Library Research

Lisa Sloniowski,

English Literature Librarian

Where?

The Web as Kitchen Junk Drawer

“Doing research on the Web is like using a library assembled piecemeal by pack rats and vandalized nightly." -- Roger Ebert

“Doing research on the Web is like asking people randomly on the street.” – Roy Tennant

Library of Congress System

Where’s the Literary Stuff?

PN -- General Literature

PR -- English Literature

PS -- American Literature (incl. Canadian)

(but remember that locations vary)

Issues in the Organization of Literary Material

The rise of critical theory & interdisciplinary approaches

The problem of literature itself

The emergence of “aboutness”

Books v. Journals

How?

Search Tools: Catalogues and Periodical Indexes

Subject Guides

EN1001 Course-Related Library Guide

Search Tools

Books, Films, Encyclopedias: Library Catalogue

Journal Articles, Performance Reviews:Periodical Indexes:

MLA Bibliography, International Index to the Performing ArtsFactiva

Evaluating Your Search & Sources

Number of Results?

Relevance?

Keywords/Subject headings/Descriptors?

Correct Syntax … Boolean operators?

Usefulness to your thesis question/statement

Last Thoughts

Research is inextricably linked to the writing process

The quality of your research process has a huge impact on your GRADE

Mastery of Information = Genius?

“Marjorie Perloff has recently begun using the term "unoriginal genius" …. to describe a new tendency emerging in literature. Her idea is that due to changes brought on by technology and the internet, our notion of genius -- a romantic isolated figure -- is outdated. An updated notion of genius would have to center around one's mastery of information and its dissemination.”

~Kenny Goldsmith