New to library research? Follow these steps to begin your research project.

1. Choose a subject area under Browse Databases by Subject, or begin with a recommended resource listed under Choosing the Right Resource (below).
2. Select the database or resource that best fits your topic.
3. Search using keywords or short phrases instead of full questions.
4. Use filters such as Full Text, Peer Reviewed, date, subject, or resource type to narrow your results.
5. Save, email, download, or cite useful sources as you research.
6. Contact the library if you need assistance finding resources or developing your search strategy.

Research Tip: Selecting the Peer Reviewed and Full Text filters can help you find scholarly articles that are immediately available. If you are having trouble finding results, try different keywords or synonyms. See Developing Keywords below for search tips.

Need help with your research? Library staff are available to assist you throughout the research process.

We can help you:

• Choose or narrow a research topic
• Develop effective keywords
• Find books and eBooks
• Locate scholarly articles
• Search library databases
• Evaluate sources
• Find peer-reviewed research
• Access full-text articles
• Cite sources using APA, MLA, or Chicago styles
• Use library technology and online resources

Need something the BRTC Library does not own?

If the BRTC Library doesn’t own the book or article you’re looking for, you may be able to request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Visit the Interlibrary Loan page to submit a request to borrow materials or obtain copies of articles from participating libraries.

Plan ahead: Delivery times vary depending on the lending library. Please allow 7-12 business days to receive most materials.

Not sure where to begin? These resources are good starting points for most research projects.

*Note: Login credentials are required to access this resource. Login information is available in Moodle under Library Resources.

Choosing effective keywords is an important part of successful research. Instead of typing a full question into a database, identify the main concepts of your topic and search using related terms.

Example Research Topic:

Childhood obesity

Possible Keywords:

• childhood obesity
• pediatric obesity
• adolescent obesity
• nutrition
• diet
• exercise

Search Tips:

AND
Narrows your search by requiring both terms to appear.

Example:

Childhood obesity AND nutrition

OR
Broadens your search by including similar terms or concepts.

Example:

adolescents OR teenagers

NOT
Excludes unwanted topics

Example:

jaguar NOT car

Quotation Marks (“ “)
Search for an exact phrase.

Example:

“climate change”

Try Synonyms
If you are not finding enough results, try different words with similar meanings.

Example:

• College students
• University students
• Higher education

Tip: If your search returns too many results, add more specific keywords. If it returns too few, try broader terms or synonyms.

Learn how to search the library catalog, locate books, understand call numbers, interpret item records, and check item availability.

Finding Books in the Library Catalog

Use the library catalog to find print books available in the library.

Steps:

1. From the Library website, open Research Resources and select BRTC Library Catalog.
2. Enter keywords, titles, authors, or subjects in the search box.
3. Use filters and search options to narrow your results.
4. Select a book title to view the item's record.
5. Use the Call Number to locate the book on the library shelves.
6. Check the Collection information to determine where the item is located.
   • Status tells you whether the item is available or currently checked out.
   • Call Number tells you where the book is located on the library shelves.
   • Collection identifies where the item is located, such as the Core (General) Collection or the Reference Collection.

Need help?
Contact library staff for assistance using the BRTC Library Catalog.

The library provides access to multiple eBook collections. eBook Central contains the largest collection and is a good place to begin your search.

Steps:

1. From the Library website, open Research Resources and select eBook Central.
2. Enter keywords in the search box and select Search.
3. Use filters on the left to narrow your results, or select Advanced Search near the top for more targeted searches.
4. Select a title to read online, download, print, or use available features within the database.

Tip: Use filters such as Subject, Publication Date, or Language to narrow your eBook search results.

Note: Many eBooks can be read online, while others allow downloading or printing only limited sections based on publisher permissions.

Not all information found online is equally reliable. Evaluating your sources helps ensure your research is accurate, current, and appropriate for academic assignments.

When evaluating a source, ask yourself:

Who is the author?

• Is the author qualified or an expert on this topic?

When was it published?

• Is the information current enough for your assignment?

Is it scholarly, professional, or intended for a general audience?

• Scholarly sources are written by experts and often include citations.
• Popular sources are written for a general audience and may not include references.

Is it peer reviewed?

• Peer-reviewed articles have been evaluated by experts before publication.

What is the purpose?

• Is the source intended to inform, persuade, entertain, or sell something?

Does it show bias?

• Consider whether the information presents multiple viewpoints or promotes a particular opinion.

Tip: Wikipedia can be a helpful place to begin learning about a topic, but it should not usually be cited as a source for academic assignments. Instead, use it to identify keywords and references that lead to more authoritative sources.

Don’t lose your research. Many library databases allow you to save, download, print, email, and cite articles for future use. While the appearance may vary by database, these features are generally available across the library’s online resources.

Common Features:

Download PDFs

• Download full-text articles or eBook chapters (when available) for offline reading.
• Some eBooks may have chapter download limits or borrowing restrictions.

Email Articles

• Email articles or links directly to yourself for later access.

Print

• Print articles, chapters, or search results when permitted by the publisher.

Save Permanent Links

• Use the Permalink, Document URL, or Share option to save a stable link to a resource instead of copying the address from your browser.

Create Citations

• Most databases include a Cite feature that generates citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles.
• Always double-check automatically generated citations for accuracy before submitting your work.

Save to a Folder or Account

• Many databases allow you to create a personal account to:
  • Save articles
  • Organize folders
  • Save searches
  • Create alerts
  • Access saved research later

Export Citations

• Export citations to citation managers such as Zotero or download citation files when supported.

Tip: If you’re doing research for an assignment, save articles as you find them instead of trying to relocate them later. Downloading PDFs or saving permanent links can save a lot of time.

Learn how to search scholarly journals, newspapers, magazines, and other research materials; use filters to narrow results; find full-text articles; save searches; and cite sources.

Tutorials & Help:
ProQuest Learning & Support
ProQuest Platform LibGuide

Learn how to search for eBooks, read online, download chapters, highlight text, create notes, and use tools to organize your research.

eBook Central Student Tutorials

Learn how to use World Book resources, including articles, eBooks, timelines, biographies, and reference materials.

World Book Training Center

Learn how to create an account, select a language, build personalized lessons, and track your language-learning progress.

Pronunciator Help Center

OCLC FirstSearch allows you to search a wide range of library collections for books, journal articles, and other materials that may not be available through the BRTC Library.

Note: Login credentials are required to access this resource. Login information is available in Moodle under Library Resources.

How it works:

1. Search by keyword, title, or author.
2. Review search results and select the resource you need.
3. Check availability at other libraries.
4. Contact library staff to request materials through Interlibrary Loan.

Need help?
Library staff can assist you with locating materials and requesting items through Interlibrary Loan.

Different instructors and academic disciplines use different citation styles. When in doubt, always follow your instructor’s requirements.

APA

Commonly used in:

• Nursing
• Allied Health
• Psychology
• Education
• Business
• Social Sciences

MLA

Commonly used in:

• English
• Literature
• Communication
• Humanities

Chicago/Turabian

Commonly used in:

• History
• Government
• Some Humanities courses

Always verify automatically generated citations for accuracy. Citation generators are helpful tools, but may not always produce accurate citations.

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Free writing, grammar, research, and citation resources for students.

Zotero
A free citation management tool that helps organize research sources, create citations, and build bibliographies.

ZoteroBib
A free, no-account citation tool that quickly creates citations from URLs, books, DOIs, and other source information. Supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and other citation styles.

MyBib
A free citation generator that supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and other citation styles.

Scribbr Citation Generator
A free citation generator with support for multiple citation styles.