Search by using keywords and NOT phrases or sentences.
Learn over 164 languages for free including American Sign Language (with 20,000 videos, making it the largest in existence). Get a personalized learning plan - users customize their learning experience based on their interests, their occupation (any of 60!), their learning goals, age, available time, and more. Each custom course features a bespoke PDF study guide and even personalized audio lessons. Use it on the web or on the app!
SJR State students, faculty, and staff may register for full access to the New York Times online and maintain this personal account for 364 days. Once your days are up, you will need to renew your account.
Cross-search Alexander Street Press streaming videos across such subjects as anthropology, business, counseling, film, health, history, music, and theatre. The materials include documentaries, interviews, feature films, performances, news programs and newsreels, and demonstrations.
Streaming video from large and small production companies covering a wide range of subjects to enhance college courses. These videos include public performance rights that allow them to be used in the educational setting.
Provides access to Spanish- and Portuguese-language scholarly journals and magazines. Informe Acadmico proporciona acceso a peridicos y revistas especializadas de lengua espaola y portuguesa. La base de datos ofrece una amplia gama de contenidos.
Kanopy is a streaming video resource with a broad collection of over 26,000 films on every subject imaginable and from leading producers such as Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, New Day Films, HBO California Newsreel, Kino Lorber, PBS, BBC, First Run Features, The Video Project, Media Education Foundation, Documentary Education Resources.
Start Broad
When you start your researching journey, it is always a good idea to keep your searches broad and then begin to narrow it down. A broad search is going to leave you with lots of results that you can filter down by subject or maybe even a related field. When searching, look for other keywords that are being used in the sources that you find helpful. This will help you naturally begin to narrow your topic and research.
Try Different Keyword Searches
The databases and the library catalog search by keywords. Unlike Google or other search engines, you cannot type in a question or statement to find results. Keywords are one or two words that sum up your idea or topic. Finding good keywords can be the most challenging part to academic research. Do not be afraid to try different keywords in different ways.
Analyze Your Sources
Once you find a source that you think will be helpful, you want to analyze it to determine the validity of the information. Some things you will want to be on the lookout for are: Where you found it? Who is writing it? Who published it? When it was written? Why was it written? What is the source's purpose?
Stay Organized and Save Your Sources
Like in all things, staying organized will help you through your research journey. Some ways you can stay organize include creating digital or physical folders that contain the sources that you found. Saving the information you found is extremely important. It is very hard to replicate a search within a database and sometime it can be very challenging to find sources again if you don't remember much information about the source. Simply saving your source or printing it out can help you stay organized and be able to quickly retrieve information when it is time to start writing.
Use Your Library Resources
The library has a plethora of resources that can help you through your research journey. The library not only has books and periodicals, but databases, catalogs, videos and the best resource of all; librarians! Librarians can help you navigate the databases and catalogs as well as offering advice on your keyword searches and ways to narrow down your information. If you ever feel stuck or unsure of your next step while researching, ask your librarian for help and guidance!
