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SGIS S150 Seminar

Research guide for freshman direct admit students to the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

Top 10 Tips

  1. Spaces for Individual Work, Study, or Virtual Meetings
    Reservations are currently required to use library spaces for work or study. You can make one reservation per day, per library. The reservation maximum is three hours. Three reservations can be made per week, per person, per library. Reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance. Find out more in this guide that shows you how to reserve a library study space. Browse available spaces here.
  2. OneSearch@IU
    OneSearch@IU searches almost everything IU Libraries has access too. This includes books, ebooks, articles, news, videos, and more. This is a great way to get an idea of the information out there on a subject. Go to https://libraries.indiana.edu/resources/onesearch.
  3. IUCAT
    IUCAT is the Libraries online catalog. Locate items from our collection such as books, ebooks, videos, and print publications. If you find a book you want, have IUCAT text you the call number so you can locate it in the stacks. Go to https://iucat.iu.edu
  4. Ask a Librarian!
    Having a hard time finding sources for a paper? Email, chat online (see the chat box on this page), or talk to a librarian for help at any stage of your research. Any questions can be answered through one of the service points listed here
  5. Get to know your Subject Specialist Librarian
    IU Librarians have many areas of expertise, ranging from specific academic subjects and disciplines, to expertise in areas such as digital scholarship, computational analysis, and visual literacy. View a list of specialist librarians here.
  6. Interlibrary Loan
    Need materials not available in IU Libraries? Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to request materials from other libraries. It's totally free!
  7. Films and Videos
    Search for videos in the libraries' collection with IUCAT. Search by title, author, or keyword and choose a format such as "Streaming Video" or "DVD". Find the call number for the item and bring it to Media Services (Wells ground floor). We have movies that are just for fun in addition to the academic collection.
  8. Get hands-on help in Library Workshops
    Each semester the library offers a number of workshops on research skills, special topics, and digital scholarship. Some examples of workshops are Introduction to Library Research, How to Write a Literature Review, and Citation Management using Zotero.  Explore the full list of workshops, and check back regularly to see what's new.
  9. Citing Sources
    IUCAT and many databases have "Cite" buttons that show citations for a source in common styles such as MLA, APA, and Chicago. These citations are sometimes incorrect so it is smart to refer to the library's citation guides or find an online citation generator you trust.
  10. Libraries on Campus
    There are many libraries across campus. Except for Wells Library, most specialize in a specific subject area (business, education, sciences). The library website has a full list of all the libraries on campus.