Student Resources • Library • Basic Research
Basic Online Research Pathfinder
This guide is designed to introduce you to a basic research strategy using the online resources available from your SCC Library. All of the databases have advanced search capabilities, special search tabs, and instructions for use. Once you are familiar with basic techniques, investigate the advanced search techniques.
Access to Online Resources
If you are using any Somerset Community College Computer you will be automatically authorized to use all of the electronic resources available. If you are off campus you will need passwords and / or identification. This information is available to SCC students, faculty, and staff. Call 606 451-6710 or toll free 877 629-9722 x16710 or email pam.rush@kctcs.edu or mary.huntsman@kctcs.edu using your KCTCS email account. In general, qualified staff is available to help you Monday – Friday 8:00 to 7:00 and Saturdays 10:00 – 4:00.
Doing research using the SCC Online Library Resources
Research is like walking on a path. The path can be winding, straight, or filled with detours. Be prepared to explore all available paths
Start your journey here.
Step ONE – Choose Your Topic
A good way to get an overview of a topic is by consulting an encyclopedia or dictionary. Encyclopedias and dictionaries:
- Provide an introduction
- Cross reference related topics
- Discuss key words, issues, events, and people associated with the topic
- Help a researcher expand or focus the search
Your SCC Library has two online reference services available:
To search either of these reference services, enter your topic in the search box.
Step TWO – What about Books?
To get the most complete information on a topic you may want to consult some books. The SCC Library has access to over 40,000 electronic books on a wide range of subject in NetLibrary.
You must create an account from a SCC computer. If you are off campus call the SCC Library at 606 451-6710.
Searching is easy, just enter the topic in the search box.
If you are unable to find an electronic book, consult the Library’s catalog. The Library will send books to any SCC Library location for your use. Just call the 606.451.6710. A few tips:
- Limit search by selecting Somerset from drop down box
- Determine type of search by selecting from drop down box
- Recommend starting with subject search
Step THREE – Periodicals
Periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers) contain the most current information on any topic. Your SCC Library has electronic access to over 16,000 periodical titles in a variety of databases. To find a specific periodical title:
Click on Full-Text Journals
Enter title in search box
Select database
Enter access information based on database
To find a specific issue of a periodical:
Follow instruction above
Click on issue
The SCC Library subscribes to the following databases:
EBSCOHost offers a collection of 22 databases and the New World Encyclopedia:
To search EBSCO from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click EBSCO
Enter Login and PW
Click EbscoHost
Click box for the database(s) appropriate for your topic
Click continue
Click full text
Enter topic in search box
Click Continue
Recommend limit to full text
Thompson Gale includes four databases including: Academic OneFile full of peer-reviewd full-text articles and full-text coverage of the New York Times and Health Reference Center which includes medical reference materials, nearly 400 health/medical journals, and 700 health videos:
To search Thompson Gale from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click Thompson Gale
Enter User ID and PW
Select database
Click submit
Enter subject in Quick Search
Click Search
ProQuest includes magazine, journal and newspaper articles in four databases: Education: Career & Technical Education, Interdisciplinary Alt-Press Watch, ProQuest Nursing Journals, and Technology: ProQuest Computing.
To search ProQuest from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click ProQuest
Enter login and PW
Select database
Recommend select full-text
Recommend select Scholarly, Peer Reviewed
Enter search term
Step FOUR – Special Sources
Access Science
AccessScience provides the finest collection of science reference materials—online and fully searchable with access to all the articles, fully illustrated, from the latest edition of the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, Research Updates from the McGraw-Hill Yearbooks, thousands of illustrations, and the latest Science News® headlines.
To search Access Science from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click AccessScience
Enter ID and PW
Choose Search Encyclopedia, Dictionary, or Advanced Search
Enter search
Literature Resource Center
The LRC contains up-to-date biographical information, overviews, full-text literary criticism and reviews on nearly 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world.
To search Literature Resource Center from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click Literature Resource Center
Enter Username and PW
Choose type of search
Enter search
Choose from tabs, if more detailed information needed
Opposing Viewpoints
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center is a one-stop source for information on today's hottest social issues. Drawing on acclaimed series published by Greenhaven Press and other Thomson Gale imprints, OVRC features viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites.
To search Opposing Viewpoints from the Library’s homepage:
Click Electronic Databases
Click Opposing Viewpoints
Enter Username and PW
Click on issue, or
Enter search term
Step FIVE – The Internet
Search engines such as Google or Yahoo! are good for finding:
Current news
Government statistics
Company annual reports
Consumer health information
Entertainment news
BUT, in general, search engines are poor tools for finding scholarly research. So, use caution and, in general, prefer the reviewed resources through the SCC Library’s homepage.
Quick tips for evaluating Internet Sources:
Check for an author, anonymous postings are difficult to evaluate
Check for a date
Check domain:
.com – commercial organization – trying to sell goods and services
.edu – educational institution – includes students
.gov – government agencies – usually reliable sources of information
.org – non-profit organization
Note: If you use a webpage as a source be sure you indicate the day and time the page was viewed.
Step Six – Citing your Sources
Your instructor will tell you the style manual you are to use to cite your sources. The most often used at SCC are:
APA Style – citation format established by the American Psychological Association
MLA Style – citation formation established by the Modern Language Association
Examples of how to cite various formats can be found by visiting the SCC STAR Center’s homepage.
Step SEVEN - Help
Call the Somerset Library if you need help. Friendly staff is available to:
- Give you what you need to gain remote access
- Help you develop appropriate search terms for your topic
- Suggest the best databases
- Set up a NetLibrary Account
- And, much much more
Call 606.451.6711 or toll free 606.629.9722
Monday – Thursday 8:00 – 7:00
Friday 8:00 – 4:30
Open Friday until 7:00 and Saturdays 10:00 – 4:00 when classes are in session.
Or email
Pam.rush@kctcs.edu
Mary.huntsman@kctcs.edu
Your SCC Library Open Online 24/7
