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RESEARCH

INTRODUCTION

TO

PROFESSOR SARAH COHN

REFERENCE & INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN

November 2, 2022

AGENDA

Why library?

Types of sources

Keywords & search strategies

Navigating library databases

Getting help

TODAY'S

What do you expect to find in a library database?

What are the benefits of using a library database?

What are the drawbacks of using a library database?

SOURCES

TYPES OF

Scholarly

  • Original research
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Letters, diaries, tweets, works of art

Popular

Primary

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Written by journalists
  • For everyone
  • Current info on the topic
  • Academic, Scholarly, Peer Reviewed journal articles
  • Written by academics/researchers
  • For other academics/researchers
  • Original research, theories, findings
  • Deep knowledge of the topic

TERMS

SEARCH

AKA KEYWORDS

what is your main topic?

what are the specifics?

combining different terms = different results

what are different ways to describe your ideas?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jgonzac/6306928175

Are memes an effective form of communication?

  • internet
  • social media
  • identity
  • collective identity
  • group identity
  • community
  • politics
  • sports
  • fandom

STRATEGIES

SEARCH

use AND to connect terms

internet memes AND communication

internet memes AND collective identity AND politics

use OR to connect synonyms

identity OR community AND memes AND sports

use "..." for phrases or names

"internet memes"

"New York City"

DATABASES

LIBRARY

library.ccny.cuny.edu

OneSearch box

Databases link

  • Access to all 300+ databases at CCNY
  • Alphabetical or sort by subject
  • Log in with your CityMail info
  • Simple search bar option
  • Meta-search
    • Searches multiple databases at once
  • Log in with your CUNY single login info

but not all of them!

OneSearch

Academic Search Complete

Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Multi-

Disciplinary

Communication & Mass Media Complete

Nexis Uni

HELP

GETTING

Professor Sarah Cohn

Reference & Instruction Librarian

scohn@ccny.cuny.edu

 Reference Desk

Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm

Friday 10am-2pm

library.ccny.cuny.edu/researchtoolkit