Step 1 - Read This Document
The following guide offers an introduction to doing research at a
distance and outlines the resources available to students through the WGU
Central Library. Please take a moment to read this guide in its entirety
before following any of the links offered below. Once familiar with the
research opportunities available to you, you'll be better prepared to
conduct efficient, productive research.
Step 2 - Access the Library
To access the WGU Library web page, logon to the my.WGU.edu Portal
home page,
MyWGU, and click on
the Library link under WGU Resources on the left.
To access Ereserves, or any of the article databases, use the passwords
which appear in the window when you first click on the Library link.
Step 3 - Get Acquainted
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the WGU Central Library web
page layout. When following the links available here, you'll find
databases which allow you to search for full-text articles or books on a
given subject, library tutorials and user guides, a host of reference
materials, and links to research opportunities available on the World Wide
Web.
Near the top of the page, notice Barbara Rosen's contact information.
Barbara is the WGU "Cybrarian" and is available to help you
with ALL your research needs. Please don't hesitate to contact Barbara when
necessary. She's anxious to help you make the most of the library
services available to you.
Step 4 - Select a Topic
If you've arrived at the WGU Central Library with a specific research
topic in mind, congratulations, you're half-way home. If not, you might
consider using a library database like FirstSearch, or a search engine
such as Google or Yahoo to find topics of interest on the World Wide Web.
Involve your Mentor in your research by soliciting topic suggestions and
starting points. Your research topic should be broad enough to capture your
interest, but focused and manageable.
Step 5 - Use Electronic Indexes and Take Advantage of
Interlibrary Loan / Document Delivery Services
The WGU Central Library offers access to full-text articles from
periodical journals, magazines and newspapers through the First Search,
Ingenta and ProQuest ABI/Inform indexes. Consider expanding your
research by using one of these three databases and taking advantage of the
Interlibrary Loan Service.
First
Search
is an online search service that provides access to a variety of databases
in all disciplines. You may search First Search by subject, author or title.
ProQuest
ABI/Inform is a periodical index to articles on
business, management, advertising, marketing, economics, human resources,
finance, taxation, computers, and more.
Ingenta (Uncover) is a
periodical index to approximately 17,000 multidisciplinary magazines and
journals published since Fall 1988. You can search UnCover by keywords
in article titles and summaries, by author's name or by scanning the table of
contents of a particular issue of a magazine or journal.
Interlibrary
Loan Service allows students
to receive books or full-text articles in electronic or hard copy, at
their homes.
Click on the ILLiad link to open up your own Interlibrary Loan account.
You will then be able to order documents, and keep track of your requests
online. Materials will be delivered to your home
within three weeks, depending upon availability. If the
materials are within the UNM Library system, delivery time is much faster.
If it is necessary to borrow the book from another library, it will take
longer. There is no charge for this service. The loan period varies
depending on the loaning library. It is generally 2-4
weeks. Contact WGU's "Cybrarian,"
Barbara Rosen if you have questions
about the Interlibrary Loan / Document Delivery Service.
Step 6 - Locate Books and Have Them Delivered To Your Home
WGU students may search the WGU Central Library to locate books on a
given subject by using the LIBROS Web Catalog. Once you've located
a book you'd like to use in your research, use the WGU Central Library
ILLiad interlibrary loan service to have the book delivered to your
home.
Students may purchase textbooks through the WGU Bookstore and have the
opportunity to sell them back when finished.
LIBROS allows students to search
for books
by keyword, author or title. Books are often useful research tools as
they can provide historical or general background on your research
topic.
Interlibrary
Loan Service allows students
to receive books or full-text articles in hard copy, at their homes.
Contact WGU's "Cybrarian," Barbara Rosen to make use of the
Document Delivery Service. Materials will be delivered to your home
within three weeks, depending upon availability.
The WGU
Bookstore is a service of Barnes & Noble.com -
The College Textbook Store. Students may search for books by
title, author, keyword or ISBN. Books purchased through the WGU Bookstore
may be sold back at a used-book rate.
Step 7 - Investigate World Wide Web Sources
The World Wide Web presents literally millions of research avenues for
students. Rely on METASITES, Search Engines or Electronic Reference
Materials for your research needs. When using web-based sources, be
sure to investigate the credibility and reliability of your source.
METASITES
are store collections of Web
Sites on various subjects and are often helpful when searching for general
information about a topic on the World Wide Web.
Search
Engines allow users to search the World Wide Web
by keyword and are useful when seeking specific information about your
topic. Links to well-known search engines are provided through the WGU
Central Library.
Electronic
Reference Materials include encyclopedias,
dictionaries, almanacs and style manuals. Make use of these materials as
you conduct research.
Step 8 - Ask For Help
Perhaps the most helpful hint for those learning to do research at
a distance is to admit that you are powerless when faced with obstacles
you cannot control. If you encounter technical difficulties, have
difficulty finding sufficient resources or could benefit from the advice
of experienced research professionals, don't hesitate to ask for help.
Contact Barbara Rosen or your Mentor to discuss any difficulties you may
encounter.
WGU Technical Support
Email: info@wgu.edu
Toll-Free Phone: (877) 435-7948
Office Hours: 8am - 5pm, MST, Monday through Friday
Barbara Rosen, WGU Librarian
Email: wguclr@unm.edu
Phone: (505) 277-7176
Office Hours: 8am - 5pm, MST, Monday through Friday
Library Orientation Tutorial for
Education Without Boundaries