Editor's note: All opinions, columns and letters reflect the views of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the IDS or its staffers.
Opinion contributor Odessa Lyon recently tackled a challenging topic. Inspired by your initiative, Odessa, and as a student in the Master of Library Science program here at IU, I wanted to share some of the many resources available to students through IU Libraries for finding reliable, peer-reviewed scientific research.
Let’s talk about places to find articles:
There are a lot of good databases out there to find scientific research, and IU Libraries gives you access to some of the biggest and the best. If you go to the libraries website at libraries.indiana.edu and scroll to the bottom of the page, you can access popular databases like JSTOR and Google Scholar. Looking to search a lot of databases at once? OneSearch@IU allows you to search hundreds of databases at a time.
Accessing these databases through the IU Libraries website gives you access as an IU student (with your login, of course) whether or not you are physically on campus, allowing you to access most articles for free. If you do come across an article that you don’t have automatic access to, send a request for an Interlibrary Loan, where the libraries can get it for no additional cost to you.
IU Libraries offer access to over 1,600 different databases ranging in topics from the sciences to the humanities, and everything in between.
That’s a lot of databases. What ones should you use?
This choice can be overwhelming, but the libraries have resources to help with that, too.
If you’re looking to get started on a research paper of your own and have no idea where to start, or if you’re working on a research paper and need more information, the Learning Commons Research Desk is the place for you. Drop by or make an appointment ahead of time to get one-on-one support.
However, there are also hundreds of research and resource guides written by subject librarians at IU Libraries you can access anytime, anywhere! Check out the Research Guides list and filter by Subject.
If you’re having trouble finding something, remember you also have people happy to help you in person at the Scholars’ Commons Reference Desk or through the chat function on the IU Libraries website.
Visit libraries.indiana.edu for more information on research resources, database access, research help and more!
Taylor Burnette (she/her) is a first-year student in the Master of Library Science program and an IU Libraries student employee.
