The document provides an overview of library resources and research strategies for students. It introduces the librarian, describes the library locations and services, and gives guidance on developing topics, searching for materials, evaluating sources, and avoiding plagiarism. Tips are provided on remote access, primary sources, subject guides, citation management, and getting research help from the librarian. The goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to effectively conduct academic research.

1. FSC 632
Library & Research
Basics
Linda Galloway
2014

2. Today’s agenda
• Who I am, what I do
• SU Library
– Locations, hours, how to get help
– Where to study/work in the libraries
– Remote access to library resources
• Finding materials @ the libraries
– Books, articles, other items
• Library services
– ILL
– Avoiding plagiarism & citing sources
– Research & Reference help

3. About me…
• Librarian/subject specialist for Biology,
Chemistry & Forensic Science, STEM
bibliographer
• Help people access the content they need,
teach (guest lectures and classes),
purchase books/other material for the
library, create web content, etc.
• Email: galloway@syr.edu

4. Locations & Hours Open
• Carnegie Library (Science & Technology)
• Geology Library (in Heroy Hall)
• Bird Library
– Technology Loans
– Private study rooms
– Team rooms
– Computers, printers, scanners
• Hours open online: check library.syr.edu

5. Finding Quiet Spaces
• Carnegie Library – “silent reading room”
• Quiet areas in Bird:
– Check on first floor, it’s currently under
construction
– Private study rooms & team rooms (you sign
the room out and can reserve rooms for 3
hour time slots)

6. Help!!
• Contact your subject specialist, Linda
Galloway – galloway@syr.edu
• General help:
http://library.syr.edu/research/askus

7. Why??
Find
Evaluate
Synthesize
Ethically use
Information

8. Finding Books
Electronic Book
In print: HV8073 .H77 2010
In print: QA276 .A264 2010

12. Finding Articles

13. Finding Articles
• Library search tool
–SUMMON
• Use Subject Guides
– Chemistry
– Chemical engineering
– Plus hundreds of others
• Databases Main Menu
– Search through subject categories for links to
our 500+ databases!

15. Full text, no
newspapers
Journal articles only
Set date range 2006-present

16. think before (and while) you
search….
What types of articles do you want?
Newspaper
Magazine print
Journal
Website
and

18. Recognize the difference
between a magazine and a
journal…..
Peer review:
 suitability for publication
 credibility
 quality control

19. Primary Sources
& Peer Review
Primary Source - Original document
containing firsthand information
– Lab notebooks, interviews
– Original research including journal articles
and preprints
A peer reviewed primary source is a work that is
evaluated by experts in the field of study prior to
publication. Serves as a measure of quality.

20. Finding Articles
• Library search tool
–SUMMON
• Use Subject Guides
–Forensics
–Chemistry
–Plus hundreds of others
• Databases Main Menu
– Search through subject categories for links to
our 500+ databases!

21. http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/forensics

23. Search

24. Finding Articles
• Library search tool
–SUMMON
• Use Subject Guides
– Chemistry
– Chemical engineering
– Plus hundreds of others
• Databases Main Menu
– Search through subject categories for
links to our 500+ databases!

27. When searching databases…
Remember: RATS
• Key words
• Synonyms
• Subjects
• Suggested topics
• Types of materials
Read All The Screens!
– Scholarly Journals, Magazines, etc.

28. Remote Access to
Library Resources
• Almost all resources are available off
campus via our proxy server
• Log on once and until you close your
browser are recognized as an SU student
• Get to databases/resources via the SU
Library web site so you are recognized as
a student; http://library.syr.edu

29. Primary Forensic Scientific
Literature
• Find citations to articles in databases
• Find full text of articles in journals
• Original scientific research articles
– Not review articles
– Not books
• Check for scholarly status (you want a
peer-reviewed or refereed journal) by
consulting ULRICH’S database

30. Is the journal peer-reviewed?

31. Questions??

32. Start with your research
assignment…
• Develop a research topic by:
– Evaluating topic
– Background reading/ review literature
– Developing a list of search terms
– Writing a clarifying paragraph, thesis
statement (something to prove or disprove)
OR a research question

33. Choose a topic you are interested in.
Carefully define and develop your topic.
A well defined topic is easier to search.

34. Developing your Topic
1. Choose a topic that interests you.
2. Evaluate your topic.
3. Get a working knowledge of your
topic. (develop keyword list)
4. Identify controversies or questions.
5. Develop your research question.
6. Write your clarifying paragraph.

35. Let’s develop our topic
1. Choose a topic that interests you (false confessions)
2. Evaluate your topic (Too broad or narrow?)
3. Get a working knowledge of your topic. (develop
keyword list) (How to do this??)
4. Identify controversies or questions (Background
reading)
5. Develop your research question (Why?)
6. Write your clarifying paragraph (Or introduction, or
abstract)

36. Background Information
• Google
• Encyclopedias
–Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences
–Other print and online
–Big “W”
• Books and other media

39. Legal & News Resources

40. http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/forensics

44. Search for:
confession AND false AND interrogation
in “Look up a Legal Case”
yielded 300+ results

45. Web Resources

48. Research Methods & Guidance

49. Before you begin your
research…
• Define your topic
• Gain a working knowledge of your topic –
background info, keywords, controversies
• Write your abstract/introduction AND your
outline
• Make sure you know what you are looking
for
• Find articles in the….
• Check peer-reviewed status in…

50. Avoiding Plagiarism and
Citing Sources

51. What is Plagiarism?
• Copy from published sources without
adequate documentation
• Paraphrase from a written source
without giving credit to the author
• Paraphrase from the web without
giving credit

54. Final tips…

55. Forensic Science Resources
• Wealth of resources at SU!
– However….we don’t have everything
• Interlibrary Loan Services
– Try to get you what you need asap
– Journal articles, books, chapters, etc.
– Service is free – register here:
• https://illiad.syr.edu/

60. Google
Google
Scholar
Summon
Specialized
databases
Broad,
Interdisciplinary
search Tools
Focused, subject-specific
search engines

61. RSS Alerts
• Set up RSS feeds in databases to be
alerted when new articles in your field of
interest are published. (I use Scopus to do
this).
• Can set up alerts from most databases –
by author, subject or receive citation alerts

62. Search Tips
• Most search tools insert AND between
words.
– Criminal AND profiling
• To search for an exact phrase, use
quotation marks
“criminal profiling”
• Use advanced search or read help
sections for further assistance

63. Determine what you need:
• Book
– Background information
– In depth review or overviews
• Article
– General (review articles)
– More narrowly focused
– Peer-reviewed, scientific
Think before you search

65. http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/biology

66. Need help?
Come visit –
Sci-Tech Library
(Carnegie)
galloway@syr.edu
OR
http://library.syr.edu/research
/askus/

67. Questions???