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Marx Library Staff Training for Reference: Answering Questions

Resources

The Marx Library has many guides to help you answer questions. Here are some library specific ones. There are also guides that are designed for specific courses. To find those guides, go to Course & Subject Guides. The Course Guides are on the right side of the screen.

Finding Journals by Title

If a patron wants to know if we have a specific journal title, direct them to our Journal/Ebook List from the library web site. This does NOT search the content of the journals; it can only provide information as to the Libraries' journal holdings.

 

Getting Patrons Started

Don't worry too much if you don't know a lot about the particular subjects patrons are researching. Even if you don't , you can always get them at least started on their research by putting them in OneSearch. They are likely to find something on their topic here because it searches the following:

  • Almost, but not quite, all of the Libraries' databases
  • SOUTHcat
  • Almost, but not quite, all of the Libraries' ebook collections.

To get patrons started in OneSearch, direct them to the Marx Library web site at http://library.southalabama.edu. The OneSearch box is right in the center of the screen.

SOUTHcat

Use SOUTHcat for items owned by the library:

  1. books
  2. dvds and other media
  3. print journals
  4. ebooks

SOUTHcat can be searched by keyword, subject headings, title, author and call number. The most useful type of search for a first try is the keyword search.

LibGuides

Another place to direct patrons to get them started with their research is to LibGuides. There are several types of guides available at this site:

  • Course Guides: Librarians have created many course specific guides that will help students focus on the resources needed for their particular classes.
  • Library Guides: These have been created by librarians and staff and are meant to address an aspect of library services, such as printing and courtesy cards.
  • Subject Guides: These guides are not tied to any particular class and were created by librarians and staff to help patrons find resources in a general subject area, such as art, music and women's studies.

LibGuides can be searched or browsed by topic or guide type.