DOING RESEARCH
Types of Materials Available
As a USFSP student, you have access to thousands of online books, articles, dissertations, and other types of documents. You also have access to the collections of all USF libraries as well as other state colleges and universities. The Libraries provides hundreds of databases you can use to search this content.
This guide provides basic information for accessing and searching the Library's databases. For more specific information, see the subject guides available at http://www.nelson.usf.edu/npml/research_atoz.html.
Connecting from off-campus
Since most of the research databases provided by the library are licensed only for the use of USF users, anyone trying to gain access from off-campus must identify themself as a USF student. Authentication is easy and is done through your My USF account.
Since most of the research databases provided by the library are licensed only for the use of USF users, anyone trying to gain access from off-campus must identify themself as a USF student. Authentication is easy and is done through your My USF account.
- Log in to your MyUSF account
- Click on the "USF Libraries" tab in the upper-right hand corner of the screen
- Select "Nelson Poytner Memorial Library" from the Libraries page
The computer has now authenticated you and you can use the databases.
Searching for Books
Use the Library Catalog To find a book or periodical by title or subject. The link is also available on the Nelson Poynter Library Home Page.
The Library Catalog searches all of the libraries in the USF System. If you want to limit the results of your search to a specific library-such as USFSP--click on the USF liBRARY-St.Petersburg link in the left column of your results.
For more information about searching the catalog, see the Tutorial (pptx file).
DID YOU KNOW?
Your USF ID card allows you to use any library in the USF system, or even any public university library in Florida. With your card, you can check out books from a library close to you, even though you are not a student there. Check the list at http://www.fcla.edu/FCLAinfo/sus/borrowing_agreement.html to see if a nearby library participates.
Finding Articles, E-Journals & Databases
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From the Library’s Home Page…
- Click on the ‘Articles’ Tab.
- Click on the ‘Go to Subject List!’ button.
- Select your subject area from the list on the left.
- Select a subcategory, such as ‘Article Databases‘.
- Click the ‘GO‘ button to get a list of resources in that subcategory
You can also look for a specific database. For example, if your instructor suggests you use the Business Source Premier database to search for journal articles. To find the database…
- Click on the ‘Articles‘ tab
- Click on the ‘Go to Subject List!‘ button.
- Click on the ‘by TITLE‘ tab
- Type the name of your databases in the search box and click ‘GO‘, or
- Click on the Letter “B” and find your database in the list of a databases beginning with B
Getting Help
The Ask-a-Librarian page has information on getting help with your research via phone, chat, and email. You are also welcome to visit the library and speak with a librarian in person.
Revised 8 December 2011Library Hours TodayTues, Jan. 17, 2012
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