Planning Library Research, Time Management and Research
Planning Library Research
Library research is easier and accomplished in a more efficient manner when you have a plan in mind. When planning to conduct research at the library, make sure you have the following information (D. Applegate, CAL).
- The nature of the assignment for which the research is needed
- Are you doing an informative speech? a persuasive speech? an informal class presentation? a research paper? an annotated bibliography?
- The types of sources that are acceptable
- Must you use materials with a certain date of publication, say 1990 or later? Are you required to use primary sources only or can you consult secondary sources as well? Does the instructor allow the use of encyclopedias? dictionaries? magazines? journals? newspapers? theses and dissertations? books? government documents? transcripts? online sources like the Internet? pamphlets? videos or movies?
- The amount of information you need
- How long is the speech, paper, or presentation to be? Is there a minimum number of references that must be consulted and/or cited?
Once you establish these guidelines, chart out a course of action for locating in the library the information you need (adapted from Collins, Catlett, and Collins, 1994). Remember to seek assistance from library personnel when necessary.
- Can I use books? If so, consult the library catalog, which may be a card catalog or an online catalog.
- Can I use periodical articles in journals and magazines? If so, consult periodical indexes and abstracts, such as ProQuest, Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, Psychological Abstracts, or Art Index.
- Can I use newspapers? If so, consult newspaper indexes, such as those for the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.
- Can I use government publications? If so, consult document indexes and catalogs.
- Can I use manuscripts? If so, consult manuscript collection catalogs.
- Can I use theses and dissertations? If so, consult thesis and dissertation indexes.
Time Management and Library Research
In order to thoroughly assess library resources and to locate sufficient and appropriate references, you must budget well your time for doing library research (D. Applegate, CAL). Don't expect to breeze into the library without a plan of action and come out an hour later with all the reference material you will need for an assignment. Depending on the topic and the types of information you may use, it can take several hours to do a good job researching the topic at the library.
Consider three things when budgeting time for library research. First, begin the research well in advance of the assignment due date. This allows you time to order interlibrary loan materials and to recall books that are checked out by other library patrons. Second, allow several hours to properly research your topic in reference materials, periodicals, books, and other sources. Third, break the task of doing library research into several steps and develop a specific schedule for completing each step. You might use a calendar to write due dates, or you might develop a check list like the one illustrated below.
