As Hazel entered the second floor, she saw tables and chairs scattered throughout where students drew cellular structures on whiteboards, met with tutors from the Tutoring Center, and talked with friends between classes. She needed to do some research about Lake Superior, but wasn’t sure where to find the scholarly articles her professor required. She wasn’t even sure what that meant; her professor suggested that she visit the library.
She noticed a Research Help sign along the left side of the floor where a row of offices continued back towards the Annex. A maroon sign on wheels was situated outside an office with gold letters reading, “Stop by for Research Help,” and an arrow pointing inside. She walked up to the office and noticed a librarian working at her computer. Hazel hovered for a moment wondering whether she should knock or just walk in when the librarian turned towards her and smiled.
“Hello! Come on in!” the librarian waved Hazel in. “How can I help you?”
Hazel stepped just inside the office, “I need some information about water quality. Are there any books or something about it?”
“There is likely lots of information available about water quality – why don’t you take a seat, tell me a little more, and we’ll find some resources together?”
What happens when you ask for research help?
The librarian asked Hazel several questions about her interests in water quality and what was required by her professor. They both came to understand that what Hazel needed was a scholarly article about pollution in Western Lake Superior and how that impacts the water quality which was slightly different than what Hazel originally asked about. That’s okay! Often our original questions are missing some details. During a Research Help discussion, the librarian gets a better idea where Hazel is in the research process and Hazel hopefully feels more comfortable asking follow-up questions like what a scholarly article is and how to recognize one.
Once they’re on the same page, Hazel and the librarian can work collaboratively to identify possible sources that leverage her interests and needs and the librarian’s expertise. Hazel didn’t know how to search in the library to find scholarly articles and the librarian was able to walk her through that process and give her some tips along the way. Together they identified keywords, explored a list of environmental science databases, and read through some abstracts to find a few articles that Hazel is interested in exploring further. Hazel learned how to search the library resources and that someone is available to help if she gets stuck going forward.
What if I don’t need any help? How we can help even if you’ve got this.
Why would you need to talk to a librarian if you’re capable of finding information through a Google or DuckDuckGo search? While there is a lot of information available on the open web, the information you need may be locked away behind a paywall or on a shelf. Here are some instances where reaching out to Research Help can help you navigate tricky research obstacles:
- Websites may contain bits and pieces of the information you need, but don’t dig in deeper into a subject or they’re not reliable sources of information
- You need an article from a peer-reviewed scholarly journal or academic book; these are typically expensive resources locked behind a paywall or not available online at all
- Paywalls, where you’re prompted to pay for access to information, can stop you in your tracks – the library can likely get you the exact resource you need for free
- You can’t find the citation information for a source and need to cite it in the correct format – librarians can help you track down the missing pieces of a citation and provide resources to help with formatting
If you prefer to start on your own, the library has a suite of Research Process guides to help you with your research. Librarians can also provide tips and tricks on how to make searching more efficient like using these library supported tools:
- LibKey Nomad – a browser extension that connects you back to free library resources when you’re searching on the web
- Zotero – a citation management tool that allows you to collect, organize, and cite your research
Meet your Subject Librarian
Each department and program at UMD has a subject librarian assigned who is familiar with the faculty, assignments, and resources available in that subject. With over 400 resources listed on the databases page, their expertise can match you with the appropriate resources you need to complete your assignment. A librarian can walk you through how to search in a particular database, how to narrow down the results for optimal relevance, and how to evaluate the information you find. Talking through your research process with someone familiar with your topic or subject matter can make a world of difference.
You can meet with a librarian in person, over chat or email, or you can schedule an appointment. With so much information and so many avenues to access it, getting a little guidance and support can help reduce stress and make the research process easier for your next assignment.