You might want to do some background research in encyclopedias and reference materials to get some background information and develop some ideas for potential topics and keywords. These resources provide generally accepted knowledge about your topic and can help you gain a foundational understanding of it. As you develop your research topic, keep a list of keywords to use when searching databases. Try searching some of the reference resources listed below:
The following databases provide overview pages and arguments showing pros/cons of controversial and/or complex issues:
The following databases are interdisciplinary and cover a wide range of topics while still providing you the advanced search features of searching within a research database:
The following databases will cover social work and social issues:
Millions of article citations, some with links to the complete article. To find complete articles, check the box for "Linked Full-Text" under Limit Results on the search page. Covers psychology and related disciplines including psychiatry, social work, pharmacology, medicine, law, and education.
A comprehensive database covering information concerning topics in emotional and behavioral characteristics, psychiatry & psychology, mental processes, anthropology, and observational & experimental methods. This is the world's largest full text psychology database offering full text coverage for nearly 400 journals.
This interactive tutorial will walk you through the basic features of the Library Catalog.
To search within the e-books available through Forsyth Library, use the following steps:
You might also want to search within some of the e-book research databases because the search engine within the database allows you to search at a more detailed level (within chapter titles, etc.). Explore the e-book databases listed below:
Visit the guide below for more information, discipline specific databases for e-books, free and open access e-book databases, and instructions for using the Ebsco and ProQuest ebooks platforms.
To search within the books physically located in Forsyth Library, use the following steps:
To find books in Forsyth Library, you can either use a call number you've located in the library catalog to located it on the shelf or you can browse the shelves in a call number range relevant to your topic. The General Collection books are located on the 2nd level.
1. How to Read Call Numbers: Watch this video
2. How Books & Journals are Organized in Forsyth Library: Library of Congress System
Click a heading to see what subdivisions are included in each category:
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service provided to FHSU faculty, staff, and students. If you need a book, article or other item to which Forsyth Library does not have access, you can use ILL to request it from another library.
What can be borrowed?
Journal articles (both print and digital), print books, audiovisual materials, microforms, theses and dissertations.
What cannot be borrowed?
Textbooks, E-Books, some reference works such as encyclopedias.
Online Students
As an online student, you can use ILL to request items physically located at Forsyth Library to be mailed to you. You can also use ILL to borrow electronic or physical materials from other libraries. Physical items will be mailed to your personal address but you are responsible for paying return shipping.
View the examples in the box below of instances when you should use ILL.
Below are a few tips for completing the ILL Request Form.
If you forget your password, you will need to contact the Interlibrary Loan office at 785-628-4351 to get it reset. There is no "forgot my password" function in Illiad. If you know your password but want to change it, log in to Illiad, and use the options under Tools on the left.