Writing and Talking About History > Library Resources > Taking Advantage of the Library's Resources

Taking Advantage of the Library's Resources

In History 299 you will not only learn to think like a historian, but you will also learn to research like one. At one time or another, each of us has probably based a couple of papers on just a few books gathered by browsing the stacks and on several articles gleaned from a quick search through the Reader's Guide or Infotrac. But now you will become thoroughly acquainted with the Library, with particular emphasis on the intricacies of the Library's VTLS (Virginia Tech Library System) computer, the CD-ROMs, and the reference collection.

The following page on the Research Log covers a few "rules of research," and I will mention others throughout the semester. A few additional points, however, need to be stressed at the beginning:

Research takes time, and cannot be completed in an hour or two. When I mention that a particular index should be consulted, do not simply check the index's most current issue and let it go at that. An article, for example, on the Civil War could be listed in an 1870 volume of Poole's Index to Periodical Literature or a 1995 volume of the Humanities Index. Of course, you may not need to go back 100+ years in every case--or even in most cases--but for many research projects you will certainly have to look in indexes dating back more than one or two years.

There are dozens of possible sources that yield information, and you will be expected to be familiar with many of them. Keep track of all books--and individual volumes consulted--in your Research Log.

Use Turabian! Standards are outlined in either it or The Chicago Manual of Style. If you need the proper form for a footnote or bibliographic reference, you'll probably find it in either of these two sources. Do not invent your own style, as you will just have to redo your paper later on, making more work for yourself.

I can always meet with you to talk with you about your topic and research, and please feel free to drop by (Simpson Library, Room 115), call (654-1780), or e-mail me (jbales@mwc.edu). Remember, however, that I have many responsibilities and may not always be in my office or at the Reference Desk. For many questions you may not need my help specifically, and I would hate to have you make several trips to the Library looking for me when all you need is the location of a particular resource or a quick refresher lesson in using VTLS. Thus, feel free to ask any librarian who is at the Reference Desk. If a student aide is on duty and you would rather speak to the librarian "on call," please ask.