Research Help  

• A-Z List of Databases
• A-Z List of Journals
• ILLiad
• E-Reserves
• Moodle
• RefWorks
• Google Scholar

Use this tool to locate a specific journal, or to find an article if you have a complete citation.

Finding Materials in Ames and Other Libraries

General Searching Using MegaSearch

MegaSearch Handout

Books

Video showing how to find a book in the Ames catalog and then locate it on the shelf using call numbers.

Requesting books/videos/sound recordings not owned by Ames.

Articles

Finding or requesting specific articles.

Videos

Searching for videos using the new VU-Find catalog is simple.  On the library homepage click on "Advanced Search".  At the bottom of the Advanced Search page, click the box next to "Film / Video".  Now search for a specific title or general keyword to see all videos owned by Ames. 

Music

Use the catalog to find printed music at Ames and other Illinois Libraries

Interlibrary Loan and ILLiad

Additional information on requesting items through interlibrary loan and establishing an ILLiad account

Research Help

Student's Guide to Using the Ames Library
This handout provides all the basic Ames Library information for students.

Basic Research Skills
These webpages will walk you through all the basic steps of conducting college research. 

APA, Chicago, and MLA citation guides from the IWU Writing Center

RefWorks is a citation management tool offered through the Ames Library.  RefWorks will keep track of all your sources and assist you in creating your works cited page.  A RefWorks Quick Start guide is available here.  RefWorks video tutorials are located here.

Evaluating Information on the Internet

   Handout
   Tutorial (5 minutes)
   Video (7:52)

Know your sources: Scholarly, Popular or Trade?

   Handout
   Tutorial (<10 minutes)
   Video (3:11)

Avoiding Plagiarism

   Handout
   Tutorial (about 10 minutes)
   Video (7:25)

Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Writing a Literature Review