George A. Spiva Library

Where can I get help with my Research?

Spiva Library's Reference department provides library instruction to classes (as scheduled by the instructor), at the Reference desk, by telephone (417-625-9729), email (LibrRef@mssu.edu) and even Facebook.

Librarians are happy to work with students on an individual basis and can schedule appointments as needed.

What's Ready Reference?

Ready Reference books are Reference books that are commonly used by staff to answer brief factual questions. The Ready Reference collection is located behind the Reference desk. If a patron needs to view a Ready Reference book, they should ask at the Reference desk and return the item to that desk.

Where’s the card catalog?

Since 1987 the “card catalog” has been in electronic format. SWAN can be accessed over the Internet at the following address: http://swan.missouri.edu/search~S3. No password or user ID is required.

How are books, etc. shelved in Spiva Library?

Spiva Library uses the Library of Congress Classification System for items located in the main collection, reference collection, audiovisual collection, etc.

Spiva is a selective depository for documents of the federal government and these are shelved using the SUDOC (Superintendent of Documents) classification system.

Periodicals(journals/magazines/newspapers) housed in Spiva Library do not have a call number. They are filed in alphabetical order by their title.

For assistance locating items in the library, please stop at a help desk on any floor.

How do I know if Spiva Library owns a particular newspaper or periodical?

Use SWAN and select the 'Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Titles' search. To begin the search, type in the title of the newspaper or periodical and click on the “submit search” button. If the publication is in our collection, the title will appear on the screen. In extended display, below the title will be information detailing what format the publication is in (loose, bound, microfilm or microfiche).

Periodicals that are listed as microfilm or microfiche are stored in cabinets located on the 4th floor. There are readers and reader/printers, to view and make copies from the microforms located in the same area. Assistance in locating the film or fiche and operating the reader or reader/printers is available at the AVC/Government Documents Desk on the 4th floor.

How do I find articles from newspapers or periodicals on a topic?

Depending upon the age of the article you are seeking there are several places to check. If you’re looking for information from the current year or perhaps as far back as the mid 80s you might look in one or more of the electronic indexes we subscribe to here in the library such as: Academic Search Premier, Lexis/Nexis or NewsBank..

If the article(s) you’re looking for is older then that you will probably have to use a print index. For example, we have bound indexes for the New York Times newspaper for the years 1851-1990. We also have the magazine index, Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature from 1900 to the present year. A staff member from the reference desk will assist you in using these indexes, if needed.

What's the difference between a magazine, journal, and periodical?

A magazine is usually thought of as a “general interest” publication. It will contain advertising, but not article abstracts or bibliographies. Examples of magazines: Sports Illustrated, People, and Newsweek.

A journal is scholarly in content and is often published by a professional society or organization. Articles tend to be lengthy, are preceded by an abstract and followed by a bibliography. Examples of journals: Historian, JAMA, and Science.

For more information see Evaluating Journals Page.

What does it mean when my professor asks for a scholarly or peer-reviewed article?

The professor wants an article that has gone through a strict editing process. When an article has been submitted for publication in a scholarly or peer-reviewed journal, it is sent to one or more persons who are knowledgeable in the subject area that has been written about. This is supposed to ensure a higher degree of accuracy in the article content.

Where are the newspapers, periodicals, ERIC documents and other materials on microform located? Is it possible to copy them? How much are copies?

All microform materials are located on the 4th floor across from the Government Documents/Audio Visuals help desk. Newspapers & journals are in alphabetical order by their titles. ERIC documents are in numerical order by their “ED number.” A staff member at the Government Documents/Audio Visuals help desk can assist you in locating the material and in demonstrating how to use a reader or reader/printer to view or make photocopies of microforms.

There are reader/printers for both microfilm (on reels) and microfiche (cards). The cost is 10¢ per page. There are machines that are coin operated and machines that use Copicards. Change and Copicards are available at the Main Circulation Desk (3rd floor). Copicards may be purchased in amounts of either $2 or $5.

What is ERIC?

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is a collection of education and related documents that have been compiled for use primarily by educators. Anyone may use ERIC. It is actually a very good database to use for almost any subject area.

Where can I access ERIC?

ERIC may be accessed through our article databases as well as the ERIC web portal at:
http://www.eric.ed.gov/

What is the difference between an ERIC document (ED) and an ERIC journal (EJ)?

An ERIC document (ED) is part of a collection of documents dating back to 1966. We have the ERIC document collection on microfiche from 1966-2004. Any ERIC document published after 2004 is available full-text online on the ERIC web portal.

An ERIC journal is an education or education related journal that has been indexed by ERIC.

What is an online index/database?

An online index or database is an index that is accessed using the Internet. It can either be one that is produced by a commercial source, governmental source, educational source or even an individual. The main requirement is Internet access in order to reach it and then utilize it.

Usually when Spiva library staff refers to an online index (electronic index/database) they are referring to one of the commercial databases that we have subscribed to through vendors such as: Ebsco, ProQuest, H.W.Wilson, etc. and can be found on our article databases page. Access to them requires you either use an on-campus computer or entry of your Missouri Southern Username and Password from off campus.

Can I access the library’s online databases from home?

YES! It is possible for MSSU students, faculty & staff to access these databases over the Internet from off campus. You simply need to enter your Missouri Sourthern Username (1st half of University email) and Password (Missouri Southern PIN) when prompted.

What's the difference between articles found in an online database and those found on the Internet?

Potentially, quite a bit in terms of accuracy. If the article is found on a database produced by: a commercial source (ex. EBSCO, ProQuest), governmental source (ex. CIA, the census bureau, etc.), or educational source (ex. University of Illinois) the researcher is getting material from a "known" source. Articles located on the Internet through a "search engine" may or may not be accurate or even true. Often it's difficult and sometimes impossible to determine the validity of information posted on the Internet and the expertise or bias of the organization or individual who posted it.

Library staff recommends, and a growing number of faculty members require, that you verify the validity of materials obtained through websites located through search engines before using it in your paper(s). Students should review the Evaluating Websites web page and discuss the site with their professor.

How do I cite a print or electronic source?

Depending upon the class or professor, you may use one of the following style manuals:

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Chicago
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Turabian

Copies of each of these style manuals are kept on reserve at the Main Circulation desk.

Many of the online databases available via our article databases page (Academic Search Premier, Lexis-Nexis) contain examples on how to cite articles obtained through them. Look in the “help” section on the page or ask for assistance at the reference desk.

Also, be sure to view the Library's Citation Manuals pages for some online information about each of these format styles.