By Kathryn Flippin
Staff Writer
Ever stared at a blank page and wondered where to start? Many college students experience this when they have a paper to write or research to gather.
Melissa Moore, reference and public services librarian and research coach at Emma Waters Summar Library, said she wants students to know exactly where to start and how to take advantage of research resources available in the library.
“When I started at Union 20 years ago, there was no such thing as a database,” Moore said. “Now, we have databases such as Academic Search Premier, that accesses over 45 million articles which Union pays for students to have access to, so that they can build better research and have a better overall understanding of subjects.
“We also have research guides for every major at Union, and on each guide, it shows you where you can look for books, articles, videos and more.”
In January, the library launched a new system called WorldShare, which allows one to type in keywords that disperse out and point a researcher to not only books and articles but also eBooks and even live streaming videos that will help build research, making the research process easier.
RefWorks is another tool students can use to help them accumulate research.
RefWorks allows a researcher to store all the articles he has found in one place. It has folders and categories and even has an option to put all the research into a bibliography.
Every student can obtain an account.
“Programs like RefWorks make research easier,” Moore said. “It is not to probe us to laziness but help us use our time in other ways instead of worrying about keeping track of all our research.”
Some new additions to the library this semester include two new streaming media resources — one called Films on Demand, generally focused on humanities, and the other, called Intelecom, focused more on the sciences.
With the changing of technology and the advancement of research, both of these mediums serve to enhance the research process and allow students the ability to see things they would not normally find.
Moore also encourages students to take advantage of the research coaches available in the library.
Shea Wingate, junior political science major, recently met with a research coach after realizing through a class lecture in the library that they are available to students.
“I had no idea the library had specific people set up in the library to help students with their research,” Wingate said. “A lot of times we go for class and they tell us how to do something, but sometimes it is too fast, or you don’t understand it the first time — the research coach takes you back through these steps and shows you even more resources to help make your paper better.
“I am glad I am realizing these resources now, because I will be going into a lot harder courses next year and even possibly to graduate school — so these tools and guides will help the transition and papers run a lot smoother.”
Moore said she hopes students will visit and ask the librarians any questions about the tools and resources available — and even if they don’t, to view the library’s website.
“Research broadens people’s perspectives on certain subjects,” Moore said. “A lot of times it can challenge the way you think about something, but as Christians we are called to be well-read and understand the concepts of this world, so we do not just let things float by us or influence us in some way.”
