Frequently Asked Questions

What is a primary source? A primary source provides first hand or direct evidence about a person, object, event, or work of art. Examples may include memoirs, diaries, personal letters, interviews, books or articles published at the time, government documents, photographs, and more.

How to find in library databases:

On the library services webpage go to Research Databases by Title > select Primary Search, also...

On the library services webpage go to Research Databases by Subject > History/Government and select:

1. Ancient and Medieval History - Search Vikings > Primary Sources at top. View sources: speech, narratives, and government documents. Citation information does not include APA (to be added by publisher in future).

2. Modern World History - Search Industrial Revolution > Primary Sources at top. View sources: speech, announcement, article, and government document. Citation information does not include APA (to be added by publisher in future).

3. Avalon Project (4,000 BCE to 2,000+)

4. Primary Source Sets (Digital Public Library of America)

5. World Digital Library (from 8,000 BCE to 2000)

6. Gale World History in Context - Vikings > Primary Sources. View sources: poem, nonfiction work, and personal account. Citation information under Citation Tools link on right.

7. See many museum links.

 

 

A copy machine is available in BH217 during the hours of operation. Copies can be made for .10 cents per page. Copiers will make change for $1 bills or you can use the cashier's office to make change.

To access research databases from off campus - on the library services webpage, select a research database (either from the title list or subject list), and when prompted for a login, enter your Wor-Wic username and password. You do not need to log on to use open access links.  Select this link to access Wor-Wic library's databases: https://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)

Start searching in your selected database and limit your search by narrowing down your topic with specific keywords and/or limiting to peer reviewed, source type, and entering a date range on the left.

A peer-reviewed journal contains articles that have been reviewed and approved by experts in the field. Students can limit their search in a database containing scholarly journals to "peer-reviewed" if required by the assignment.

Library research databases are subscription databases purchased by the library that contain credible articles from such sources as books, scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and videos. Material in library databases is either reviewed by an editor or peer-reviewed by experts in the field, and source information is clearly given. Information and sources on the web can sometimes be questionable or unknown.

Citation tools for helping you with APA style are on the library's Citing Sources webpage. Select the Citing Sources tab to find the tools for citing your sources in APA 7th Edition: http://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)

Wor-Wic uses the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

APA style is used by most departments at Wor-Wic, with the exception of Arts & Humanities, which uses MLA.

To find research articles in scholarly journals for psychology, select Social Sciences under Research Databases by Subject on the library services webpage. Use databases containing journal articles such as Psychology Database or Academic Search Premier; limit to scholarly or peer-reviewed journals. Look for headings like Methods, Measures and Procedures, Results, and Discussion in the article to determine if it is describing a research study. You can also find helpful databases with journal articles under the subject: Health, Medicine, and Nursing. Another option is to use the QuickSearch box on the library services webpage which searches multiple databases at once. After typing in your search, limit to Peer-reviewed and Academic journals on the left.

A sample annotated bibliography is given on the library's Citing Sources page: http://www.worwic.edu/WorWic/media/ServicesSupport/AcademicSupport/LibraryServices/Annotated-Bibliography-with-APA-Citations.pdf

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.html

To find credible sources on sociology topics, select Social Sciences under Research Databases by Subject on the library services webpage at this link:

https://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)

For overview articles use a database such as Credo Reference that contains reference books, or use the QuickSearch box and limit to Books under Source Type. For scholarly journal articles use a database such as Sociology Database or Social Science Database (both are in ProQuest Central). For controversial sociology topics you may also select Issues/Controversies in the Research Databases by Subject list to use Points of View Reference Center or Opposing Viewpoints in Context.

Documents can be scanned and saved to a flash drive as PDF files at no charge using the copier in BH217 Library Resource Center.  Clear written directions are on the copier or ask library staff for help.

Printing in black and white only is available in BH 217 Library Resource Center.  For academic purposes, credit students receive 150 pages every Monday.  At this time, there are no color printers available to students on campus.

 

Wor-Wic's library is an electronic library providing eCollections containing videos, and articles from books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and more.  Credible e-resources can be found by searching Research Databases by Subject or Title on the library services webpage. To search multiple databases, use the QuickSearch box: https://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)  From off campus, please use your Wor-Wic username and password to access subscription databases.

Plagiarism is using another's words or ideas as your own without crediting the author or source. It is considered a primary offense of student conduct at Wor-Wic. For more information, see the library handout on plagiarism:  http://www.worwic.edu/WorWic/media/ServicesSupport/AcademicSupport/LibraryServices/Plagiarism.pdf

Yes, you can print from your laptop in BH 217 Library Resource Center.  Directions are at the library staff reference desk--please feel free to ask library staff for assistance. 

In BH 217 Library Resource Center, you can also login to a library computer to print by saving your document to a flash drive, email as an attachment, or save on OneDrive.

A scholarly journal (also called academic or professional) contains articles intended for professionals, scholars, researchers or students of a specific field; it usually is written in technical language and is specific to the field; often contains lengthy articles; it is often peer-reviewed or refereed; has little or no advertising; often contains tables, charts or graphs to accompany research but no pictures; contains bibliographies for each article, and does not necessarily contain the word "journal" in its title. Examples include New England Journal of Medicine; Research in Higher Education; Pediatrics, and Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

A popular magazine contains articles for the general public; usually has many color photographs; is written in simple language; may have unsigned articles; contains many advertisements, usually has shorter article length and does not have a bibliography at the end of articles. Magazines are widely available and can be purchased in many stores. Examples include Time, Business Week, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated.

Current library hours are posted on the library's webpage:

https://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)

Arts & Humanities students use the MLA Handbook, 9th edition as a guide for MLA style. English 101 students purchase it as one of their texts, and reference copies are in the BH217 and SH108 Resource Centers--please check each centers' hours of operation.  

Helpful links for MLA style can be found on the Library Services webpage; select the Citing Sources tab at: http://www.worwic.edu/Services-Support/Academic-Support/Resource-Centers-(Library)

 

 

To find literary criticism articles, use the QuickSearch box or select Literature from Research Databases by Subject on the library services webpage. Try searching in Literature Resource Center, Literature Online, Literary Reference Center, and JSTOR databases first. Often criticism articles can also be found in other databases such as ProQuest Central, Academic OneFile, and Academic Search Premier. For search tips a Literary Criticism Guide is on the library services webpage: http://www.worwic.edu/WorWic/media/ServicesSupport/AcademicSupport/LibraryServices/Literary-Criticism-Guide.pdf

 

Fax service is available in the BH217 library resource center at the administrative associate's office (BH 217A) for sending only, no receiving.

To find background information, images, and articles about nursing or healthcare needs in different cultures . . .

On the library services webpage, go to Research Databases by Subject > Reference. Select databases such as Academic Search Premier, Credo Reference, Gale Health & Wellness, Nursing Reference Center, and ProQuest Central.  Other databases to search in for culture AND healthcare include Films on Demand, Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and JSTOR Public Health. 

See the Culture and Healthcare guide under Help Guides on the Library Services webpage for tips and searching specific keywords:

http://www.worwic.edu/WorWic/media/ServicesSupport/AcademicSupport/LibraryServices/Culture-and-Healthcare.pdf

See the Cultural Diversity and Healthcare Guide: https://worwic.libguides.com/c.php?g=1186521 

 

A good source for information on occupations is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, found in the library database: Career & Technical Education (found under Databases by Title). Type in the job--graphic designer for example--and Occupational Outlook Handbook. Select the entry with the most recent date, then click on the Save as PDF tab to open in Adobe. Information on required education, job outlook, median salary, work environment, and similar occupations is given. The "Cite" link will give you an APA or MLA citation.  

The Handbook is also posted online by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Another helpful online source that gives updated occupational information and labor market research is O*NET OnLine: http://www.onetonline.org/

If more library database articles are also required, try Credo Reference, which has all reference book content, Films on Demand for streaming video, and a number of others for magazine/journal content.