Library Resources
Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out the library. We are here to help you with any question, but specifically, we are experts in finding and using information. If you are working on a research project and run into any issues or questions, we are here to help! Our homepage is a great place to get started on your research; we do know it can be a bit confusing at first, so please ask us as many questions as you want.
If you'd like some one-on-one help finding resources, click here to book an appointment. I'm happy to help!
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You can also chat or text with the librarian on duty.
Online? Check out the Online Students tab for specific writing help, just for you!
On campus? Visit the JWU Writing Lab at either Downcity or Harborside for fast and easy help with assignments. Whether you're just getting started or need final editing advice, the student writing coaches are super kind and trained to help you at any stage of the writing process.
Top Four Tips for Working with the Writing Lab:
- Open Mon - Thurs 4-10 pm, Sun 12-10 pm.
- Walk-ins welcome; appointments strongly recommended.
- Book an appointment: http://pvd.library.jwu.edu/writinglab
- Email: jwuwritinglab@jwu.edu
Curious about how it all works? Check out this sweet video created by an awesome team of JWU students!
Did you know you can also submit your paper online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Smarthinking for seriously awesome feedback within 24 -48 hours? It's FREE! Look for the link in JWULink, under the Academic tab, under Tutoring.
For in-person tutoring, help with accommodations for students living with disabilities, and study-skills workshops, contact the Center for Academic Support.
Working on the Leadership Presentation? We've got you.
Your first challenge is to choose an interesting person to profile, and then focus in on the most fascinating aspect of their background, and add in an interesting angle and engaging details to determine why this person is a leader in their field.
For Example: If you were to profile Chef Alice Waters, you might focus in, as this article did, on her philosophy of "Social Responsibility" and sustainable, farm-to-table produce which contributed to her success. In the following profile piece, The Millennial Restaurant, the author focuses in on Chef Waters' journey to Paris in search of a new space, and her revolutionary definition of a restaurant as "a platform, an exhibit, a classroom, a conservatory, a laboratory, and a garden." What makes the profile so fascinating is the angle - how she creates socially responsible dining and the details of the setting - in this case, Paris.
Start here:
Use the Articles Tab on our homepage to search for articles on specific angles for your Leadership Presentation. This will search 25 of our databases and will cover most areas of study. For example, if you're profiling Chef Waters, use the search box to find scholarly, trade, or magazine articles on "Chef Waters", along with your angle, such as "Social Responsibility"
Subject Terms are way better than random keywords, because they are substantially about your person or topic, rather than just mentioning it.
Enter in your keywords, and then look for a Subject Term mentioning your person. These are hyperlinked to more articles.
Narrow your search to Trade Publications by checking off the option under Source Types on the left hand side of the page.
For Company Information, in Academic Search, click the Company Information Tab and enter in the company's name.
Example: Apple, Inc
This will provide you with information for Company information:
- Job Title
- How many employees
- How many locations
Use Biography to search for articles on specific people for your Profile paper. For example, if you're profiling Beyoncé, use the search box to find scholarly articles on "Beyoncé", along with biographical information. Notice the many different kinds of sources available, from Academic, to News, to Multimedia/Videos.
To search for a person for your profile piece and cite the article, follow these steps using the link to Biography In Context.
Did you know you can copy and paste citations if you use the library's databases?
1. Save time - look for the "Cite" Button or " " icon.
2. Scroll to the style you need (MLA, APA)
3. Copy and paste the full citation into your paper
Ta Da! You're done! Well, almost. Sometimes weird formatting issues happen, so always double check your work.
Need help with in-text citations or more complicated citations? Use the OWL! It's super easy, and totally simple. This is also a really good time to make an appointment with a writing tutor to make sure your paper is totally perfect and all your citations are good to go.
Using Google can be really helpful when you're doing research, especially if you use these quick tips!
1. Change the "Domain"​
- Looking for Government information? Use .gov in your search
- If you search "Statistics on the economy" site:gov, you'll find government sites focusing on the economy, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Looking for Education resources? Use .edu in your search
- If you search "statistics on the economy" site:edu, you'll find academic sites focusing on the economy, such as articles from colleges and universities.
- Looking for Non-Profit research? Use .org in your search
- If you search "statistics on the economy" site:org, you'll find non-profit sites focusing on the economy, such as the United Nations Statistics division.
​2. Put your search in "Quotes"
- If you're searching for more than one word, use quotes to search as a phrase.
- ​EX: "Student Loans"
- A Google Scholar search will bring you lots of academic results, and it is a great place to start.
- If you can't read the articles online, let us know and we'll find the Full Text for you!
