The Oxford Guide to Library Research

by Mann, Thomas

• ISBN13: 9780195123135
• ISBN10: 0195123131
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-09-03
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Let a general Reference Librarian at the Library of Congress show you the best ways to find the information you need. With all the changes in information storage and retrieval, anyone doing research today may feel unsure of the most efficient ways to use the library. Through clear explanations of nine fundamental methods of searching, Thomas Mann provides an overview of little known but powerful strategies used by librarians and information specialists. These techniques can be applied profitably to almost any area of research, from discovering business records or government documents to unearthing manuscripts in archives or finding genealogical Web sites on line. Chapters explain how to take advantage of controlled vocabularies, browse library shelves systematically, construct keyword searches, use published bibliographies, and even make personal contacts with knowledgeable people. Throughout, Mann enlivens his advice with real world examples, positing along the way some energetic and reasoned arguments against those theorists who have prematurely announced the demise of print. Against the trendy but mistaken assumption that "everything" can be found on the Internet, Mann asserts the lasting value of physical libraries and time tested research strategies, while acknowledging the complementary applications of computer technology. All formats--including books, journals, newspapers, microforms, audiovisual materials, primary documents, bibliographic databases, and digital libraries on the World Wide Web--are considered for their unique advantages, as well as for their limitations. Required reading for students, scholars, information seeking professionals, and laypersons, The Oxford Guide to Library Research offers a rich, inclusive overview of the field, one that can save its readers countless hours in the search for information.

Author Biography

Thomas Mann, Ph.D., a former private investigator, is currently a Reference Librarian in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Initial Overviews: Encyclopedias	3	(13)
Subject Headings and the Library Catalog	16	(30)
Systematic Browsing, Scanning, and Use of Classified Bookstacks	46	(13)
Subject Headings and Indexes to Journal Articles	59	(21)
Keyword Searches	80	(18)
Citation Searches	98	(7)
Related-Record Searches	105	(5)
Higher-Level Overviews: Review Articles	110	(7)
Published Bibliographies	117	(15)
The Differences Between Real and Virtual Libraries	132	(12)
Computer Searches: Types of Sources	144	(15)
Computer Searches: Types of Searches	159	(24)
Locating Material in Other Libraries	183	(20)
People Sources	203	(17)
Hidden Treasures	220	(25)
Reference Sources: Searching by Types of Literature	245	(14)
Appendix: Special Cases	259	(50)
Archives, manuscripts, and public records	260	(6)
Biography	266	(3)
Book reviews	269	(1)
Business and economics	269	(11)
Conference proceedings	280	(1)
Consumer product evaluations	281	(1)
Current awareness sources	281	(1)
Films and audiovisual material	282	(1)
Genealogy and local history	283	(4)
Illustrations, pictures, and photographs	287	(2)
Literary criticism	289	(4)
Maps	293	(1)
Newspapers and newspaper indexes	294	(2)
Out-of-print and secondhand books	296	(1)
Primary sources	297	(1)
Psychological and educational tests	298	(3)
Reports	301	(1)
Standards and specifications	302	(1)
Statistics	303	(2)
Tabular data	305	(1)
Translations	305	(4)
Index	309