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Seven steps to library research

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. These web pages are meant to serve as a general guide to selecting a topic and finding information on that topic in the Virginia Tech Libraries.

What are the seven steps to library research?

  1. Choosing a topic
  2. Getting some background information
  3. Finding books
  4. Finding periodical articles
  5. Analyzing the Sources You Have Found
  6. Write your paper
  7. Where did you find it? Cite your sources!

Remember: If you need help, ask a reference librarian! Newman Library has a two Reference Desks: Business, Humanities, & Social Sciences located on the second floor in the Information Commons and Science & Technology located on the fourth floor near the main elevators. Assistance is also available at our branch libraries: , , and the Northern Virginia Resource Center.

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

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.


Research paper scheduler


Newman Library guided tour options

Spring tour schedule

Tours are offered six times a week, Tuesdays through Thursdays, at 11:30am and 5:00pm, from January 24 to April 26, except during Spring Break.

No pre-registration is required. Meet a tour guide at the main entrance near the benches.


Newman Library summer hours

Sun, May 20: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Mon-Fri, May 21-25: 7:30am - 8:00pm
Sat-Sun, May 26-27: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Mon, May 28: Closed (Memorial Day).

Current semester hours

Art + Architecture Library summer hours

Sun, May 20: Closed
Mon-Fri, May 21-25: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat, May 26: Closed
Sun, May 27: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Mon, May 28: Closed (Memorial Day)

Current semester hours

NVC Resource Center summer hours

Sun, May 20: Closed
Mon-Thu, May 21-24: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Fri, May 25: 11:00am - 6:00pm
Sat, May 26: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sun-Mon, May 27-28: Closed

Current semester hours

Veterinary Medicine Library summer hours

Sun, May 20: Closed
Mon-Thu, May 21-24: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Fri, May 25: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat, May 26: 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Sun-Mon, May 27-28: Closed

Current semester hours