Finding Resources

 

 

Finding Resources Reference Sources Finding Articles General Databases Nursing/Medical Databases Psychology/Social Science Databases Check if journal is peer reviewed Find specific journals in the library Use interlibrary loan Use web resources Writing an annotated bibliography Need More Help

 

 

Find Books using the catalog

 

• Catalog: use this link to find Books, government documents, reserve items, music, movies and journal titles (NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES) in our library

 

 

• Search the catalog using keywords to find materials
  • Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box.
  • Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results.

 

• For Example: I am writing a paper on living with grief after the traumatic loss of a loved one
  • my FIRST search might be: grief traumatic loss
  • DON'T STOP here! Revise your searches and use the results to find other material

 

TIPS

 

1. ALWAYS go back and revise your searches. Look at your terms and think about synonyms to use!!
2. Start with broad searches!!
3. Use the Subjects, etc... link in a catalog record to find more information on a specific subject area
4. Click on the call numbers to "virtually browse" the library's shelves

 

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Reference Sources

 

• The reference collection is located on the 3rd floor of the library (also the library's entrace)

 

• The following may be useful for your projects

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying	Ref HQ 1073.M33
Handbook of Death and Dying	Ref HQ 1073.H36
Handbook of bereavement research : consequences, coping, and care	Ref BF 575.G7 H355 2001
Death and Dying sourcebook: basic consumer health information about end-of-life care and related perspectives and ethical issues, including end-of-life symptoms and treatments, pain management, quality-of-life concerns, the use of life support, patients'	Ref R726.8.D3785 2006
Death and Dying: opposing viewpoints	Ref H31.O62 D28
Death and Dying Bibliography from your syllabus

 

 

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Finding Articles

 

• These databases are for finding journal articles
• They are available 24/7 ONLY to Ramapo students
• Off campus use requires login: Ramapo email and password
• Some useful Databases for your projects

 

General Databases
Academic Search Premier	A multi-disciplinary database containing both full-text articles and citations.   Includes journals: Journal of Aging Studies and Palliative Medicine Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Wilson Omnifile Mega Full-Text	Over 4,000 journals. Coverage back as early as 1982 ensures that every search is as deep as it is broad. Includes journals: The Gerontologist and Journal of Family Issues Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check for full-text" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Nursing/Medical Databases
CINAHL	Full text material includes nearly 70 journals plus legal cases,clinical innovations, critical paths, drug records, research instruments and clinical trials Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Biomedical Reference Collection	Includes key journals such as Omega Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Nursing and Allied Health	Includes key journal such as Death Studies Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Journals @ Ovid	Full-text of 51 medical journals
Psychology/Social Science Databases
Psychology Journals	Full-text of hundreds of psychology journals Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Find a Copy: Check for full-text via 1Cate" link. The link is located in the abstract page on the upper right side of the screen.
PsycArticles	Full-text of APA journals Tip: All articles are full-text
PsycInfo	A good source for death and dying journals Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Social Sciences Journals	Full text of over 280 titles Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Find a Copy: Check for full-text via 1Cate" link. The link is located in the abstract page on the upper right side of the screen.
Social Sciences Full-text	A social science containing both full-text articles and citations. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check for full-text" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection. Make sure you click on the database you want to look in!
Check if journal is peer reviewed
Ulrich's Guide to Periodicals	If the title has a referees jersey next to it, it is peer reviewed

(Scholarly/Peer Reviewed/Refereed articles have been reviewed by a selected panel of experts in the discipline covered by that journal).

 

Tips

 

• Always go back and revise your searches! Look at using different terms and synonyms.
• This is your opportunity to be more specific in your searches
• Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
• Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search. For Example: suicide and family and (grief or traumatic loss)
  • AND: narrows your search ex: children and death
  • OR: broadens your search ex: (eldery or older people) and (home care or care)
  • NOT: eliminates ex: "trauma loss" not medical trauma

•  Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero.

 

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Find specific journals in the library

 

• Use the Journal Finder to locate the full-text of journals in our library. These can be either online or in print.

 

• For example: use the journal finder to locate where you can search on of the following journals:

 

• Omega: An International Journal for the Study of Dying, Death, Bereavement, Suicide, and Other Lethal Behaviors, Loss, Grief and Care: A Journal of Professional Practice; Bereavement Magazine; Illness, Crisis and Loss; Thanatos. Gerontology Journals include: The Journal of Gerontology; The Gerontologist; Research on Aging; The Journal of Gerontological Nursing; and The Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

 

 

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Use interlibrary loan

 

 

• Use Interlibrary Loan if we don't have a book or article that you need

 

• Fill out the online form using your Ramapo Email (it will not be processed without that email address)

 

• WARNING: give yourself time (it can take longer than 2 weeks in some cases)

 

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Use web resources

 

• Use Evaluating Websites to determine if the site is authoritative enough to use in your paper.

 

 

• Some useful websites:

 

 

• Growth House: to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life care.

 

 

• With Eyes Wide Open: honest discussions about caregiving, grief, difficult decisions and what may lie beyond death.

 

 

• On Our Own Terms: Bill Moyers presents a 4 part series about grief, mortality, caregiving, and afterlife.

 

 

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Writing an annotated bibliography

 

• Use the Citing Websites and Print Sources for "Works Cited" citation style guidance

 

 

• Use Citing Sources for examples of "In-Text Citations" and "Works Cited"

 

• Annotated Bibliographies: How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography - Cornell University Library

 

 

• Writing an Annotated Bibliography - Roger Williams University Library

 

 

• Annotated Bibliographies: More Info - The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

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Need More Help

 

• PLEASE visit us at the REFERENCE DESK or call 201.684.7574
• Use QandANJ: 24/7 virtual reference help