Research Guide
Mathematics
Go to The Master’s College Library Web site: http://www.masters.edu/DeptPageNew.asp?PageID=22 for access to the library’s online public access catalog (OPAC), to identify all of the resources in the library or to find those available electronically through its many online databases. The library’s Web site also provides information on how to do research, library services, hours, personnel, links to other libraries’ catalogs and links to other useful Internet Resources.
Dewey Decimal Classification (used by TMC)
Dewey Decimal Classification Outline Web page http://www.oclc.org/oclc/fp/index.htm
510 - Mathematics
511 - General Principles
512 - Algebra and number theory
513 - Arithmetic
514 - Topology
515 - Analysis
516 - Geometry
519 - Probabilities and applied mathematics
Library of Congress Classification (used by TMS)
An outline of the Library of Congress Classification is available at this Web site: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html
Q- Science QA- Mathematics HA- Statistics
Library of Congress Subject Headings
To find appropriate LC subject headings related to any field of study: from the Library Catalog select the Basic Search screen and type in the broad topical term (e.g. bible, education, history, mathematics) and search by the Subject Heading field. The key to doing research is to “use sources to find other sources” so be sure to scroll through the list of headings and read the “See also” and “Note” references.
Reference Resources
From the Library Catalog select Search Limits and set the Location to Reference then from the Advanced Search screen type in your topic. Use the appropriate Boolean options of “any of these” “all of these” or “as a phrase” and either “Keyword anywhere” or “Subject” fields. When applying Limits do not search using the Basic Search screen as the Limits function will not apply.
Periodicals
Magazines, Journals & Newspapers: The Periodical Holdings list indicates which periodical titles are held by the library as well as inclusive dates and format availability (microform, physical, electronic). For all periodical titles available through the TMC library go to library Web site and Periodical Holdings from the menu on the left. From this page you can find magazines, journals & newspapers by title or by subject. The Periodical Holdings List and Journal Linker are especially useful when attempting to determine whether or not the library has a particular journal either in print or electronic formats. Journal Linker allows you to link from an abstract or citation to a hyperlinked list of our library's full-text holdings or print holdings for that journal. From there, you may link directly to the journal, the article or to the print holdings record in our OPAC. In the event the TMC library does not have the journal in question, Journal Linker also provides a link to our interlibrary loan service. Look for the Journal Linker icon Suggestion: For those indexing databases where Journal Linker does not apply, keep two browsers open: one for searching the online index to find an article and one with the Periodical Holdings page open for quickly checking to see if and where TMC has the journal containing the article. Periodical Indexes: used to find articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. For indexes available to the TMC community go to library Web site and select Library Databases/Indexes. Use the various search options to identify all print and electronic indexes by either title or subject and type. Online Databases The Databases/Indexes page includes all periodical indexes as well as other subscription based electronic research tools. To access all of these online research tools go to the library Web site and select Library Databases/Inexes from the menu on the left. Audio – Video Resources To retrieve records reflecting the library’s holdings in a specific format such as video, DVD, CD or audio cassette from the Library Catalog select “Set Limits”. Then from the Location option select the desired format. For multiple formats hold the CTRL key down while selecting formats. Then click on the “Set limits” button wait while the page reloads and then select “Search”. Search using the Advanced Search screen; do not use the Basic Search screen as the Limits function will not apply. Search for a broad topic or specific keyword as appropriate for the research need. Web Links Go to the library Web site and select Web Resources from the menu on the left. Select the appropriate subject related to the field of interest. All Web sites posted have been evaluated and recommended by subject specialists. Many of the library's databases also provide links to scholarly Web sites. Using these will save you from the need to evaluate for yourself their reputability. For a more exhaustive listing of Web sites reviewed and annotated by scholars and specialists in the field search The Scout Report at http://scout.wisc.edu/. Tim van Gelder's Critical Thinking on the Web Mathematical Sciences Digital Library Martindale’s Calculators On-line Additional Research Guides: (also available on the Reference Desk) · Basic Steps in Library Research – six simple steps explaining the research process · From Cite to Hand - Books – how to actually obtain books and other materials whether or not the library owns them · From Cite to Hand - Articles – how to actually obtain magazine and journal articles whether or not the library owns them · Finding Articles in Two, sometime Three, OK maybe Four Easy Steps · Identifying Scholarly Books – clues for distinguishing scholarly books and journals · Identifying Scholarly Periodicals- clues for distinguishing between magazines, journals and peer reviewed journals · Evaluating Resources – easy way to help evaluate the usefulness of research resource both paper and electronic · Research Worksheet – designed to make research simpler by working step by step through the research process · Copyright for Higher Education– help in understanding the copyright law as it pertains to faculty and students © Janet Tillman/The Master’s College, 2004, permission is granted for non-profit educational use; any reproduction or modification should include this statement.
in these periodical databases: ABC-Clio, EBSCOhost, FirstSearch, Philosopher's Index (CSA) and Proquest.