• Begin your research on the CSUDH Library home page (http://library.csudh.edu/).
  
  
• To borrow books from the CSUDH Library, take your CSUDH picture ID with proof of current registration and one other photo ID to the Library Circulation Department on the 2nd floor of the library.
• Take a close look at the regulations on the Circulation /Borrowing Books page.
  
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Books

Use the Library's ToroFind catalog to search for books by author, title or subject.
In addition to finding materials available in the CSUDH Library, you will find links that allow you to directly request books from other libraries ("All CSUs Catalog" and LINK+ buttons). Links are provided below for other local libraries and libraries worldwide.

• ToroFind: CSUDH Online Catalog
• Southern California Libraries (includes links to academic, public and special libraries)
• Library of Congress Online Catalog
• LIBWEB (includes links to libraries in over 125 countries)
  
  
  
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Finding Journal Articles

To find journal articles, use one of the journal article indexes (you'll also hear us call them electronic databases
or just "databases").

To use CSUDH databases when you're off campus: 

1.  You must be a current CSUDH student, faculty member or staff member.

2.  Adobe Acrobat Reader software (v. 7.0 or later) must be installed on
      your computer.
      Many articles are available only in .pdf (portable document format) format;
      you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and/or print them.
      Get the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader free at       http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

• For detailed information on how to log in to CSUDH Electronic databases, click here.
  
• Be sure to click on the "Check Availability" link (or the blue "Check Availability" icon)
  whenever it accompanies the abstract of an article you want in full text.
  
• For an overview of how to use CSUDH databases to find journal articles, click here.
  
• To limit your results to peer reviewed articles, look on the database search screen for
  the words "scholarly" and/or "peer reviewed" and place a check in the box beside these words.
  
• Click on a link below to access the database of your choice or use our comprehensive list
  of Article Indexes to see all available CSUDH databases.

 

• Business Source Premier: Business research database with full text for more than 8,800 publications, including full text for more than 1,100 peer-reviewed business publications; ample coverage of issues
  in public administration, government policy, civil service, labor unions, city planning and more! Includes
  full text of Business Week (1996 to date) and Fortune (1992 to date).
  
  
• Academic Search Premier: Multi-disciplinary database with full text for more than 4,650 publications, many of which are peer-reviewed journals; often used as a starting point since it covers a wide range of subject areas.
  
  
• Ebsco Databases: Use this link when you want easy access to this publisher's databases in
  multiple subject areas.
  
  
• LEXIS-NEXIS: Good general business and news database (all content is in HTML plain text format).
  
  
• Los Angeles Times: full text from 1988 to date.
• Los Angeles Times Historical: Full text and graphics from 1881- 1986.
  
  
• PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service): locate citations and abstracts of public and social policy literature. Articles, books, conference proceedings, government documents, book chapters, and statistical information worldwide; a few full text links.
  
  
• ProQuest Newsstand: locate full text newspaper and magazine articles in 1500 worldwide business periodicals; human resources, finance, management, computers, and more; also links to 300+ U.S. & int'l. newspapers. Inclues full text of Wall Street Journal from 1984 to date.
  
  
• Want to link to many more management-oriented databases??
  For a complete list of links, go to theLibrary's Business Subject Page.

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Thesaurus ( locates correct subject headings to use in your search)             

• Locate a Thesaurus button or link on the screen (it may be called "Subject Headings"
  or "Subject Index", depending on the database you are using.)
  Type a word or phrase for which you would like to identify a subject heading into the appropriate box.
  Sometimes you can click on the suggested search term to see a note that defines the term
  as it is used in the database, as well as a list of narrower, broader and related terms.
• Either copy down useful subject headings or cut and paste them into the
  search screen where you are working.
  
  
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Finding a Specific Journal Title

If you already have a reference or citation to a specific journal article, find out if the Library subscribes to the journal you need by using the CSUDH Journals List.
This list includes both print and online journals.
The Library currently subscribes to over 25,000 journals online.

For more detailed help finding a known article, visit the Find a Specific Article tutorial.

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Interlibrary Loan

         If the CSUDH Library does NOT own in any form a specific journal, magazine or book that you need,
fill out the appropriate online ILL form at http://library.csudh.edu/ill.htm  and submit an electronic request.

               A print or electronic copy of that article will be obtained from another
               library, but may take as long as 7 to 14 days to arrive.

              OR

   - go to the Library Online Catalogs and Information page at 
           http://library.csudh.edu/cyberlib/libraries.htm to look for holdings at other academic libraries
          you can visit in person (such as other CSU libraries).      
    
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The Internet

Google is still an outstanding search engine, but unless you know exactly what you are doing,
    it will lead you to millions of web pages on sociology research and its hundreds of subtopics.

Three tips:

• Try Google's Advanced Search page to refine your search. When using information from the web for projects and research papers, remember to evaluate the quality and reliability of the information.
  For evaluation criteria, try Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages (Cornell University Library) and Evaluating Information on the Web (Pasadena City College Library).
  
• Google Scholar lets you search some scholarly literature, including many peer reviewed articles, 
  but note that you may not be able to freely access the full text of the article.
  For scholarly literature, the Library databases listed above are usually a better option for beginning your research.
  
  More Websites Selected and Evaluated by Librarians:
  
• The Brookings Institution
  Private, independent, nonprofit research organization that seeks to improve the performance of
  American Institutions, the effectiveness of government programs and the quaility of U.S. public policies.
  
• Council for Excellence in Government - Resource Links
  Links to government networks & resources, public policy & related organizations, and publications.
  
• International City Government Resource Centre
  Links to city-related URLs throughout the world.
  
• National Center of Policy Analysis
  Nonprofit public policy research institute that offers a wealth of analysis, debate, and in-depth research
  from around the world.
  
• National Center for Public Productivity
  Research and public service organization based at Rutgers University; devoted to improving productivity
  in the public sector.
  
• PolicyExperts.org
  Database of public policy organizations.
  
• Public Policy and Social Research
  UCLA Library Collections and Internet Resources.
  
• RAND and RAND California
  This nonprofit institution seeks to improve public policy through research and analysis.
  Also online access to RAND Abstracts and to the full text of selected reports, issue papers,
  research briefs and other RAND publications, as well as a link to the full text of the
  RAND Research Review , which reports on public policy issues studied in RAND's research programs.
  
  
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Citing Your Sources

When writing a paper or completing a project for a class, you will usually be asked to provide a bibliography of the materials that you used.

Take a look at the Library's Citation Guide in advance so you'll know what information about each information source to write down before you begin your research.
It is much more difficult (sometimes impossible!) to retrace your steps than to make note cards
as you are working to keep track of sources of information you use while doing your research.

Always check with your professor to find out which citation format to use for papers in that class.


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Summary of Searching (applies to most databases)

• Enter your search terms. Focus your search by choosing a Field Code from the All Fields drop-list on each line you use. 
  e.g.: to search for the subject "rape", enter it in the Find field, and select SU-Subject. Enter additional search terms in the optional search fields.
  
• Use the * (truncation symbol) and the? (wild card) symbol as required to include multiple forms and spellings of search terms.
  
• Connect multiple search terms with connector words (AND, OR, NOT) to create
  a very broad or a very narrow search.
  
• Tip: Put all OR search terms that belong together (e.g. rape OR assault OR  sexual aggression)              
   into the same Find box on one line.
  
• Select other appropriate search limiters and "broadeners" (usually provided in databases with check boxes
  just below boxes where you enter your search terms).
  
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