Introduction

In Brief: Research Topic

Step 1: Search Terms

Step 2: Search Strategy

In Brief: Primary & Secondary Sources

Step 3: Finding Books

Step 4: Finding Articles

Step 5: Locating Sources

Step 6: Evaluating Sources

Step 7: Using Information Effectively

Catalogs contain records for the materials that a library physically owns or provides access to.
The UW Libraries Catalog includes books, journal and series titles (print & electronic), individual reports, conference proceedings, web sites, and other media.
Most catalogs do not have records for articles from journals, papers from conferences, or chapters from books.

Elements of Catalogs:

• Made up of records
• Records made up of fields
• Fields:
  • Author
  • Title
  • Publisher
  • Library location, call number, status
  • Other notes (description, bibliography)
  • Subject Headings (controlled vocabulary)
• Example

Catalogs at the UW:

UW Libraries Catalog

Catalog to the holdings of the University of Washington Libraries.

UW Law Library Catalog

Catalog to the holdings of the Gallagher Law Library.

Summit

Combines the catalogs from academic libraries in Oregon and Washington State. Request books through Summit and receive them within 3 business days.

OCLC WorldCat Local

Contains the UW Libraries Catalog and Summit Catalogs. A listing of books, journa subscriptions, and other material available in hundreds of major libraries in the US and abroad.

Step 4: Finding Articles