Who can help me with research?

So you thought you knew how the library worked...
Library Myth #8

The Gardner-Harvey Library Website is open 24/7.  Whether you are on-campus or off-campus, you can find immediate research help via online, interactive Subject Guides created by Miami librarians.

 Here is a shortlist of subject guides to help you get started with your research.  Library databases, resources, and services are linked under appropriate tabs.   For example, see:  Integrative Studies, Criminal Justice, Health Information Technology, Nursing, E-Learning, APA Citation Style Guide, MLA Citation Style Guide

Another way to find help on the website is to watch Tutorials that demonstrate online searching, explain research concepts, etc.

You can also:

• Call GHL@  513-727-3222 when the Library is open.
• Text GHL @ 513-273-5360 when the library is open.
•  IM askghl when the library is open.
•  email GHL anytime and receive a reply when the library is open.
•  Schedule a Research Consultation  and meet with a librarian within 24 hours.
•  Drop by the InfoDesk and ask your question in person during business hours. 

The GHL library staff is ready to assist you with your research, just talk with us.

Is there a way to simplify library research? It seems so confusing.

So you thought you knew how the library worked...

Library Myth #7

     Well, research is exploration and that takes time.  But the usual Google search delivers too  much information, sometimes off-topic and often with the hassle of having to look for the complete article but without paying for it!  That's when Miami Universities Libraries shine because the library has a cool search tool and provides access to the full-text at no charge!

Here's where you want to start your research:  Articles & More.  This is EBSCO's discovery service that leads to Miami University Libraries' articles, books, and media all in one search and one results list.  For a refresher on using this discovery service, also called OneSearch, watch this 4 minute tutorial. 

When you want to checkout the research landscape, do a little pre-searching using Articles & More.  Yes, you will find articles from journals, newspapers, magazines, books, eBooks, DVDs, and government documents in a single results list.  Apply limiters like date, subject, scholarly, etc. and use the cite and email tools.   The best news is that most of these library materials are available in Miami University Libraries’ collection!  Just click the gold Find It! button to locate the complete article if the HTML or PDF is not already linked in that database.  

Talk with a librarian if you have more questions getting started with research.

Government Shutdown Research Work-around

If you rely on federal government data and information, you may find you cannot access some agencies' websites due to the partial federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2013.    In some instances you will find splash pages that indicate websites are temporarily unavailable or are not being updated. Here's a short list:  American Factfinder, Data.gov, Library of Congress, United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Education, ERIC.ed.gov, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Geological Survey (USGS), The National Map, The National Park Service, etc.

Recommended Strategy:  Begin research @ The Gardner-Harvey Library Website to find online full-text articles and eBooks as well as digital media.  Begin online research at Articles & More which searches all these source types via the EBSCO discovery service called OneSearch.  Or search a specific subject database, listed in Databases A-Z.