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Media & Persuasion COMM 317

Professor Ruben Gonzalez

 September 28, 2007

Guide for finding sources at the George T. Potter Library
Marcia Sexton

msexton@ramapo.edu

x6749

• Library Homepage
• Find Books
• Reference Material
• Find Articles (Databases)
• Interlibrary Loan/Journal Finder
• Bibliographies

 I. Library Homepage

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

II. Finding Books at the Potter Library

• Catalog: use this to find books, journal 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.

• Search the catalog using Keywords to find material
  • For example: search for mass media and politics or media and diversity to locate a broad range of material and look for ideas for your project

    OR

    Search the catalog using Subject Browse feature ONLY if you know the Library of Congress Subject Headings

  For example:

Mass media

Mass media and culture

Some sample titles for this project include:

Media diversity: economics, ownership, and the FCC	HE8700.8.E37 2004
The children are watching: how the media teach about diversity	P96.M83 C67 2000
Immigration, diversity, and broadcasting in the United States 1990-2001	PN1990.9.E74 C36 2005
Creation of the media: political origins of modern communications	P92.Ug S646 2004

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.

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III. Reference Materials

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

Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media	Ref HQ784.M3 E53 2007
African Americans in the media today: and encyclopedia	Ref P94.5.A372 U568 2007
Gale directory of publications and broadcast media	Ref Z6951.G152
History of the mass media in the United States: and encyclopedia	Ref P92.U5 H55 1998

Tips

1. Use reference books to browse for project ideas and to get started on your research.
2. Use the Bibliographies at the end of encyclopedia entries to find more information on your topic.

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IV. Electronic Resources

• Some useful Databases for your projects:

1. Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
2. Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search. For example: mass media AND women; terrorism AND mass media.
3. Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero.

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V. Interlibrary Loan

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

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

• Journal Finder: this provides information regarding if a journal is available full-text online, in print in the library, or available on microfilm.

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VI. Bibliographies

•    Use Citing Sources for examples of "In-Text Citations" and "Works Cited"
• Use the Citing Websites and Print Sources to get call numbers for paper copies of style manuals.

Need more help? Visit or call the Reference Desk: 201-684-7574

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