• Consult general or specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias located in the Reference Room or available on the Library databases list.

Clearly Define Your Topic

• What exactly do you plan to cover?

• Identify important concepts, subtopics, and related terms.

Decide What Type of Material Is Needed

• Is the topic likely to be covered in books? scholarly journal articles? news reporting sources? government publications? research studies?

Decide on Other Limiting Factors

• Do you need the latest available information? historical data? English language materials only? statistics?

Search DELCAT or WorldCat Local to Locate Books on a Topic

• DELCAT and WorldCat Local will help you find materials available in or through the University of Delaware Library. Additionally, WorldCat Local will search materials in other libraries around the world. Search for keywords which apply to your topic. Keyword searching is particularly useful when you want to combine two or more concepts in your search, using operators AND or OR to link terms. You can also search for authors or browse by subject words. Be sure to check whether the item is "available" (for example, not checked out). In DELCAT, click on the call number. In WorldCat Local, check the Get this Item tab.

Search Databases to Locate Articles on a Topic

• The Library subscribes to more than 230 online licensed databases and thousands of electronic journals. Search one or more databases which cover your topic to find periodical (magazine, journal, or newspaper) articles. Use the "databases listed by subject(s)" feature (on the Library database page) to help you pick likely databases for your search. Some databases contain or link to the full text of articles.

• To locate articles which are not available full-text in the databases, check to see whether the library has the journals which contain these articles. Always look for the title of the journal. You can search journal titles in the Library E-Journals list, in DELCAT, and in WorldCat Local.

• Check to see if the Library has the volume that you need. In DELCAT, click on the call number for each journal title to check the holdings information. The holdings information tells you the volumes and years the Library has. In WorldCat Local, check the Get this Item tab.

• Recent issues of print magazines, journals, and newspapers are shelved in the Periodicals Room by title. Older issues are bound and are shelved by call number. Library location charts specify which call numbers are on each floor. If the call number had a location in front of it, check the location charts to find out where the materials are located or if the materials need to be requested for delivery to you.

Use Bibliographies to Locate Additional Sources

• If you find a useful book or article, see if it includes a bibliography or list of references. Then check some of these sources in DELCAT or WorldCat Local to see if the Library has them.

Evaluate Your Sources

• If more information is needed, return to DELCAT or WorldCat Local, or to the databases to locate additional sources.

Budget Your Time

• Remember that library research takes TIME.

• Others are using the same sources you are. Books and periodicals may not be on the shelves the first time you look.

• If the library does not have the items you need, you may be able to obtain them by using the Interlibrary Loan service.

Getting Help

If you need help in doing your research:

• Ask at the Reference Desk
• Phone the Reference Desk (831-2965)
• Send a question to the AskRef e-mail service
• Talk to a Reference librarian using chat (the AskRefLive! service)
• Talk to a Reference librarian using Instant Messenging (the AskRefIM service)