Additional Research Tips

Additional Research Tips

1. Universities and colleges in our area will allow you to come in and access their collections with a guest pass. If you see that they have a particular book that you need, you can go there and use the resource in the library. Just check in at the circulation desk and explain your situation - most likely they will help you locate the source and get you set up at a workstation. You will not be able to leave with anything, though, so bring some change to make copies of the pages you need.

2. Take advantage of friends who are enrolled in college. They have access to more academic databases through their university libraries. If you find a digital resource you need (article, etc.), ask them to download a copy and send it to you.

3. If you're having trouble finding resources that are specific for your chosen topic, Google to find an expert in the field. Then check out what research they've published (they should have abstracts on their website). If you find something promising but can't access the whole document from a database or journal due to a paywall, try emailing them directly. Sometimes they will send a copy free of charge just to share their work, so it doesn't hurt to ask! (Journals generally don't pay authors and researchers for their work, so don't worry about that.)

4. For more recent scholarship, you may have to rely more on internet searches. Use techniques such as the SIFT method and Lateral Reading to verify online sources for authenticity.