Reference & Research FAQs
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) and email (LibrRef@mssu.edu).
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.
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.
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 3rd floor. These are located in an
area behind the partial wall to the left of the fireplace. 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 Reference desk.
How do I find articles from newspapers or periodicals on a topic?
Depending upon the age of the article you re 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 via Central
Search.
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
located on the 3rd floor. We 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.
A periodical is something that is published more then once a year, but less
then daily. An almanac or a daily newspaper is not a periodical, but a magazine
or a journal is a periodical. In answering other questions we will refer to
periodicals when talking about either a magazine or a journal.
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 article, 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?
The microform materials, except government
documents on microfiche, are located on the 3rd floor on the south
side of the building. Newspapers & periodicals are in alphabetical
order by their titles. ERIC documents are in numerical order by
their ED number. A staff member at the Reference 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 5 per page. There are machines that are
coin operated and machines that use Copicards. Change is available
at the Main Circulation Desk (3rd floor) and Copicards may be
purchased there 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 a lmost any subject area.
Where can I access ERIC?
ERIC may be accessed through Central
Search 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 the Central
Search page. Access to them requires you either use an on-campus
computer or entry of your MOSO ID 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 MOSO ID and
password 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 Guide 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 Central
Search (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.
