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College English

AENG 180-17; Prof. M. Giacoppe
Guide for finding sources at the George T. Potter Library
 

October 17 , 2006

Susan B. Kurzmann

skurzman@ramapo.edu

 I. Library Homepage: http://library.ramapo.edu

• Provides access to the catalog (OPAC), databases, interlibrary loan forms, etc.

II. Finding Books at the Potter Library

• Catalog: use this to find books, periodical titles (NOT articles ), government documents, reserve items, music,and movies owned by the Library. You may limit a search by language, year(s) of publication, type of material, etc. This may take a few seconds to load.

• Use the Basic Search to find material using Keywords
  • For example: search for fast food or marketing and food to locate a broad range of materials the library has on these keywords
  • Use quotation marks around a multi-word phrase so that the catalog system will treat it as a single word
  • When you find an appropriate title, click on the Related Records tab located at the top of a catalog record to see which Library of Congress subject headings are discussed in that particular book/DVD/periodical to get to more titles that deal with that subject

OR

• Search the catalog using Subject Browse feature if you know the relevant Library of Congress subject heading, for example:

• Fast food restaurants
• Food industry and trade
• Food--Marketing

   

Tips

1. Start with broad searches. It is much easier to discard too much rather than start with too little.
2. If you don't know the Subject Heading, use the Related Records tab located on the top of a catalog record to get to the headings. This will help you focus in on more relevant material.
3. Can "virtually" browse the shelves by clicking on the call number in a record.

III. Reference Material

• The reference stacks are located on the 3rd floor (this is also the library's entrance).
• Some useful materials for your projects:

Dictionary of Marketing Communications	Ref HF5412 .G68 2004
Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia	Ref  TX349 .F575 1994
Handbook of Marketing and Society	Ref HF5414 .H36 2001
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats	Ref TX353 .M43 2005
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (access online)	Print edition: Ref E169.1.S764

IV. Electronic Resources

• Some useful Databases for your projects:

• Interlibrary Loan: allows studens to borrow a book or article that the George T. Potter library does not own. There is a link from the Journal Finder page.

Both of these links can be found under QUICK LINKS on the library's homepage.

Tips

1. Always switch to the Advanced Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
2. Always use Boolean Operators--AND, OR, NOT and Quotation Marks when running a search. For Example: "fast food" and (health or diet).
3. Always check your Spelling if the database results are zero.
4. Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link, if available, to find the best terms to use in a database.

V. Using Web Sources

• Subject Resources

• PBS: American Experience

American Experience and many other PBS programs are good sources of information

• Use Evaluating Websites to determine if the site is authoritative enough to use in your paper.

VI. Bibliographies

• Use the Citing Websites and Print Sources for "Works Cited" citation style guidance
  • Follow the examples given for the MLA citation style
• Diana Hacker Online
• The Open Handbook Online / Ann Raimes with Maria Jerskey

Need more help? Visit or call the Reference Desk: 201.684.7574

Use QandA NJ: a 24/7 virtual chat with a reference librarian.