A Guide to Library Research MethodsIn this age of information explosion, job hunters, students, professionals and researchers have long needed a comprehensive yet user-friendly handbook to guide them through the bewildering maze of resources now available. This book, written by a reference librarian at the Library of Congress, introduces a distinctive, new approach to the fact-finding process. It provides an exceptional overview not only of the range of materials that exist, but, more importantly, of the several conceptual options that individuals have in using them. Dr. Mann's problem-solving technique emphasizes seven different research methods that can be applied to any inquiry. These can be used as a set of easily remembered "mental pegs" that enables individuals to get further into a subject more quickly, and with less wasted effort. While using the more conventional research models that categorise sources by type-of-literature (dictionaries, almanacs, etc.) and by subject discipline (Business, English, Psychology, etc.), the author's approach enables individuals to pursue their inquiries in a cross-disciplinary and more thorough fashion. The seven research methods described include computer searches, subject heading inquiries, bibliographies, systematic browsing, key word searches and citation searches, and more. Mann discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the several methods (for example, the pitfalls of relying exclusively on computer searches), the use of unique sources like the National Union Catalog, and the treasures to be found in frequently neglected sources like special collections, microform sets, and government documents. An invaluable feature of the book is its provision of numerous examples of actual searches, including examples of the mistakes and omissions that most people (even university professors) are guilty of, without ever realizing that they have gone off the best track. Library Research Methods should be required reading for every individual--whether scholar or journalist, law student or scientist--who has ever asked, "Where should I start to find out about this?" |
Contents
I | 9 |
Subject Headings and the Card Catalog | 10 |
Systematic Browsing and | 27 |
Copyright | |
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Abstracts alphabetical American annual cumulations appear basic Biography Business call number Capital punishment card catalog catalog card Chapter citation searching collections companies computer search Congress Subject Headings controlled vocabulary coverage cross-references databases Death penalty Directory documents Electric power transmission entry example field filing H. W. Wilson Hamadryas baboon History important index covers ISI indexes journal articles journal indexes key word search LCSH list Library of Congress library's Literature locations microfiche microfiche set National Union Catalog Note OCLC periodicals Permuterm print index problem Psychology publications published bibliographies reader records reference librarians relevant reports retrieval review articles RLIN Science Citation Index serials Service shelves Social Sciences Social Sciences Index sources student studies subject access subject areas subject index systematic browsing Technology tion topic U.S. Congressional Committee uniform heading usually vols volume Wilson indexes word-by-word