Unless home is a campus dorm, in order to access many Library resources you must first configure your computer to use one of two simple access methods:
Proxy Server (easiest method) After you make a one-time change in your web browser's settings, allows you to use your CalNet ID to access a licensed resource (setup instructions).
VPN (Virtual Private Network) You install and run the VPN software on your computer. It allows you to log in with a CalNet ID and accesss a licensed resource.
Choosing the "right" resource means choosing a database that finds you the kind of materials you need.
Books & articles: You're likely to need the UCB Library catalog (OskiCat) and an article database for your assignment. Which one you use, depends on what you already know and the kind of materials sought.
If you already have a citation for an item or you want to find books on your topic, you can start with the catalog
If you want to isolate articles or essays on a topic, you'll need to use an "article" database
Catalogs|article databases and locating results (details)
Encyclopedias: Brief background information.
Knowing something about your topic will give you a place to begin and help you search better. It's hard to search in void!
Library catalog
Catalogs list library collections, item locations, and availability.
- database results do not equal what UCB owns - they identify where articles were published (name of publication and associated volume, issue, date info.) - sometimes results link to article content online - use UC-eLinks if a full text option is not provided - sometimes include more than articles (chapters in books, etc.)
Where's the article
Most library databases have the UC-eLinks feature. When a result is not available online, it allows you to check the UC-wide collections to see if it is available elsewhere (either online or in print copy).
Click the orange button associated with a result to see its access options.
Encyclopedias are often a good place to begin when you don't know much about a topic. They provide basic background information, the knowledge of which helps when searching for other materials: identify people, events, issues, etc. Entries may also have an associated bibliography that identifies other materials related to a topic.
This free encyclopedia is publicly editable and not a scholarly resource. Because anyone can write or add to an entry, the information may be innacurate or untrue. Through the very structure of its creation, it has dependability issues. Yet, it can still be a useful tool, if used wisely.
Like other encyclopedias, it can be helpful in obtaining background, and entries often list sources for further reading which you can see if UCB has in its collections. Use Wikipedia as a starting point for information you will verify in the course of your research via scholarlysources.
Evaluating sources
Research is as credible as the work that goes into it! It's important to analyze the information you find, including where it comes from.
While a magazine or journal article database lists results from sources known to be reputable/scholarly, finding material via Google requires additional evaluation on your part.
Some research databases contain popular and scholarly content (articles from magazines, newspapers, etc., in addition to those from scholarly journals).
You may want to limit results to scholarly content. If so, you can choose a resource that only contains it, or, if using one with mixed content, you can limit to scholarly materials (here's how).
If you want popular materials, many General article databases (see Resources tab) contain news and magazine content in addition of scholarly materials.
Citing sources
Properly citing sources is an important part of your research. It allows you to avoid plagiarism and highlights your engagement with related scholarship.
In a nutshell: "Whenever you quote or base your ideas on another person's work, you must document the source you used. Even when you do not quote directly from another work...."
The above extract is taken from the Library's guide on citing sources. The guide gives an overview of this topic and links to formatting rules for the major citation styles.
*SHORTCUT: Many databases allow you to export citations in a given citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) . When provided, this functionality is often in a database's email options. *
Book a 30-minute appointment with a librarian who will help refine and focus research inquiries, identify useful online and print sources, and develop search strategies for humanities and social sciences topics (examples of research topics).
Schedule, view, edit or cancel your appointment online (CalNetID required)
Subject Specialists
UCB has librarians specializing in certain disciplinary subjects and certain kinds of materials (government documents, film, etc.).
These notes contain additional suggestions about how you might proceed to best use the resources outlined in this class guide. They presume familiarity with the general concepts and information addressed in the other tabbed pages of the guide.
A research trajectory
Decide text/topic you are interested in writing about -- at least preliminarily.
Review the suggested resources section, below, and the Resources tab.
Select a resource whose content matches the kind of materials you are seeking to find and whose disciplinary focus maps to your topic (meaning publications in that field are likely to be writing about it). Or...choose an interdisciplinary database.
Search isolated resources to see what others have written on your topic, or what others are writing about that might suggest further topical focus.
Select promising results to examine closely. Remember to note any information you may need if you end up citing them.
Suggested resources
OskiCat
find books on your topic
find the periodicals you've already identified as having articles on your topic
find encyclopedias to get background information
Article databases (by SUBJECT)
identify article and essay content on your topic
identify current research
identify research focused on an aspect of a topic
search for publications from a specific discipline
literature, psychology, film studies, history, etc.
MLA is a recommended database for literary criticism
citation database / no full text
use UC-eLinks to locate result text
Article databases (GENERAL)
interdisciplinary
often have popular sources (magazine & news) as well scholarly
Academic Search Complete is one recommended resource
popular and scholarly content (good for popular culture topics)
some results available online
has UC-eLinks feature
Google Scholar is one recommended resource
strength is scholarly journal literature
Use UC-eLinks to get full text
Enable UC-eLinks to display (use Scholar Preferences > Library links)
JSTOR is one recommended database
scholarly journals
full text resource
use advanced search mode (to narrow to specific discipline)
Encyclopedias (subject encyclopedias)
backgroundon topic | biographical information on practitioner in field
Link path = Library homepage > Electronic Resources > Subject > then review the left sidebar menu to see if there is a link to encyclopedias
...Literature > encyclopedias > Literature Resource Center
good for brief biography of literary authors
Use Person Search (results in tabs - see biographies)
A few search tips
Recommended Tips for searching databases (also consider limiting by language)
Catalog searching (for books about a topic)
search 2 or 3 terms representing key concepts of your focus
try different combinations of term, synonyms, related terms
look at the record for a relevant result -- does its subjects suggest other search terms
try adding the term criticism for literary analysis
try adding terms for specific types of materials: encyclopedias, biographies...
Sample keyword searches... hoarding obsessive-compulsive disorder compulsive behavior france and history and class capitalism and material* kubrick and criticism eugene o'neill and biography
Limit by language - use modify search button
Limit by material type - change default search of Entire Collection to seach by type or location -- i.e. Films/Videos
If your search is too broad - use Modify button for available limits
