Searching and Locating Resources at Loyola’s Library
Hi! Since it is becoming close to midterms and papers are piling on, especially papers that have a research component, I thought it would be useful to let you know about Loyola’s library website. I have used the library’s extended resources to help me find information on a variety of subject materials including Shakespeare, African-American literature, Chemistry, Biology, and Sociology. Loyola’s online and in print library is so extensive, you will never not find what you are looking for!
To get to Loyola’s online library, you can go to Loyola’s homepage at www.luc.edu, then click on the dropdown “Links” tab until you find “Library”. Or, you can just go to the Library’s homepage directly at http://libraries.luc.edu/. Once on their homepage, you can already see how many amazing resources they have. They have a whole “Services” section where you can request a resource from another library, reserve library rooms, get audiovisual aid for a presentation, renew books, and learn about other helpful resources the library offers. On the homepage there is also a “Help” section where you can figure out on how to get started using resources at the library, ask a librarian a question, talk with someone who is a specialist in the subject you may need to do research on, and learn what classes and workshops the library may be offering. There is also an “About” section on the homepage which explains policies, hours, job opening, and staff members. There is also a “News and Events” section to keep you updated on what is happening at the library.
The section that you will use for research will be entitled, “Find”. Under this title, it will list all the different ways you can search and locate what you need. The first way to find resources is located under “Books and E-Books”. Here, you find books and e-books in Loyola’s library using such search engines such as “WorldCat Local” and “Pegasus Online Catalog”. If Loyola has the book you are looking for, simply press the “Request” bottom and they will hold the book for you so that you can pick it up. If the book or any resource is not available at Loyola, you can request it via the Interlibrary loan. It can take a few days to borrow the book from another library so make sure you look for whatever you need in advance!
Also under the “Find” section there is a section labeled “Article”. Here you can search for any article. For an online article search under “Article Finder” and “E-Journals”. If you need the article in print, search under “Pegasus” or request via an Interlibrary loan. The “Article” section is particularly helpful if you already have an article in mind.
My favorite and most helpful section is called “Databases” Here you can find any articles/resource you need. This section is great because you don’t have to have a certain article’s title in mind, instead you can just search for an article that is written on the topic you want. If I want to look up research for an English subject literary work, I use the “MLA International Bibliography” database. Here I can simply type up something like, “Gender in Macbeth” and articles will pop up. I can even narrow my search down by choosing specifically scholar articles, ect. Another popular database that students use for articles is JSTOR. There are a ton of databases to choose from with specific subjects in mind. If you are having trouble searching for anything, just ask a librarian. They are always happy to help!
There is also the “E-Journal” section which is useful in finding online journals based on a title or specific subject. There is “Research Guides” which is specifically helpful for locating research for a particular subject. There is “Reserves” which can be used by your professors to hold certain works for you and your subject. And there is “Digital Collections” which is all works created by the Loyola community.
The library is an amazing resource center that you should take advantage of when being a student. The librarians are always willing to help and guide you in the right direction. Using their articles, I have learned a whole bunch of new things!