Research @ MPL

Research Tips

The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for finding information and documenting the sources you find. Adapt this outline to your specific needs but try to keep these research tips in mind:

• Work from the general to the specific.


• Use a variety of resources - e.g.: books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, online resources.


• Record what you find and where you found it.

Step 1: Define & develop your topic. Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question. (You can test the main concepts or keywords by looking them up in the library catalog.)

Step 2: Find background information. Read an encyclopedia article to get an overview of your topic. Note any useful sources (books, magazines, etc.) listed in the bibliography at the end of the encyclopedia article. Use these sources for further reading.

Step 3: Use MPL's online catalog to find books, magazines, videos, and other items on your topic. Write down the author, title, call number and location of the item. Note the status of the item - this will tell you whether or not it is on the shelf or presently being borrowed. If the item is currently out, then you may place a hold to reserve that item once it is returned to the library.

Step 4: Use our online databases to find information on your topic. Our databases are current, authoritative and accurate sources of information. Select the database related to your topic and follow the onscreen instructions to retrieve articles. Always check Full Text to ensure you are returned with the entire article rather than just the citation or abstract. If you need help deciding which database to use, please ask a staff member.

Step 5: Ask a Librarian for assistance. Need help defining your topic? Need ideas about where to look next? Need help using or locating a reference source? Please ask us! We are here to help!