Do we have access to some of Notre Dame's information systems?
Yes, Saint Mary's students may go to Hesburgh Library and use Notre Dame subscribed databases as a guest. Information on where to go, what to bring, and how to access may be found at How do I use databases at Notre Dame?
Can I use other databases (JSTOR?) with the EBSCOhost account?
Access JSTOR from the A-Z database list. JSTOR is provided by a different vendor that EBSCO and has its own platform. With your MyEBSCOhost account you may access 34 EBSCO databases.
Am I able to access the articles on MyEBSCOhost from my personal computer?
Yes. If you are off-campus you will first be asked for your Saint Mary's username and password (your Saint Mary's email login info).
Is there a limit to the number of articles that we can order through interlibrary loan?
There is no limit to the number of articles you may request. Request what you need to complete your research.
How long can we keep library loan articles? How do we return the loaned articles?
Copied of interlibrary loaned articles will be emailed to you. You keep the articles as long as you need them and you do not return the loaned articles.
Can I rent books from ND's library?
Yes, Saint Mary's students may borrow books from ND's libraries by showing their Saint Mary's ID at checkout. You may return ND books to the Cushwa-Leighton Library and we will return them to ND's library.
Do I have the potential to lose the information I have saved in my EBSCO folders?
Article bibliographic information will be saved in your folders after you log off only if you are signed into your MyEBSCOhost account. If you place articles into your folder but you are not signed into your MyEBSCOhost account, the articles will not be there the next time you access EBSCOhost.
How do I obtain/cite pictures to include in a report?
One place to search for images that may be copied is the Creative Commons platform of Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/ Include the image creator's name and reference the Creative Commons license.
How do I find how many people cited an article in the future, after it was published?
To see how many people cited the article in their work (looking to the future influence the article you are viewing has had on the scholarly conversation), use Google Scholar or the database Web of Science at Notre Dame (see question above).
No questions other than, why didn't I research over the winter break??
Ha!
How do I get articles that don't have full text available on Academic Search Premier?
You may ask the library to borrow the article from another library directly from within Academic Search Premier. Click on and then, "Request this article from Interlibrary Loan." The article will be emailed to you. For more information on using visit How do I use the Find Text button in a database.
What if Google Scholar doesn't have the article, to find out how many people have cited a particular article.
Try finding the article on Web of Science, a database available at University of Notre Dame (see question #1).
What if I can't find enough information on my topic?
Consult with the biology liaison librarian (me! shinnefe@saintmarys.edu). Email me and we can set up a consultation. You may also ask the reference librarian at the reference desk of Cushwa-Leighton Library during these hours,
Reference Hours
Mon - Thur 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (No reference service 5 PM - 6 PM)
Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun - 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
How do I make sure that I have enough information & articles? And, I'm afraid that I will not find enough quality articles.
Consult with your professor. Ask a reference librarian for help finding additional relevant, scholarly articles.
If I'm not finding exactly what I'm looking for (I'm only finding articles that sort of fit), are there other places to look?
Yes, think about your topic in a multi-disciplinary way. Are there other disciplines that inform your topic? To find databases beyond Academic Search Premier click on "Research by Subject" on the library's home page. Navigate to a second discipline that is related to your topic and discover databases librarians recommend in that field ("Articles" tab).
Also, don't hesitate to use Google Scholar as a broad based article search engine. Then, when you discover an article via Google Scholar that you want, return to the library homepage and use the "Interlibrary Loan" link to request the article.
How many sources do I need to have cited in my paper?
Good question, how many is enough? A few questions to ask yourself: have you located enough sources to inform an answer to your research question? Are there weaknesses in your arguments that you need additional sources to strengthen? Have you asked your professor for guidance? Science isn't done in isolation - the conversations you have among a community of scholars are essential.
Some quote as a rule of thumb, use at least one source for each page of required length of paper. You will have to decide for yourself if this rule of thumb is appropriate.
How much should I focus on a few articles that are very relevant to my research?
Try to broaden your search to include other authors who can substantiate the findings. By reading more broadly you may discover other aspects of the topic/experiment the original author did not fully develop.
How can I keep narrowing down keywords?
Find one article that is at least touching on the topic you are interested in; click on the title of this article; look at the subject headings listed. Investigate the "Thesaurus" tab (blue tab near the top of PsycINFO interface) to identify other narrower subject headings.
How do I narrow all the things out there into one specific research question?
In the early stages of your literature review your draft research question may well undergo changes. As you read more about your topic you will be able to refine, narrow, and hone your research question. Don't hesitate to engage in conversation about your research question with your professor, other scholars in Introduction to Research, and with reference librarians,