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Getting Started | Finding Books | Using Databases | Library Web Site | Your Assignment

Getting Started

Background Information

There are many ways to start researching a topic. One, effective and efficient method is to begin by collecting some background information or general information on your topic. Not only does this get you up to speed with your topic, but it also give you a chance to find other possible search terms/topics, subtopics, key people involved, and ideas for other resources. There are various resources you can use to find background information about a topic.

Topics

African American History
Iraq Conflict
Child Development & Raising Children
Money and Investment Management
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Current Cancer Treatments
Hindu Culture
Depression and Related disorders
Recycling

Print Resources - Books

The Reference Collection

Resources in the reference section of a library usually provide quick access to information that is used most often. You will find dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, and directories in the reference section. Items in the reference collection are always there for you -- they do not check out.

General Resources & Subject Specific Resources

"General" resources like the Encyclopedia Britannica, or the World Almanac provide information on a wide variety of topics "subject specific" resources provide information on a specific topic. There is an encyclopedia for just about everything -- Encyclopedia of Violence, Encyclopedia of Religion, Encyclopedia of Animal Rights...

Examples of titles from the Reference Collection that you might find useful

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History
Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East
Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence
Encyclopedia of Banking and Finance
Encyclopedia of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Encyclopedia of Cancer
Encyclopedia of Religion
Encyclopedia of Mental Health
Environmental Encyclopedia

* Your Turn...

Find a subject specific encyclopedia or similar reference resource with information on your topic.
Find an article about your topic within that resource.
What resource did you choose? Write a summary of the article you found.

How do you find these and other print resources in the library?

Use the Online Catalog LINCCSearch
to locate titles in this and other Community College Libraries

Library materials are shelved by "call number".
The call number is in bold at the bottom of the item entry.

Note: You can use the library catalog to find books in the reference collection and the circulation collection, magazine titles, art reproductions, videos, CD's... anything the library has in its collection.

* Your turn...

Use the online catalog to locate a book on your topic in the circulating collection.

Electronic Resources - Databases

PCC has many databases - electronic resources that locate and access articles from newspapers, magazines, journals, reference books and other resources. Go to the Library Web Site (http://www.polk.edu/it/library/ ) and click on the link to "Databases", then click on "Remote Access Databases" to use these resources. Your borrower ID logon is your student ID# or SSN.

General Resources -- good for a wide variety of topics

Academic Search Premier
magazine, journal, & newspaper articles
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
electronic version of the print resource
e-books
entire books stored electronically

Subject Specific Resources -- good for a specific topic

* Your turn...

Use Academic Search Premier to find an article on your topic.

Academic Search Premier is a general, full text database for finding magazine, journal and newspaper articles. It is fairly simple to use, follow the steps below to find and article on your topic.

* Your turn again...

Now, go back to the list of databases on the "Remote Access Databases" page and find more information about your topic using a different database.

General Full-text Resources	Subject Specific Resources	K-12 Resources
Academic Search Premier Biography Reference Bank * CQ Researcher * Custom Newspapers eBooks Encyclopædia Britannica * Facts On File News Service * Issues and Controversies * JSTOR * LexisNexis Academic * LexisNexis Current Issues * LexisNexis Statistical * Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center * Oxford English Dictionary *	Access Science * American National Biography * Biography Resource Center * Business Source Elite CINAHL with Headings * Criminal Justice Periodicals Index * Health & Wellness Resource Center * Literature Resource Center * MagillOnAuthors * MagillOnLiterature * Military FullTEXT Regional Business News WorldCat *	MAS Ultra School Edition Primary Search

* Resource provided by Polk Community College

If you would like assistance with any of the library resources please feel free to ask!

There are librarians and library staff available in the library to assist you in person

Library Hours
8:00am - 9:00pm Monday - Thursday
8:00am - 4:00pm Friday
9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday

You can call the library at (863) 297-1040 WH or 297-1042 LK

You can e-mail the library at referencedesk@polk.edu

This page was created 2/2003

Send comments to referencedesk@polk.edu

	The Reference Collection Resources in the reference section of a library usually provide quick access to information that is used most often. You will find dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, and directories in the reference section. Items in the reference collection are always there for you -- they do not check out. General Resources & Subject Specific Resources "General" resources like the Encyclopedia Britannica, or the World Almanac provide information on a wide variety of topics "subject specific" resources provide information on a specific topic. There is an encyclopedia for just about everything -- Encyclopedia of Violence, Encyclopedia of Religion, Encyclopedia of Animal Rights... Examples of titles from the Reference Collection that you might find useful Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence Encyclopedia of Banking and Finance Encyclopedia of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Encyclopedia of Cancer Encyclopedia of Religion Encyclopedia of Mental Health Environmental Encyclopedia * Your Turn... Find a subject specific encyclopedia or similar reference resource with information on your topic. Find an article about your topic within that resource. What resource did you choose? Write a summary of the article you found.

	How do you find these and other print resources in the library? Use the Online Catalog LINCCSearch to locate titles in this and other Community College Libraries Library materials are shelved by "call number". The call number is in bold at the bottom of the item entry.
	Note: You can use the library catalog to find books in the reference collection and the circulation collection, magazine titles, art reproductions, videos, CD's... anything the library has in its collection. * Your turn... Use the online catalog to locate a book on your topic in the circulating collection.