Library research at Virginia Tech
As a student at Virginia Tech, you will be assigned research papers on a variety of topics, or you may have to come up with a topic on your own. This web page is meant to serve as a general guide to selecting a topic and finding information on that topic in the Virginia Tech University Libraries.
Seven Steps to Library Research
And remember: If you need help, ask a reference librarian! Newman Library has a main Reference Desk, located on the first floor. Another desk, providing limited Reference and Circulation functions and basic library information services, is located on the fourth floor in the Torgersen Hall Tower, where the Library meets the "Bridge".
A new guide is the Research Paper Scheduler, designed to help you establish a timeline and keep track of all the steps you need to complete in order to create a successful research paper. Suggestions for finding topic-specific information sources are also provided on this helpful link.
Additonal advice on particular aspects of library research
- Choosing a Topic
- Getting Some Background Information
- Finding Books
- Finding Periodical Articles
- Narrowing or Broadening Your Topic
- Analyzing the Sources You Have Found
- Evaluating Internet Resources
- Where Did You Find It? Cite Your Sources!
- Library Glossary: Defining library language
Material in this guide has been adapted and/or modified from Library Research at Cornell: a Hypertext Guide (http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/tutorial.html), developed by the Reference Services Division of Olin*Kroch*Uris Libraries at Cornell University.
