Use View My Account to renew books.
Type your name (last name, first name) and your banner number from your ID.
Search Issues and Controveries, Points of View Reference Center, Opposing Views in Context, CQ Researcher Online, or Proquest for Articles.
Search Google for Websites.
Search LIBROS (Library Catalog) for Books and Other Materials
For LIBROS Valencia Campus Basic Search.For LIBROS Consortia Advanced Search.
Use View My Account to renew books.
Type your name (last name, first name) and your banner number from your ID.
Search a Database for an Article
- For basic information on some topics, search Facts.com, Points of View Reference Center, Opposing Views in Context, or CQ Researcher Online.
- For information on almost any topic, Proquest, or Academic Search Complets .
- Other resources:
- For Databases Available Off Campus.
- For a list of All Databases.
- For a list of Databases by Subject.
- Use eJOURNAL FINDER to see if journal title is available in full text.
Use a search engine to find web pages.
- Google or Google Scholar
- Ask.com
- Yippy
- BING
- Infomine
- Yahoo Search!
- About.com
- For additional search engines, see LSU Libraries Search Engines.
Use LIBROS or the Movie Website to Find Movies
If you are looking for a particular movie, search LIBROS by the name of movie as "Title."
OR
Use the Browse Movies by Category web pages.
Browse by category, click on image or title to get call number and request at desk.

OR
Look by subject or title in Films on Demand.
Use one of these resources to find Music.
Use this Search Box to Find Items on Reserve for a Course
The Research Process
- Choose your topic.
- Create your search strategy.
- Search for resources.
- Evaluate.
- Search again and evaluate.
- Use the information for your paper.
Class Resources
Public Speaking Class Resources
1. Choose your topic.
Criteria.
- Interesting to you.
- Meets requirements of the assignment
- Neither too large or too small
Suggested Resources
- Facts.com(Issues and Controversies)
- Points of View Reference Center
- Opposing Views in Context
- Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics
- Good Persuasive Speech Topics
- Speeches from Presentaton Magazine
- Good Speech Topics
2. Brainstorm on this essay.
Create a model for your essay.
Identify where you will need more information.
Tools
- Concept mapping (source is Northwest Missouri State)
- Spicynodes
- Text2Mindmap
- bubbl us
- Dabbleboard
3. Create a search statement.
4. Search for Information.
Books
Use a catalog.
Use LIBROS with these search tips.
- Use a few really important keywords.
- Take advantage of subject headings.
- Use "Advanced Search" to combine search terms.
- Limit by date, material type (books, visual materials).
- Search people "Last name, first name."
- Note complete call number and if item is checked out.
- See Searchpath Module 3 for help using LIBROS.
Other catalogs
Articles
Use a database.
Choose a database and use these search tips.
- Biography Reference Bank 4 users only
- Literary Reference Center
- Literary Criticism Online
- Gale Virtual Reference Library
- CREDO Reference
- New Mexico Newspapers
- New Mexico Newstand
- Newspaper Archives
- New Mexico Business Weekley
- New York Times (current)
- New York Times (1851-2006)
- The (London) Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
- Wall Street Journal
- Proquest. (Off campus link)
- Academic Search Complete.
- Expanded Academic Index. (Off campus link)
- Gale Reference Center Gold . (Off campus link)
- Lexis/Nexis.
Web info
Use a search engine.
Choose a search engine and use these tips.
- Bing
- Google Advanced
- Ask.com Advanced
- Yippy Advanced
- Dogpilemetasearch engine
- Truveo (for images)
- Blinkx (for images)
5. Evaluate results.
Criteria
- Authority
- Content/Coverage
- Accuracy
- Currency
- Objectivity
- Purpose
Look at for info on reading a journal article.
6. Use your sources.
- Quiz
- Another tutorial
- Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism
- See Searchpath Module 6 or Citing Sources for help with avoiding plagarism and citing sources.
- See Searchpath Module 6 or Citing Sources for help with avoiding plagarism and citing sources.
- MLA Handbook (LB2369 G53 2009)
- Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker (On Reserve at the Library) and the 2009 MLA update.
- APA help from APA
- APA style from Sacramento State University Library
- Style Sheets for Citing Resources (Print & Electronic)
- OWL Purdue Writing Lab
- The Writing Center—University of Wisconsin—Madison. MLA Documentation
- Citation Fox
- EasyBib.com
- KnightCite (Calvin College)