Knowledge, Search,
and Research
S3P Mentors 2025
Christina Bush - Research and Instruction Librarian (she/her)
Simon Elichko - Social Sciences
& Data Librarian (they/them)
Recognition
knowing when a student you're advising might benefit from working with the libraries
Familiarity
with using a few key services & resources
Goals for today
Introductions
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Name
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Pronouns
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Year
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Can you share a memorable experience that you've had with/at Swarthmore Libraries?
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a program, resource, exhibit
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interaction with library staff or student workers
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a time that you felt compelled to share something about the library with others
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Materials
Human/Expertise
Programs
Spaces
{books, articles, streaming media, collections, databases}
{library staff, research librarians, archivists}
{internships, events, exhibits}
Library Resources
{study, collaboration, viewing}
Where can you access library resources?
- Describes a wide range of library resources and opportunities
- One place to find links to all of our sites
- Starting from swarthmore.edu/libraries, you can search Tripod for articles, books, films, etc.
Go to the Libraries site and search Tripod for:
environmental politics handbook
Go to the Libraries site and choose Database Finder
Subject Librarians
Also: librarian@swarthmore.edu
Science, Math, Engineering
Educational Studies, Black Studies, Psychology
Art & Art History, Classics, Latin American & Latino Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Religion, Spanish, English
Economics, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, Political Science, Sociology & Anthropology
Dance, Music, Theater
Modern Languages & Literatures
Digital Scholarship
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Asking “has anyone studied this before?”
- Verifying a claim or argument
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Overwhelmed by the amount of information about a topic
- Unsure about the quality and reliability of the sources you're finding
- Help organizing ideas and sources
When might you want to talk with a librarian?
(or use library materials?)
- Writing a research paper
- Looking for information about a topic
- Wanting inspiration for which topic to pick
- Needing to read something, but having trouble accessing it (can't find it, paywall, broken link)
Take a few minutes to think about your experiences doing research at Swarthmore.
Questions:
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What do you wish you'd known sooner about doing research in college?
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What challenges and frustrations have you encountered while doing research papers or other assignments?
Library Materials
- Data and statistics
- Finding books in the stacks
- Handbooks and review articles
Library resources for
Data & Statistics
- Go to swarthmore.edu/libraries, then choose Research Guides
- Search for data Swarthmore
- Go to Data & Stats at Swarthmore
TriCo Libraries own over 1 million items that you can borrow for free (books, DVDs, records, etc.)
Every physical book in the library has a call number to help find it.
Example call number:
HQ1163 .H55 2022
Finding a book in the library
and why you might want to!
source: McMaster University Library
Example call number:
HQ1163 .H55 2022
H: Social Sciences
Call numbers organize books by subject
Let's go find a book!
Step-by-step walkthrough
GE 220 .R67 2019
Handbooks & Companions
Type of book that's particularly useful for exploring research interests
What / Focus more on providing overviews than making arguments
Why / Understand the central questions in an academic discipline, and how scholars have approached particular topics of interest
Handbooks & Companions
Exploring research interests
How to Find:
- Go to Tripod -> Advanced Search
- Choose Books & Media
- Enter keywords:
Any field climate
Title handbook OR companion
Lets you find matches for either keyword
Advanced search tip: include varying word endings
"climate change" AND (handbook OR companion)
"climate change" AND (handbook* OR companion*)
Review Articles
Navigating academic disciplines
What / Generally narrower in scope than handbooks and companions, review articles explore how different scholars in a discipline have approached a particular question.
Example: "Three Faces of Climate Justice" published in the Annual Review of Political Science.
Why / Roadmap for understanding how scholars in a discipline have approached a certain topic
How / Find using article databases (e.g. Web of Science) or specialized resources (e.g. Annual Reviews website)
Review Articles
Navigating academic disciplines
How / Find using article databases
- Access through Tripod
- Enter keywords
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Add row; Select Document Type; Choose Review
- OR Select Review from refine options after search
- Access through Tripod
- Enter keywords
- Limit or Refine by Date
Library Help
Reach out and ask! We're here to help.
- Your research projects
- Questions about library services
- Encourage the scholars to ask for help
How?
- Email us (librarian@swarthmore.edu)
- Make an appointment with a subject librarian
- Research Guides
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During the school year, you can use
chat in Tripod to get help.