This instruction guide is meant to be an overview of our library resources. The librarians at Shepherd can provide additional help with research as needed. We are available in person or via chat/email. Please check out our “Ask a Librarian” webpage to learn more about how we can serve you.
Now, let’s take a look at our library resources. First, you will go to our main library webpage, then select Books, eBooks, Articles & More. This is where you will want to start your search on the library catalog, WorldCat Discovery.
WorldCat Discovery
WorldCat Discovery is our library catalog where you are able to search for books, DVDs, journal articles, databases, and eBooks. It also searches libraries around the world, not just the Scarborough Library. This can be good and overwhelming at the same time, so get to know some of the settings available to you to refine your searches.
Our catalog search bar may look like the image above of the main webpage or like this image below, depending on how you get to it.
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming nature of this search box. There is a lot of power behind it! Let's start searching for a specific location as our topic.
A general search like this is going to produce a lot of results and can be overwhelming. We need to refine our search. Let’s take a look at ways to do this.
Refining Your Search
Toggle between holdings at Libraries Worldwide or only in the Shepherd collection. Clicking on Shepherd University reduced our results down to 418 items that are available to our university.
Limit to only books or only articles …. Whatever format you prefer.
Set other limiters such as content type, publication date, subject, author, and language. Do you need your resource to be peer-reviewed or from the last five years? Select this limiter from the filters on the left side.
Still not seeing exactly what you are looking for? Consider adjusting your search terms and adding Boolean operators. Boolean searching is used to help find search results faster and with more precision. Boolean searching uses operators: words like AND, OR, and NOT. These are logic-based words that help search engines narrow down or broaden search results.
Add quotation marks around your search terms. Quotation marks signal that you're looking for an exact match. Searching within quotes only finds results that include all of those words, in that specific order. Searching without quotes populates results that include the words you typed, but necessarily not in the order you searched.
What happens when you find the perfect book or article for your research … but Shepherd doesn’t own it?
Click the “Request item through Interlibrary Loan” button.
Fill out this quick form and receive articles in 1-3 days and books in about a week. Don’t procrastinate on this step!
Journal Articles and Databases
Functionality works slightly differently for journal articles. When you click the full-text button it will take you into the database in which the article is held.
You can access this article through EBSCOhost. Click on the PDF Full Text option.
Scarborough Library Full Text Journal Listings
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles & More,” then “Journal Titles”
Two options:
When you’ve selected a publication that will support your research, click the “Search within this publication” link and you will authenticate into the database interface to run a search.
Scarborough Library Complete Database List
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles & More,” then “Complete Databases List.” Databases are arranged both alphabetically or by subject, with a brief description of each database.
EBSCO Academic Search Complete
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles & More,” then “EBSCOhost Databases and eBooks.” This is one of the EBSCO databases we have access to at the library. It is multidisciplinary and includes full-text access to more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. We have other EBSCO databases if you are doing more specific research.
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles & More,” then “JSTOR.” 10 million articles in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, plus primary sources and books.
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles & More,” then “JSTOR.” This database contains thousands of full-text journals from university presses and scholarly societies.
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles, & More,” then “EBSCOhost Databases and eBooks.” Select “eBook Academic Collection.” This growing subscription package contains more than 170,000 multidisciplinary e-books representing a broad range of academic subjects.
MLA International Bibliography
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles, & More,” then “MLA International Bibliography.” The MLA International Bibliography provides searchable access to bibliographic citations to journal articles, books, dissertations, and scholarly Web sites. It indexes materials from 1926 to the present in academic disciplines such as language, literature, folklore, linguistics, literary theory and criticism, and the dramatic arts. Coverage includes literature from all over the world - Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America.
Literary Reference Center Plus
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then “Books, eBooks, Articles, & More,” then “Literary Reference Center Plus.” A broad and representative range of authors and their works including a deep collection of full-text critical and literary analysis. The database provides researchers with evidence to support their literary responses and thesis statements through a diversity of scholars and critics that ensure all views and perspectives are represented. Try Literary Genres, Movement, and Authors Cultural Identity searches.
Historic New York Times (1851-2014)
Go to the Scarborough Library home page, then Books, eBooks, Articles & More, then Complete Database List, then “New York Times.” This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers, and scholars with online, easily searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society, and events of the time.
Annotated Bibliography Research Guide
Provides instruction on how to create annotated bibliography entries. Note to users: Always double-check requirements and follow Dr. Messenger’s instructions versus only relying on these examples.
Another great resource to know about and use during your academic career at Shepherd is LibGuides, which are subject-specific research guides. Here are two that would be beneficial for this course: English and Modern Language and WorldCat Discovery, our library catalog.
Remember, the librarians are here to help you find your resources! If you are having trouble, stop by the Research Desk during our open hours or use the email/chat options available.