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Getting Research Assistance

Library Catalog

Catalog Tips

Databases

Database Tips

Websites

 

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Just getting started?

Start by doing some background research. Take time to engage in some brainstorming exercises that will help you identify key subject terms. Encyclopedias and other reference resources can be used to help you refine your subject terms and the citations in these sources can be used to find more information on your topic.

Consider how much time you have to complete your assignment and how hard it will be to get the resources you need for your topic. If you are finding your research difficult to manage, narrow your topic or break your research down into manageable sub-topics. If you are not finding enough information on your topic, try using broader subject terms.

Other Useful Guides

 

Guide to the Library

Using Databases

Citation Guide

 

Library Catalog: Books, Videos, e-Books and more!

 

Call number areas to browse

Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range
Geography (General)	G 1-922	Atlases	G 1000-3122	Ethnology. Social and Cultural Anthropology	GN 301-674
Culture and Cultural Processes	GN 357-367	Cultural Traits, Customs and Institutions	GN 406-517	Ethnic Groups and Races	GN 537-674
Manners and Customs (General)	GT 1-7070

 

The books in the library are organized by subject. You can browse these call number areas to find related books. So, if you are searching the library catalog and find a book that looks interesting or particularly relevant to your research, you can search the shelves in the library in the same call number area to find related items.

 

Reference Sources

Title	Call Number
Countries of the World and their Leaders Yearbook	REF G1 .C88 2012, v1-2
National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World	REF G1021 .N44 2009
The Oxford Companion to World Exploration	REF G80 .O95 2007 v.1-2
A Companion to Cultural Geography	REF GF43 .C65 2004
Find More

 

The reference collection is located at the back, right-hand side of the library. Items in this collection cannot be checked out, but a copier is conveniently located so you can make copies of the resources you find.

To search the Library Catalog for reference books about a country or culture, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter a country or culture into the "Subject" field and then limit your search by selecting "Collection: Reference Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Circulating Books

Title	Call Number
The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny and Globalization’s Rough Landscape	GF41 .D42 2009
The Japanese Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes and Customs of the Japanese	DS821.T2347 2011
Culture and Conflict in the Middle East	DS57 .S286 2008
Women in Developing Countries: A Reference Handbook	HQ1870.9 .K577 2011

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about a country or culture, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter a country or culture into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Circulating Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

E-Books

Title	E-Book Type
African American Culture	EBSCO eBook
The New Silk Road	EBSCO eBook
Islam Without a Veil: Kazakhstan’s Path of Moderation	EBSCO eBook
Families Across Cultures	netLibrary eBook

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for e-books about a country or culture or a related subfield, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter a country or culture into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Electronic Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items available to Montgomery Library patrons only, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Audio/Visual Materials

Title	Call Number
Families of Thailand	HQ674.55 .F36 2009
Spring Festival	Reserve Book Rm
Italy: Splendid Trip	DG41 .I83 2009
Families of Ghana	HQ696.8 .F36 2009

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about a country or culture, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter a country or culture into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Media: Videos, DVDs, films, slides, etc." from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Periodicals

 

The periodical section is located in front of the circulating collection, next to the outdoor patio area. The periodical collection is organized by title. These items cannot be checked out, but there is a copy machine available adjacent to the periodical section.

Tips!

 

Requesting items not available at Montgomery Library:

If there is an item listed in the catalog, but it is not located at Montgomery Library, just select the “Request First Available Copy of this Item” button from the catalog record to have the item sent to Montgomery Library for pick-up. To complete your request, you need your library barcode and PIN . Generally, your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to register for classes. If you have problems requesting an item, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mc-researchhelp@lonestar.edu

 

 

If the item is not available in the catalog:

Just select the “Requests” tab located in the upper, right-hand side of the screen. Complete and submit the Inter-Library Loan Request Form – LSCS. Contact a librarian if you need help!

 

Research Databases: Find journal, magazine, and newspaper articles

 

Recommended Databases

Academic Search Complete	JSTOR
Infotrac Newsstand

 

Tips!

Finding the right database:

If you’d like to explore a subject area: Access the Research Databases: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> Select a category that is relevant to your topic.

If you know the title of the journal you’re looking for, use the A to Z Electronic Journal Search to find out which database provides access to that journal: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> A to Z Electronic Journal Search -> Select “Search” tab

If you know the database title: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> Find Database by Title

If the full-text/PDF version of an article is not available, select the “Check LinkSource for more information” link to see if another database offers full-text access.

 

Accessing Databases from Home:

You can access these databases from home using your library barcode number. If you have problems accessing the databases, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

 

 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

If you are not able to find a resource that you need in the databases or in the library catalog, you can request the item via the Interlibrary Loan Form: http://www.lonestar.edu/library/interlibrary-request.htm

 

 

Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Sources

Scholarly articles are written by an authority on the subject and are meant to share primary research with others in the field. Unlike popular sources, scholarly sources generally have a narrow audience and include a clear author or sponsoring association. These documents are very structured and usually include a literature review, methodology, and extensive citations. Many scholarly sources are also peer-reviewed which means others in the field reviewed the work before it was published. Many databases will allow you to limit your search to scholarly and/or peer-reviewed sources – look for this option.

 

Websites

Occasionally the librarians at LSC - Montgomery library will find a website they consider exceptional or particularly useful for academic research.

 

Suggested Websites:

Google Country Information	BBC Country Profiles	CIA World Factbook
Countries of the World	Atlapedia Online