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Note-Taking While Researching Module (CASC 142): Tips & Get Help

Library help and contact information

The University of Rochester employs many librarians, and several specialize in certain subject and research areas. You can find one that's right for you, depending on your major, using this list.

You can meet with a librarian in-person or online to get help with:

  • developing your research topic or question
  • choosing a database 
  • narrowing or expanding your search
  • finding specific resources 
  • citation

 

Our librarians and staff monitor the chat feature throughout the week, and it makes a quick and easy way to reach out for help.

Finding ebooks

River Campus Libraries provides access to over one million e-books covering a large variety of disciplines and publishers. Because our e-books are available through different databases and websites, the easiest way to find an e-book in UR’s collection is to start on the library's homepage and choose "Library Catalog Only" from the dropdown box.

To narrow your search to e-books, choose the Available online, Books, and Book chapters filters from the options on the left-hand side of your results (Show Me)...or use the search box below.

E-books

The library also has several collections of e-books that are worth searching in for your topic. While books in these collections are pulled into all of our catalog searches, relevant titles can sometimes get buried within thousands of results. Try searching these databases directly for e-books on your topic:

Scan & Skim First

 

4 reading strategies: scan the title and abstract; skim the article; skim the introduction and conclusion; scan the article

​Ask Yourself

  • What are the terms and keyword the author is using?
  • Do I need to do further research to understand these concepts? (e.g. look it up in Wikipedia)
  • What is the main topic of the paper?
  • What are the subtopics or subsections of the paper?
  • Is the author successful in making their argument and/or is there further room for study?

 

Diagram of a Scholarly Journal Article

What is a Librarian?

Test Your Knowledge of Library Services

Test Your Knowledge of Library Services

What library services do you think would be helpful when encountering each of the scenarios listed below?  Click "reveal services" to show some of the services recommended by River Campus Libraries (RCL).  Remember, you can reach out to any RCL staff member for help...we'll point you in the right direction!

Scenario 1: 

You’ve just been assigned your final project for your Writing 105 class. The professor wants you to write a research paper addressing the themes of community and belonging, but the specific research topic is up to you. You need help with choosing and narrowing down a topic so you can get started on your paper. What do you do now?  Reveal services...

  • Contact an Outreach Librarian
    Our Outreach Librarians can help you narrow down your topic and get you started with your research
  • Find a Research Guide on your topic
    Our online guides are expertly crafted to help you find sources for your project and refine your research

Scenario 2: 

You just met with your professor during her office hours and discussed your topic for your final research paper. She recommended a few books and articles that would be great for your research! When you look for them on the libraries’ web site and in Google, you cannot immediately get access to their contents in print or online. What do you do now? Reveal services...

  • Request the books and article through interlibrary loan
    Our interlibrary loan team can get you what you need and is always happy to help if you have questions
  • Stop by the Q & i Desk
    Our Q & i team can check if we have the resources that you need and help you place an interlibrary loan request
  • Contact an Outreach Librarian
    Our Outreach Librarians can help you find alternative sources for your project and show you how to place an interlibrary loan request

Scenario 3: 

You are writing a paper on Susan B. Anthony, a prominent 20th century women's rights activist, and would like to include some old photographs and newspaper clippings. You have worked a little with primary sources in the past, but are not sure what is available at the University of Rochester. What do you do now? Reveal services...

  • Reach out to the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation department
    The RBSCP department has an amazing collection of primary source materials include papers from Susan B. Anthony
  • Stop by the Q & i Desk
    Our Q & i team can always point you in the right direction
  • Contact an Outreach Librarian
    Our Outreach Librarians can show you how to find primary source materials in UR's library databases and suggest other sources that might help