What do you mean I can’t use Wikipedia?: What High School Students Need to Know about College Libraries and Research

Amanda HartmanDigital Services Librarian, JSRCC

Librarians are your friendsBecome familiar with the

librariansLearn to ask for help

◦In-person◦Phone◦Online

Free WorkshopsDon’t give up

TerminologyCatalog

◦Search for books, videos, audiobooks and other items in your library’s collection

Databases◦Search for articles in collections only

accessible through your school◦Many different ones with different content

Scholarly literature◦The difference between magazines and

journals and when they’re appropriate to use

Do Not Be Afraid!Some college libraries are large

◦Many use Library of Congress Classification instead of Dewey

◦Closed vs Open Stacks◦Electronic and Print resources

ResearchYou will have to use the library

for researchStart early to give yourself plenty

of time◦Interlibrary Loan

Know what resources are available◦Print, electronic, online

Internet vs the LibraryGoogle vs. Google ScholarWhy databases might be better

places to look for articlesWhy wikipedia should not be

citedHow to evaluate internet

resources“Following the footnotes”

CitationWhy do we cite?The major different formats

◦APA◦MLA◦Chicago/Turabian

Online guides as well as print books to help

PlagiarismWhat is it?

◦Taking information you obtained and presenting it as your own, purposefully or accidentally.

Repercussions How to avoid?

◦Proper citation◦Understanding quotes and

paraphrasing

Silly Little ThingsNobody is going to hold your

handHow to print multiple slides on

one page in PowerPointPay attention to overdue

materials – the college can withhold diplomas and transcripts for missing items