Retrieving Sources || WITS || GMU Composition

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USING EMAIL

RESEARCH

- Articulating a Need

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NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS

Retrieving Sources from Databases

I found some sources that might help me answer my research questions. So now what?

Well, here's what.

BOOKS

Since the Library Catalog only shows what the Mason Libraries have—its holdings, in other words—the records to the books I found when I searched the Library Catalog will be located in one of Mason's four libraries.

So how do I know?
I can find which Mason library has the book I want by reading the record for the book that came up in my search of the Library Catalog.

Once I know which library has the book, I need to find the call number of the book, also found in the record.

The record also tells me if the book is available or if it has been discharged (checked out, in other words). If it hasn’t been checked out, then all I need to do is

go to the appropriate library,
look for the signs that tell me where the different call numbers are found
go find it.

But what if the book is checked out?
If the book is checked out, then I can fill out a form at the Circulation desk (where I check books out) that puts the book on Hold so that when the person who has it can't renew it.

What if I need the book before the due date?
If I don’t have enough calendar time to wait for the book, I have two choices:

I can go to the WRLC catalog (from the Library’s homepage) to find out if other universities in the Washington Research Library Consortium have it.

If another university in the WRLC has the book, I can ask the library to get it for me through Interlibrary loan. (I have to go back to the Library's homepage and look for E-requests in the list on the right of the screen.)

I can go back to my list of sources and try again.

ARTICLES

To find the articles from the list I made by searching the database—in this case, Expanded Academic ASAP—I need to find out if the article is available in full text.

If yes, then I print it out or email it to myself.

If the article is not full text, then I need to find out if the Mason libraries have article by:

1) Finding the name of the journal, the volume number and the date
2) Logging on to the Library's homepage
3) Clicking on Catalog
4) Selecting journals in the "Find results in" box
5) Entering the name of the journal
6) If the Mason libraries have the journal and the volume number I need at the Fairfax campus, I go to the shelves of journals in Fenwick Library, find it myself and either read it or photocopy it.
7) If the Mason libraries do not have the journal or the volume I need, then I ask the library to get the article for me through Interlibrary loan.

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Composition Program at George Mason University

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	Retrieving Sources from Databases
	I found some sources that might help me answer my research questions. So now what? Well, here's what. BOOKS Since the Library Catalog only shows what the Mason Libraries have—its holdings, in other words—the records to the books I found when I searched the Library Catalog will be located in one of Mason's four libraries. So how do I know? I can find which Mason library has the book I want by reading the record for the book that came up in my search of the Library Catalog. Once I know which library has the book, I need to find the call number of the book, also found in the record. The record also tells me if the book is available or if it has been discharged (checked out, in other words). If it hasn’t been checked out, then all I need to do is go to the appropriate library, look for the signs that tell me where the different call numbers are found go find it. But what if the book is checked out? If the book is checked out, then I can fill out a form at the Circulation desk (where I check books out) that puts the book on Hold so that when the person who has it can't renew it. What if I need the book before the due date? If I don’t have enough calendar time to wait for the book, I have two choices: I can go to the WRLC catalog (from the Library’s homepage) to find out if other universities in the Washington Research Library Consortium have it. If another university in the WRLC has the book, I can ask the library to get it for me through Interlibrary loan. (I have to go back to the Library's homepage and look for E-requests in the list on the right of the screen.) I can go back to my list of sources and try again. ARTICLES To find the articles from the list I made by searching the database—in this case, Expanded Academic ASAP—I need to find out if the article is available in full text. If yes, then I print it out or email it to myself. If the article is not full text, then I need to find out if the Mason libraries have article by: 1) Finding the name of the journal, the volume number and the date 2) Logging on to the Library's homepage 3) Clicking on Catalog 4) Selecting journals in the "Find results in" box 5) Entering the name of the journal 6) If the Mason libraries have the journal and the volume number I need at the Fairfax campus, I go to the shelves of journals in Fenwick Library, find it myself and either read it or photocopy it. 7) If the Mason libraries do not have the journal or the volume I need, then I ask the library to get the article for me through Interlibrary loan. <next>

Composition Program at George Mason University