The purpose of this course research guide is to acquaint you with some of the University Library's resources and others on the World Wide Web useful for finding information for your presentations. Should you have questions, stop by the Reference Desk on the first floor or call the Reference Desk at (334) 229-4110 during the hours the Library is open. You may also call Marsha V. Taylor, the Information Literacy Librarian, at (334) 229-6839.

Reference Sources

Check the Reference books listed here to find brief biographical information on the person you have chosen to research and also to find brief information on concepts and philosophical issues. Remember that subject encyclopedia articles often include a list of further readings, which you may find in our Library. Also browse other books shelved in the same call number areas for more information.

These books are located in Main Reference on the first floor of the Library. They can not be taken from the Library, but you may photocopy pages using the photocopier near the main door of the Library.

• Encyclopedia of Education
  Main Reference: LB 15 .E47 2003
• Encyclopedia of American Education
  Main Reference: LB 17 .U54 2001
• Philosophy of Education: An Encyclopedia
  Main Reference: LB 17 .P45 1996
• International Encyclopedia of the Sociology of Education
  Main Reference: LC 191 .I49 1997
• Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  Main Reference: B 51 .R68 1998
• The Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  Main Reference: B 41 .E5 1996
• Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology
  Main Reference: BF 31 .G35 2001
• Encyclopedia of Psychology
  Main Reference: BF 31 .E52 1984
• Encyclopedia of Sociology
  Main Reference: HM 425 .E5 2000
• HORNetCat
  search for other reference books in the Library
• netLibrary (ASU)
  search for electronic reference books

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Journal Articles

The best method for finding journal articles is to use one of the Library's online article databases. For additional information on those listed here and for others, explore our list of databases. The databases are easily accessible off campus by clicking on the database name and typing in the information requested. If you need additional assistance with accessing the databases off campus, contact Cedric Davis at (334) 229-6998.

Not all of our databases provide access to the entire text of articles. If the text of an article is not available in a database, try the following:

• Serials Solutions (ASU) - to determine if the article is available in another online database.
• HORNetCat - for journals to which the Library subscribes. Journals are housed in the Serials Department on the third floor.
• Interlibrary Loan - to order those articles not available in the Library or via a full-text database.

Education Databases

• ERIC (ASU) (AVL)
• Professional Collection (ASU)
• Professional Development Collection (ASU) (AVL)
• Wilson Education Full Text (ASU)
• Wilson Library Literature & Information Full Text (ASU)

Other Databases

• Academic Search Premier (ASU)
• Emerald (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• PsycINFO (ASU)

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ERIC Documents

The ERIC Document collection includes a variety of items pertaining to education. These are arranged by clearinghouses, which specialize in specific areas of education. ERIC documents are located on the Library's third floor in the ERIC microfiche cabinets. Many ERIC documents dating from 1993 to the present are full text through the EDRS database.

• EDRS: ERIC Document Reproduction Service (ASU)
• ERIC (ASU) (AVL)

Books

Explore the following options for books located in the Library, online, and in other libraries. If you find books not available in the Library or online, you may request them through Interlibrary Loan .

• HORNetCat
• netLibrary (ASU)
• WorldCat (ASU) (AVL)

Dissertations

As with periodical articles, ERIC documents, and books, today's technology also makes the full text of many dissertations available online. Digital Dissertations (ASU) provides the full text of dissertations from 1997 to the present. You'll also find information on dissertations starting with 1861 and master's theses beginning with 1988.

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is an outstanding but often bewildering source of information. Not everything you find will be authoritative, accurate, and valid. Try searching one of these to find more reliable Web sites.

• INFOMINE Scholarly Internet Resource Collections
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
• Scout Report Archives

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Your Comments

Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think about this guide. Has it helped with your research? Do you have any suggestions for improving the guide? You may e-mail Marsha V. Taylor at mvtaylor@alasu.edu or call her at (334) 229-6839 with your comments and suggestions.