Beasley's Guide to Library Research

by David Beasley

Overview

Beasley's Guide to Library Research offers straightforward help in navigating the complex labyrinth of library research. Suitable for novice and experienced researcher alike, this revised classic is an invaluable tool for locating and using materials from research libraries anywhere in the world.

Written and organized for easy access, the reader is guided step-by-step through library rules and methods of operation, the effective use of microfilms and various cataloguing systems, and the location of materials using bibliographies, reference books, and periodical indices. Also covered are the most modern forms of research, including computer databases, inter-library loan systems, and online computer searches.

Whether the reader is a student, teacher, writer, librarian or business person, Beasley's Guide to Library Research provides the essential information that enables all library users to make the most of their research time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802083289
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	12/15/2000
Series:	Heritage
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David Beasley was a reference librarian for 28 years at the New York Research Libraries.

Table of Contents

	Preface	xi
	Quick Reference Guide	3
	How to Obtain a Book or Periodical	3
	Requesting a Publication	4
	CD-ROMs as Indexing Services	16
	Filing Request Slips	18
	Publications in Microform	19
	Interlibrary Loan (ILL)	19
	Research on the Internet	21
	Librarians and How to Deal with Them	24
	Rules and How to Deal with Them	24
1	General Approach to the Research Library	27
	What a Research Library Offers	27
	Where to Begin	28
	Online Searching	31
	The Terminal	32
	Networks	32
	Information Retrieval Services	33
	Data Banks or Databases	33
	Strategy	37
	When Not to Use Online Retrieval	41
2	Catalogues and How to Use Them	43
	Card Catalogues	44
	Filing Quirks	45
	Locating Series Volumes or Other Parts of Works	45
	Requesting a Work from the Catalogue	54
	Book Catalogues	60
	NYPL Dictionary Catalog of the Research Libraries, 1911-71	60
	Automated Book Catalogues	61
	Interim List	64
	Carlyle System	67
	Different Cataloguing Arrangements	68
	Other Types of Catalogues in Research Libraries	69
	Open-Shelf Reference Books	70
	The Request Slip	74
	Supplementary Catalogues	77
	Authority Catalogues	77
	Deferred Catalogues	79
	Special Catalogues	80
	NYPL Catalog of Government Publications in the Research Libraries	81
	Supplementary Catalogues	82
	Publications on Microform	83
3	Tools of Research	85
	The Bibliography: Its Forms and Uses	86
	Bibliographies to Books	87
	Checklists	88
	Annotated Bibliographies	89
	Bibliographies of Biographies	89
	Bibliographies of Monograph Series	90
	Bibliographies of Directories	90
	Periodical Indexes	90
	Indexes to Newspapers	95
	Indexes to Literature Reviews	96
	Indexes That Give Abstracts	97
	Indexes to Special Issues of Periodicals	98
	Bibliographical Lists, Citation Indexes, Reports	98
	Primary Information and Current Facts	100
	Special Materials	102
	Government Publications	107
	Microfiche Collections of Documents Made by Commercial Companies	120
	Cooperative Systems and Interlibrary Loans	122
	RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network)	122
	OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)	123
	UTLAS (University of Toronto Library Automation Systems)	124
	WLN (Washington [State] Library Network)	124
	Library Consortiums	124
	METRO (Metropolitan New York Library Council) System	124
	(CRL) Center for Research Libraries, Chicago	126
	European Services	127
	Videotex	127
	Levels of Research--Summing Up	128
4	Research in Depth	129
	Retrievable Information: Analysing the Subject	129
	Approaches to Retrievable Information	132
	The Researchers	132
	The Historical Approach	132
	The Geographic Approach	133
	The Subject Approach	134
	Other Approaches	134
	When to Use Bibliographies, Indexes, Books, Periodicals, and Manuscripts as Exemplified by Subject Area	135
	General Knowledge	135
	Humanities	138
	Social Sciences	140
	Sciences	143
	Special Collections	144
	Researching in the Performing Arts	155
	Theatre	155
	Music	156
	Dance	158
	Medical Libraries	158
	Law	159
	General Rules for When to Use What	160
	When to Use Other Libraries	162
	The Microform Problem--How to Deal with It	162
Appendix	World's Major Research Libraries and Methods of Approach	167
	The New York Public Library	167
	Harvard University Library	172
	British Library (England)	174
	Bibliotheque Nationale (France)	176
	State V.I. Lenin Library of the Russian Federation	178
	Saltykov-Schchedrin State Public Library	180
	National Library of China	180
	National Diet Library (Japan)	182
	U.S. Library of Congress	184
	The Library of Parliament (Canada)	187
	Brief Bibliography	191
	Index	195

Editorial Reviews

'Beasley writes clearly; he includes useful information on the many services of research libraries; and he communicates well the excitement of conducting research as a major library.'

'This book is ideal-in size, price, scope, and content-for a first course in 'fact finding' at either undergraduate or graduate levels.' - Gerald M. Gee, Florida A&M University

'This book is ideal-in size, price, scope, and content-for a first course in 'fact finding' at either undergraduate or graduate levels.'

- Gerald M. Gee, Florida A&M University

From the Publisher

A reference for college students, casual researchers, and professional researchers and writers. Explains various cataloging systems and how to use them, describes research aids such as bibliographies and specialized libraries and collections, and presents a systematic approach for matching the right search tools to the information being sought. Discusses online and CD-ROM searches, microfilm publications, interlibrary loans, and library rules and etiquette. Includes an annotated list of major research libraries worldwide. Author information is not given. Canadian card order number: C00-931640-X. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

An invaluable "how to" resource for library-based research, Beasley's Guide To Library Research is a definitive, quick-reference guide that includes on-line and CD-ROM searches, microfilm publications, interlibrary loans, as well as guideline library rules and etiquette. Readers will receive detailed explanations of various catalogue systems along with advice on how best to use them; descriptions of research aids (including bibliographies and specialized libraries and library collections); a systematic approach for matching the right library search tools to the information being sought; and an annotated list of major research libraries throughout the world. Beasley's Guide To Library Research is an essential, "user friendly" addition to any library science reference book collection.

'This book is ideal-in size, price, scope, and content-for a first course in 'fact finding' at either undergraduate or graduate levels.'

Gerald M. Gee