Search your library catalog - Finding useful sources - Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Search your library catalog
Finding useful sources
Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

SUBJECT HEADINGS IN BOOKS. As soon as you find one recent book relevant to your topic, look it up in your library's online catalog to find its Library of Congress subject headings; they will be at the bottom of the entry. For example, the online entry for this book includes these two topics:

1. Dissertations, Academic. 2. Academic writing.

You can click on the subject headings to find other books on the same topics. Many of those sources will have still more subject headings that can lead you to still more sources; it can turn into an endless trail.

KEYWORDS. Also search your online catalog using keywords from your question or working hypothesis—Alamo, Texas independence, James Bowie. If you find too many titles, start with those published in the last ten years by well-known university presses. For a wider selection, search WorldCat if your library subscribes. Otherwise, search the Library of Congress catalog at http://www.loc.gov. It has links to large university catalogs. Start early if you expect to get books on interlibrary loan.

ARTICLES. If most sources on your topic are articles, locate a recent one in your library's online databases. Its database entry will include a list of keywords. Search for them to find more articles on your topic. In most cases, you can just click on them. Some databases also provide abstracts of journal articles. Use these keywords to search the library catalog, as well.