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MU Libraries: Your Connection to Knowledge

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Sourcepack

English 1000
Instructor: C. R. Bailey  

Film Adaptations of Novels

This is a brief introduction to research @ MU Libraries to accompany today’s session on finding and using library resources.

MU Libraries’ home page:     http://mulibraries.missouri.edu

Getting Ideas

  •  Novels into Film - MU Ellis Reference: PN 1997.85 .T54 1998
  •  Look at other books in reference and in the stacks with call number PN 1997.85

 Book Reviews

 Film Reviews

To find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles you can use Academic Search Premier (limited to scholarly/peer reviewed), or there are dozens of other choices  by subject , e.g., Film or American Literature.  You can also search by type of information such as “Newspapers” or “Statistics,”  which may be useful, depending on the focus of your  topic.  

Research Tips applicable in almost all databases

  •  Simplify your topic into key words, using AND,  e.g.,    Godfather AND puzo AND review;   advertising AND women AND influence
  •  Brainstorm synonyms and connect with OR, e.g., media  OR  television OR  films OR  magazines
  •  Don’t get stuck on one concept if there are other ways of expressing the idea. 
  •  Use “Advanced Search”  for more control and flexibility
  •  Put quotes around a phrase, e.g., “clockwork orange”    “silence of the lambs”  
  • Can limit your search to “Academic Journals” or “Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals”
  • Use wild card/ truncation symbol (*) to get plurals and variant endings, e.g.,  tattoo*  will find tattoo, tattoos, tattooed, tattooing, etc.
  • If a PDF or HTML link is not on the screen, always look for the button.
  • Always look at the references listed at the end of an article or book chapter.  Often one good article can lead you to other similar articles and help identify key authors and classic works on your topic.
  • If you know the citation of the article you are looking for, use  the “Find a Specific Article or Journal” link from the main gateway page and follow the prompts. If you are unable to locate the article in a database or  in print via MERLIN catalog, you can order a copy through our Interlibrary Loan service, ILL@MU.   In most cases you will receive your ILL article online, via your MU e-mail account, within 1 – 3 days.

Finding books

A good place to identify useful books is in the list of referencesfor the articles you are reviewing.  If the author has done a good job of the literature review, some of the most important books for that topic will be included in the references.   You will then have specific titles and authors to look up in the MERLIN catalog.  Remember, just as with journal articles, you have options; in the case of books: MERLIN, MOBIUS, and Interlibrary Loan.

From the Libraries’ homepage (http://mulibraries.missouri.edu)  start by clicking on MERLIN .   If you don’t know specific authors or titles, search by keywords, e.g.,   review AND “name of the rose” or by subject, e.g.,  college students -- alcohol use
 
When you find a book, check the location and whether it has been checked out. To find the location, consult a “Location Guide.” This is the yellow sheet.

If we do not own the book or if our copy is unavailable, click on the Search MOBIUS button.  MOBIUS is a state-wide network of about 60+ college and university library partners. If another copy is available from MOBIUS, click on REQUEST THIS ITEM to fill out the request form to have the book sent here for you.

 If no MOBIUS library has the item, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan, ILL@MU. The book will be delivered to the MU library that you specify.  There is no charge for these services.

Finding DVDs in MERLIN

1.     Use the Advanced search.

2.     Type “feature films” and choose “Subject” from the drop down box.

3.     Select “MU Ellis Library” from the Specific Library Location drop down box.

4.      Then click on the first item in the list. You will see a listing of all DVDs in Ellis. Check the location of the item; many DVDs are at the Law Library and cannot be checked out unless you are a law student. 

Other locations for DVDs

1.     Daniel Boone Regional Library

2.     9th Street Video 10 Hitt Street, Columbia MO • 573-875-4112

3.     Blockbuster Video  (573) 442-7180  3910 Peachtree Drive, Columbia, MO  65203

4.     Blockbuster Video   (573) 886-9917 3305A Clark Lane, Columbia, MO  65202

5.     Movie Gallery 2101 W Broadway # M, Columbia, MO‎ - (573) 445-5466‎

6.     Movie Gallery 503 E Nifong Blvd # E, Columbia, MO‎ - (573) 443-8753‎

7.     Hollywood Video 2703 E Broadway # 236, Columbia, MO‎ - (573) 449-9435

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Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com)

Google Schlolar is a subset of Google that searches the scholarly literature only.  This can sometimes be a good place to find research reports from governments and organizations and other material that is not published in journals or books or readily available.  An advantage is that it searches across disciplinary lines.  A disadvantage is that, unlike the databases, it does not use subject indexing and can be hard to control results.  Keep in mind that Google Scholar is a complement to rather than a substitute for the library databases.  If you’re accessing Google Scholar from off campus, be sure to set your “Scholar Preferences” for MU so that you can take full advantage of  .

Citing Sources

Finding help with correctly citing your sources, use our Citation Guide.  From the MU Libraries’ home  page, look for the column heading, “Course Resources,” then select “Citing Sources.”
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Need More Help?  Stop by in person, Ellis Library Reference/Help Desk, First Floor, South, Ellis Library, or call (573-882-4581), or e-mail (ellisref@missouri.edu).
This SOURCEPACK is a service of Ellis Library - Sandy Schiefer