LibGuides: WRI 10 (Mingualopstain) 2018: Welcome!

Session Outcomes

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

develop a strategy for researching a topic of interest.
recognize common similarities and differences between databases.
access databases and retrieve useful information resources.
identify people and services for asking follow-up questions.

Writing Center

Are you ...

developing a thesis?
organizing your ideas?
incorporating evidence?

Visit the Writing Center for an individual, virtual consultation with a peer.

Hours & Location

The Writing Center is located in the Kolligian Library, Room 296. Due to the Coronavirus emergency, the Library building and the Writing Center are physically closed.

Virtual Appointments are available.

Fall Hours

Monday - Thursday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Find out more about our online sessions here.

Appointments

Appointments can be made at WCOnline.
Students may schedule up to 60 minutes per day (one 60-minute session or two 30-minute sessions)
Students may schedule up to 2 appointments per week.

Some places to start

The library has more than 300 databases where you can search for articles, images, audio files, videos, and more. The list of databases below is just a sampling of what's available. More library databases are available at http://library.ucmerced.edu/research/databases/subject-areas.

Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)
A multidisciplinary database with full text content in the arts, social sciences, humanities and sciences.

Opposing Viewpoints
Covers contemporary social issues and provides articles, primary source documents, court-case overviews, statistical data, images, and podcasts that help students explore issues from multiple perspectives.

Congressional Research Service Reports (ProQuest)
2004 - present. CRS provide excellent background information on areas of public policy. The are generated by researchers working within the Library of Congress and are created at the request of Members of Congress or their committees.
Newsbank: Access World News
Dates vary. Full-text content of more than 600 U.S. newspapers and 700 international sources. Local, regional and world news, including community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, and people.

CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Researcher
CQ Researcher reports offer in-depth, unbiased coverage of a pressing political or social issue. Reports cover topics in health, international affairs, education, public policy, the environment, technology, and the U.S. economy.

Google Scholar
A search engine providing access to both freely available and subscription based resources including articles, theses, books, preprints, abstracts, conference proceedings and technical .

GOTS Academic Search Complete Tutorial

Outside Class Assignment Need VPN if completing from an off-campus location.
Academic Search Complete Tutorial
http://ucmercedlibrary.info/guide_on_the_side/tutorial/using-academic-search-complete

Complete the Academic Search Complete database tutorial.
You will follow the instructions on the left of the screen and, as needed, complete activities in the main screen (right).
To receive credit, you must complete a short quiz at the end of each tutorial.
When prompted at the end of the tutorial, enter your email address and your instructor’s email address.

Library Services

UC Merced Library Home Page
Reserve a Collaborative Workroom
Collaborative workrooms are great for group study. Rooms are available on the second, third and fourth floors of the library. Each room has a dry erase board and a flat panel computer display.
Check your Library Account
View checkouts, due dates and fines.
Get Help from a Librarian
You can call, email or chat with a librarian when you need help with your research. There is also a web form to schedule an appointment with a librarian.
Use Electronic Resources from Off Campus (VPN)
Download the VPN to connect to online books and articles from off campus.
Interlibrary Loan
If our library doesn't have what you need you can get it from another library at no charge.
Library FAQs
Use our FAQs for quick answers to your library questions.
iPod Touch Library Video Tour
Check out an iPod Touch from the Services Desk on the 2nd floor. The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.

Librarian

Searching for Books

You may find a reference to a book title from a book review or a bibliography. Search Melvyl to see if the book is in our local collection or if you can Request through Interlibrary Loan.

UC Library Search
Locate books, articles, and more from all UC campuses and beyond in this unified discovery and borrowing system. Use filters and alternative search scopes to narrow your results. Connect via the VPN to view all content available to you. Log in to your account to request material.