using hybrid cars a realistic way to reduce our dependence on oil?
What are the key words that make up this statement?
hybrid cars
reduce
oil
Sometimes, you will need to use more than 3 key words to find information on your topic. Think about what other words could be used to describe your topic. Use combinations of these words to find information.
electric cars, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen automobiles
limit, lessen, stop
diesel, petroleum
Step 5 - Search the Libraries' Catalog to find books: catalog.umd.edu
Step 6 - Search Research Port to find journal articles: researchport.umd.edu
Step 7 - Cite Your Sources!
Avoid inadvertently plagiarizing by doing this:
- Take complete & accurate notes about where you are finding information.
- Write down the full citation for each source used. Or, keep track by emailing articles to your account.
- Use quotation marks when using an author's exact words.
- Forget how to cite, or don't know how? Use style manuals.
