FAU Libraries Research Check List

The process of writing a research paper begins with receiving an assignment from your instructor. This may done through the course syllabus, an assignment sheet, or verbally. The first thing to do is to be sure you understand the assignment and what is expected by your instructor. Some important points to consider include: 

What are the assignment requirements? 

Look carefully at the words used in describing the assignment. If your instructor uses words such as analyze, compare or argue, this should guide your approach to the topic.

How long should the assignment be?

Is there a requirement for the paper to be a certain number of pages? This may require you to narrow or expand your topic depending on available resources.

Are there specific types of resources that should be used?

Are you required to use specific formats of resources (books, journals, etc.), or other requirements such as primary sources, or peer-reviewed periodicals? Do you need to cite them using a particular style manual, such as APA or MLA? Alternatively, are there certain types of resources you should not use?  (See Citation section below).

When is the assignment due?

It is never a good idea to wait until the last minute to attempt writing a research paper. Sources you need may not be available, computer glitches may occur, and other problems may arise which become far worse when your paper is due tomorrow!

Who is the intended audience?

Will your instructor be the only audience for your work, or will other people be exposed to it, such as in a class presentation. Be sure to gear the level of your work to the intended audience and what they already know about the topic.

Once you think you have a topic, do some quick searches in the catalog and in the databases.  See if there will be enough materials on your topic before you become committed to the topic.

• Use reference materials, like textbooks, encyclopedias and dictionaries to get basic information on your topic.

• Make a list of keywords to describe your topic:  break your topic into parts and search each part separately
.
(i.e. Native American Women, Native American Feminism, Minority Feminism, Minority Rights).

• Note synonyms and various spellings of words.  Search for keyword variations through thesauri, dictionaries, etc.
  (i.e. dog vs. canine, women vs. woman, U.S.S.R vs. Russia vs. Soviet Union).

What to do if there are too many or not enough resources available: 

• Narrow your topic i.e., your original topic is Costa Rican culture, look at marriage or education or a specific demographic.

• Talk with a Librarian for search strategies.

• You have at least 3 weeks to complete the project:
Interlibrary Loan: This service allows you to request resources that you want if the item is checked out or FAU does not own the item.

• You have less than 3 weeks to complete the project:
Talk with a Librarian for search strategies.
Broaden your topic or change it.

Location

The resources might be in an electronic format (ebook, ejournal, etc.), print format (book, government document, etc.) or other media (CD, video, microform, etc.).  The electronic format of items can be found through the Library’s Catalog, Indexes/Databases, or Electronic Journals.  All the non-electronic formats can be found in the library.  You can find these items by call number and by using the Library Map to see where in the library the collection or call number is located.  For more information about reading call numbers please visit:  http://www.library.fau.edu/geninfo/howto.htm. 

Books

Looking for Books? (Print or Electronic):

• Use the Library’s Catalog to locate print or electronic books. The catalog will give you a call number which is used to find the book in the library, and tell you if the book is available or checked out.

• The Library Map indicates where the books are shelved, by the first one or two letters of the call number.

• Circulating: General books in the circulating collection may be checked out of the library. They often provide in-depth information and analysis of a subject.

• Reference: Reference books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, etc.) provide less detailed information on a subject, such as definitions and overviews, and are non-circulating, meaning they cannot be checked out of the library. They can be a good starting place when beginning research.

Articles

Already Have a Citation for an Article? 

To find a specific journal title or article when you already have the citation, use the Electronic Journals link. This page lets you search for a journal title and will tell you which databases include the full text of that journal. The Citation Linker on this page allows you to search for a specific article when you have the citation information (journal title, author, article title, volume number, date, page numbers, etc.) in advance. Remember, not every journal is available online, and if you cannot find the article online, use the Library’s Catalog to see if the journal is available in print or microform here in the library.

Looking for Articles on Your Subject?      

To find articles on a subject online, use the Indexes/Databases link and select a database to search for the articles. Some databases include links to the full text of electronic journal articles. If the citation of an article you want does not link to the full-text of the article, try clicking on SFX, which will give a shortcut to the online full text in other FAU Library subscription databases. If the article is not available online, the next step is to check the FAU Library’s Endeca Catalog, listed in the SFX box, to see if the journal is available in print or microform here in the library.

Types of Periodicals (Electronic, Print, or Microform): 

Articles are found in periodicals (also called serials). These are publications that are available by subscription basis, such as newspapers, magazines and journals. Most periodicals the Library subscribes to are available online, but some may only be available in print, microfilm, or microfiche formats. Some professors may require you to use a certain type of periodical, especially peer-reviewed (also called scholarly, refereed or academic journals). Some major types of periodicals and where they may be found are listed below:  

• Scholarly/Academic/Peer Reviewed Journals:

• The articles in academic periodicals report the results of scholarly research and are written by subject experts. Prior to publication, the articles are evaluated for quality by other experts in the same field (peer reviewers).

• Some source databases: Most EBSCO, Gale, ProQuest and Wilson databases allow you to limit your search to peer-reviewed journals only. 

• Trade/Industry Journals

• The articles in trade publications focus on particular industries or trade organizations, and are usually written by practitioners or journalists.

• Some source databases: ABI/Inform Trade & Industry, LexisNexis Academic

• Commentary/Opinion Magazines

• The articles in these magazines feature opinions on various political and social issues, often slanted toward a particular viewpoint (e.g. conservative or liberal).  Articles are often written by subject specialists but usually do not present research findings.

• Some source databases: Expanded Academic ASAP, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

• Popular Magazines

• Focus on current events, entertainment, hobbies, personal advice, etc. Articles are written by journalists. Usually feature extensive color photography and advertisements.

• Some source databases: Readers Guide Full Text, General OneFile

• Newspapers

• Feature local, national, and international news. Articles are written by reporters.

• Provide very up-to-date information, but not in-depth.

• Some source databases: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, LexisNexis Academic

Government Resources    

• The FAU Library is a Federal and State of Florida government documents depository. Most government documents may be checked out, except for periodicals. Government documents are located on the first floor, west wing of the Library.

• Federal Documents are published by the United States government. They use a separate classification system than the rest of the Library, which is based on the Federal department or agency that issued the document. Federal Documents published since 1976 may be located by searching the Library’s Catalog.

• Florida State Documents are published by the state government of Florida. Florida State documents are not included in the catalog and may be searched for in the Florida Documents Index. The shelves holding the Florida Documents are labeled with orange signs.

Audiovisual Materials

• Audiovisual materials are available in the Media Center, which is located on the first floor, west wing of the Library. The Media Center is also where students can check out a laptop for use in the Library. Audiovisual materials may be located using the Library’s Catalog. Using the Advanced Search in the Catalog will let you limit your search by format or location (Media Center).

• DVD and VHS videos: are available for checkout by students for 3 days. The collection includes feature films as well as educational materials.

• Audio CDs: are available for checkout by students for 3 days. The collection mainly consists of classical and jazz recordings, although other styles of music are represented, as well as spoken word.

Microforms

The Microforms Area is located behind the Reference Collection on the first floor, east wing of the Library. Two types of microforms are available: microfilm, which is on reels, and microfiche, which is on small sheets of plastic. All microforms are non-circulating. The collection includes newspapers, other periodicals, ERIC (Education) documents, and other specialized collections, such as ones on the history of women and the history of nursing. Some microform holdings are listed in the Library’s Catalog, others have separate guidebooks which are located in the Microforms Area. Microforms may be read, scanned or printed on machines located along the windows on the north side of the collections.

Maps

The Map Collection is located behind the Reference Collection on the first floor, east wing of the Library. Federal, State, National, and International travel maps are included.         

Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives is located on the second floor, east wing of the Library. Special Collections includes unique, rare, and/or fragile materials which are stored in a restricted, closed stack environment. The University Archives include materials documenting the history of Florida Atlantic University.

Internet Resources

Some professors may require you to use a certain number of Internet resources in your research paper: others may request that you do not use Internet resources. It is important to understand that electronic books, journals, and databases provided through the Library’s web site are online versions of print resources, and although they are accessed on the Internet, they should not be considered as “Internet sources.”  It is important to evaluate them using the criteria described in the link above.   

Course Reserves

Reserves are readings assigned by professors for a course that are made available through the Library. Reserves may be in the form of books which can only be checked out for a shorter period of time (one hour, three days, etc.) than usual, or articles/book chapters which may be available online or in paper. Books or paper copies of reserve articles are available at the Circulation Desk.

Your instructor may require you to use primary, secondary or tertiary sources in your research paper. 

Primary Sources:

Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or are recollections in the form of memoirs, diaries and/or oral histories. These sources may include: letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals entries, newspapers, speeches, interviews, memoirs, government documents, catalogs, handbooks, photographs, musical scores, audio recordings, moving pictures, video recordings, research data, objects or artifacts. The link above connects to a guide to primary sources in the FAU Library.  

Secondary Sources:

Secondary sources provide analysis, interpretation or commentary regarding primary sources. These sources may include scholarly books and journal articles, commentaries, biographies (not autobiographies, which are primary sources), works of criticism, historical analyses, etc.

Tertiary Sources:

Tertiary sources are reference works which provide overviews and access to primary and secondary sources. Examples include indexes and abstracts, almanacs, bibliographies, digests, etc.

Evaluating Resources

Most professors require SCHOLARLY resources.  The following are topics to think about when evaluating materials for scholarship.

Determine the Author's Authority: 

Title, degree, education, and other publications:  Does the author appear to be an expert in the field?  Can the author be contacted for clarification?

Where to look:  Who’s Who in America, Biography Resource Center or the University’s website where the author works

Publisher: 

University Press, academic press, vanity press:  Does the publisher have requirements about what is published or not?

Where to look:  Look at the publisher’s homepage.  A limited list of websites can be found at:  http://www.publishers.org/member/members.cfm or Ulrichsweb.com

Source: 

Can all the information found be verified by another source?  If there isn’t an author listed, is the organization reputable?

Where to look:  Check the "about" page, search resources like the Business and Company Resource Center.  Look for reviews on the company.  Compare this to the information found on other websites.

Website:  

If the resource comes from a website, is the site available on a consistent basis or do pages “disappear”?  If updates take place on the website, are they archived or logged?  Are there a lot of links that lead to a dead end?

Where to look:  How often the website is updated can be found at the bottom of the page.  Look for an archive link for previous versions of the website.  Contact the author or organization and ask questions.

      Topic:             Is the purpose of the resource clearly stated and does the author meet the goals of the topic?
      Subject:          Is it appropriate for your topic?  Does it fit the criteria set by your teacher (timeframe, format)?
      Tone:              Is it an informational piece, a research study, or an opinion piece?
      Currency:        Is the information timely to your topic? i.e., you would not want an article from 1984 if you are writing about current events.

What does a scholarly resource mean?

A scholarly resource means that the article or book was reviewed by experts in the respective field.  Scholarly works are also called “peer-reviewed” or “refereed.”

How can I tell if it is a scholarly resource?

Print Journals

If you are holding the journal in your hand, there are a couple of tricks to decide if the item is a good resource. 

Scholarly:

• Coarse or nonglossy pages

• A lot of tables and charts

• At the front of the journal there is a statement that says authors must submit to a peer-reviewed or refereeing process

Non-scholarly/questionable:

• Glossy pages

• A lot of smiling faces

• A lot of ads

• Examples: Consumer Reports or Science magazine

Electronic Journals

You will need to search for information for the journal, not the article. 

• Some databases give the option to limit the results to scholarly journal articles only.

• Search the “about this journal” page.  If the journal is scholarly, there will be a requirement that all articles are submitted to peer-review.

Books      

Books are a little harder to verify that they are scholarly because most publishers do not have a peer-review process when publishing books.

Scholarly:

• Published by a university.

• Published by an academic publishing company.

• The book contains a series of articles and the editors require a peer-reviewed or refereeing process.

• You have determined that the author is an expert based on evaluation.

Non-Scholarly/questionable:

• Published by a vanity press.

• The publisher does not have a peer-review process.

• The author is not determined to be an expert based on your evaluation.

What if I want to use Google Scholar or the Internet to find my resources?

Google Scholar

It’s ok to use Google Scholar, but keep this in mind: 

• Google can only search a very limited amount of journals. 

• Google Scholar does not have the option to limit your results based on scholarly journals, so you will be required to find an “about this journal” page that tells you if the journal is peer-reviewed or not.

The Internet

Searching the Internet may seem easier, but actually requires a lot more work to prove that the source is reliable. 

• Establish the authority of the author.

• Archive the webpage that you are using:  The web is dynamic and always changing.  Pages disappear or the content changes.

It is important to collect all information necessary to cite your resources in your project.  For every resource, make sure to copy down the following information. 

• Author(s)

• Title of book or article

• Journal/Series Title

• Volume and Issue

• Date

• Publisher’s name

• Publisher’s location

• Page Numbers

• Where this item was found

• Other Information:

You can also download this useful Form to record your resources.  To download, right click on the word 'Form' and click on 'Save As or Save Target As'  then save the Form to your Desktop.

There is a database that will collect this information for you called RefWorks.  This database can also be used to create a bibliography.  However, all citations created with this database should be checked for mistakes, and not every professor will allow you to use this tool.

Gathering information and giving proper credit to your sources: 

• Once you find resources for your research, collected citation information about the resource (by filling out the handout), and decided to use the resource in your paper or project, then you are ready to form your citations.

Why Cite? 

• You cite to give credit to the original authors of works (books, journal articles, interviews, presentations, etc.) you used in your paper.

• You also cite to inform your readers that some of the information in your paper came from a different source (not you).  With this citation information, your professors and readers can find information or related information for further research or clarification.

• Finally, you cite to avoid plagiarizing. (See Plagiarism section below)

 When do I need to cite in my paper?

• When using “direct quotations” from a work

• If paraphrasing words or ideas that are not your own

• When summarizing someone else’s ideas or writing

• When referring to someone else’s work

• If your evaluation or analysis was influenced by another source or author

• If you are expressing or using someone else’s ideas or words

• When you reuse or resubmit papers that you already submitted in a class without citing yourself accordingly.  (Please discuss this process further with your professor as you should be required to inform your appropriate professor or academic authority figure that this writing was previously submitted and graded.)   

When don’t I need to cite? 

• Common-sense, well-known and everyday knowledge and facts do not require citation.  Using this type of information without citing the source is not plagiarism.

Type of Citations: Two main types

• In-text or parenthetical style: are citations that are present within the body of your paper.  These must be used when quoting, paraphrasing and/or using someone else’s ideas.  These citations are contained within parentheses next to the information you are citing, quoting or referencing.  These typically contain the author’s last name, the page number and the year.  This citation is an abbreviated version of the full bibliographic citation which will be listed in the works cited page at the end of your document (see bibliographic/works cited references below). The author’s name provides sufficient information for identifying the cited source on the bibliography or works cited page. 

In-text or parenthetical citation example:  Joyce employs several of these literary techniques in his writing (Madison, p. 234, 2007).

• Footnote style citations are notes that are placed at the bottom of your paper (or other work); the note expands on a specific section or idea you are citing in your paper. 

The text within your paper is assigned a number that will correspond to the number listed on the note at the bottom of your paper.  All of this information then coincides to the full reference listed in the bibliography or works cited page.   

   The assignment of numbers of footnotes is as such: 

        ¹for the first footnote on the page, ² for the second footnote, and so on.

                            Within the body of the paper: 

                                 A peculiar reference was made about the faulty nature of cardiovascular systems in children born to epileptics.¹

                           Actual note, as seen at the bottom of the same page:

                                          ¹ G. Wayne Miller, King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery
                                  (New York: Times, 2000) 245.

How to Create a Bibliography or Works Cited Page:

Both bibliographies and works cited pages contain full citations or bibliographic information for books, journals, etc. for your paper and are organized in alphabetical order by the author’s last name at the end of the paper.  Check to see which format your professor prefers.

Works Cited Page:

Contains full citations in alphabetical order at the end of your document.  Such sources are cited/referenced (discussed, quoted from, paraphrased from, etc.) within the body of your paper.

Bibliography:

A listing of all works used and consulted for writing your paper.  You should include citation information for resources that are cited and/or resources that were merely consulted but not cited. 

Bibliographic and/or Works Cited Reference: 

Fitzgerald, F.Scott.  The Great Gatsby.  New York:  C. Scribner’s Sons, 1925. 

Madison, Lowry.   Irish Literature.  New York:  Anywhere Publisher, 2007. 

Annotated bibliographies

Sometimes your professor may want you to annotate your bibliography.  Check out Cornell University’s guide below for an explanation of annotated bibliographies: 

http://www.library.cornell.edu/t/help/res_strategy/citing/annotated.html
 

Understanding Citations: 

There are a variety of citation styles.  The following four styles will be highlighted here:  APA, MLA, Chicago and Turabian.  Please check with your professor prior to choosing a style.

APA Style

APA (American Psychological Association) style is based upon the standards put out by the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5^th edition).  It is the required citation style for psychology majors or those writing in that field; however, those majoring in the social sciences also use it.  

Examples: 

APA Formatting and Style (American Psychological Association)

http://apastyle.apa.org

APA Documentation (LEO: Literacy Education Online, St. Cloud University)

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/apadocument.html

APA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue University) 
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

APA Citation Style (Cornell University)

http://www.library.cornell.edu/t/help/res_strategy/citing/apa.html

APA guide available at FAU:  REF BF76.7.P83 2001

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5^th ed.  Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2001.

MLA Style

MLA (Modern Language Association) is the citation style used by those majoring in and/or writing in the field of literature and other fields in the liberal arts and the humanities. 

Examples

Frequently asked questions about MLA Style (Modern Language Association)

http://www.mla.org/style

MLA Citation and Format Style Guide (Bucknell Information Services and Resources)

http://www.isr.bucknell.edu/img/assets/6535/mla.pdf

Citation Styles Handbook:  MLA (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/writer_resources/citation_styles/mla/mla.htm

MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue University)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01

MLA guide available at FAU:   REF LB2369.G53 2003     Gibaldi, Joseph.  MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.  6th ed.  New York:  Modern Language Association, 2003.

Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style offers two techniques for documenting citations:  the humanities style (notes and bibliography) and the author-date system.  Generally the subject matter determines which format to use. Choosing between the two often depends on subject matter and nature of sources cited, as each system is favored by different groups of scholars  

Those researching or studying in the area of literature, humanities and the arts typically prefer the “humanities citation style” The shorter version, the “author-date style” is most often implemented by researchers and students in the physical, natural, and social sciences.

Examples:

The Chicago Manual of Style Online

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guide (The Ohio State University)

http://library.osu.edu/sites/guides/chicagogd.php

Chicago Style Guide (Health Sciences Libraries, University of Washington)

http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/styleguides/chicago.html

Chicago/Turabian Documentation (University of Wisconsin, Madison, The Writing Center)

http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocChicago.html

Chicago guide available at FAU: REF Z253 .U69    The Chicago Manual of Style.  15 ed.  Chicago:  University of Chicago Press, 2003. 

Turabian Style

This citation style is more typically used by those in researching in the social sciences or natural sciences. 

Turabian Samples for a Bibliography (Ithaca College, Library Resources and Methods of Research)
http://www.ithaca.edu/library/course/turabian.html

Concordia University Libraries Citation Guide- Turabian
http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/turabian.pdf

Turabian Citation Style (Long Island University)
http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/cittur.htm

Turabian Citation Guide (Ohio State University)
http://library.osu.edu/sites/guides/turabiangd.php

RefWorks: 

It is an online program that enables researchers to find, organize, manage and access their references. 

Why use RefWorks: 

• With RefWorks, you can create your own personal database by importing references from online databases (i.e. Omnifile, Academic Search Premier, etc.). 

• RefWorks organizes all of your references and stores them in one place

• Allows you to utilize a number of different styles for their references

• These references can be used when writing papers, as RefWorks automatically formats the paper and bibliography for you.

About RefWorks: 

RefWorks sometimes makes errors in preparing citations or references, so please double-check your citations and your bibliography or works cited page. Also, not all professors approve of RefWorks, so get your professor’s approval prior to using the program for your citations and research.

Fourth Step: Other Important Information

Understanding Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the act of copying, paraphrasing or using someone else’s words or ideas as your own without giving appropriate credit to the person.  It is indeed considered theft/stealing from someone.  Plagiarism can occur with both published and non-published works (including your classmates’ papers). 

Note:  Using common, well-known, everyday knowledge and facts in your paper, without citations, is not a form of plagiarism.

Some examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to: 

• Copying a direct quotation without using quotes around the information

• Trying to submit material that is paraphrased as one’s own work

• Submitting incorrect citation information for words or ideas that are not one’s own

• Copying whole papers or sections and submitting as one’s own work

• Copying or reusing your own work you did for a different class without proper citation

Why should you care about plagiarism?

• If you plagiarize, there are ways your professors can and will find out. 

• Have you ever heard of a program called, “Turn it in”?  This program enables your professors to check your paper against other research and written papers as well as published and non-published books, journals, etc. to check if you plagiarized any part of your work. 

The following link to recommended student guidelines for ethnics and academic integrity provides detailed information on the FAU policy about plagiarism including penalties for plagiarizing: http://www.fau.edu/caupa/pdf/ethics_student_guidelines.pdf

Stanford University offers an excellent definition for plagiarism along with some additional information on the subject at:   http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/students/plagiarism.sources.htm

Understanding Copyright:

What it is:

Copyright law states that authors of original works have ownership over their productions and creations.  According to the US copyright office, copyright law gives the authors (who are the owners of copyright) the sole right to do and to authorize users to do the following: 

• To reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords;
• To prepare derivative works based upon the work;
• To distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;
• To perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
• To display the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
• In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.

What is not covered by copyright?

Copyright does not cover ideas, concepts, processes, procedures, etc. that are presented or discussed in someone else’s work.   

For more detailed information from the US copyright office, visit http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wci

Since we are working in the field of academia or in a university/academic setting, a certain amount of leeway is given to students and researchers in the area of copyright.  This is due to the nature of our work falling within the scope of education. 

However, if you are downloading images, data, music or other works that are original works, you need to check for the creator's statement of permissible use and if there is a suggestion on how to give credit to the author, how material can be used, etc.  You may very well need to ask for copyright permission to utilize these items in your work.   It is very easy to infringe on copyright and if you are caught doing so, then you can be sued by all involved parties.  Both copyright infringement and such lawsuits happen everyday in the United States, demonstrating the serious nature of this issue. 

For More Information:

Basic information regarding what is covered by copyright law.

http://policies.georgetown.edu/copyright/sections/copyrightbasics/ (Georgetown University)

An excellent site providing an overview and frequently asked questions about copyright

http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/ (Stanford University)

Need Further Writing Help?

• Visit the University Center for Excellence in Writing on the FAU Boca Raton campus

• Follow this quick link to find out more about the Writing Center http://www.fau.edu/UCEW/about.htm

• Once there, get the following help with your research and other papers: 

• Brainstorming

• Outlining and mapping out your paper

• Drafting

• Revising

Note:  There is no assistance provided by the Writing Center for editing or proofing your paper. As well, the library does not do the following-  edit or proof-read your paper, check citations or perform any other writing mechanical help.

Need More Research Help?

Ask A Librarian: 

• Chat with a librarian- Get immediate answers and information from a librarian via a chat message.  Use our new chat service.

• Email a librarian- send more in-depth questions to a librarian that should be answered in approximately 24 hours. 

Research consultation

• If you are in need of in-depth and/or specialized reference assistance, make an appointment with a librarian by clicking on the link above.

• Call the reference desk for reference assistance at 561-297-3785.

Research Help Guide:  Help with your research process

http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/ref/start.htm

Library Homepage:  Catalog, databases, interlibrary loan, etc.  Most important information is found in the "Quick Links" on the left side of the page.

http://www.fau.edu/library/

Research Subject Guides:  For subject specific suggestions for databases, journals, search terms, reference books, etc.

http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/ref/reshelp.htm#research