A lot of what you asked will be answered in our session. Here are answers to the rest.
- #1 research tip: Be kind to yourself because research can be exhausting and time consuming. The way to counteract those feelings is curiosity.
- #2 research tip: ask a librarian. We librarians are often perplexed when you don't. We are the best kept secret on campus. Why struggle when an email inquiry or half hour chat with an expert can steer you in a new direction? You may be tempted to ask AI, but I work here, I know your professor and your assignment and AI can't get behind the subscription paywalls to help you find sources.
- #3 research tip: Read. Download the NYTimes app (it is free while you are a student) and read that. Read books for fun, read books outside of your research interests. Read aloud and ask to be read aloud to. Learn a language and read in that one.
- #4 research tip: Stay organized. American universities require a lot of reading and writing - we have access to a lot of information and your professors want you to become familiar with the conversations in their fields. Use citation managers to gather and format references. Learn the elements of a scholarly article in order to read it efficiently (see left for ideas), take notes strategically (the Sanger Center has workshops) and use academic support on campus: librarians, writing center consultants, your professors and TAs.
- From high school to college research: Cultivate persistence and curiosity. You are being asked to enter into the scholarly research conversation when you become a college student. These are discipline-specific conversations that are being built upon all the time - enter them not with an agenda about what you want to prove, but by looking for the silences and gaps where you can insert your voice.
- How do we know if something is credible? My first piece of advice would be to first determine your information need - what do you want to know? And from there, assess what kind of expertise and evidence you need to consult.
- Useful and underutilized library resources: paper books. It sounds librariany of me, but the way books are organized on shelves is a great way to do research. Shelving similar books together leads to serendipitous discovery. Since the UT Libraries never throws away books (we just keep storing them), you can find a wealth of unexpected volumes and new directions for your inquiry. Our campus is home to very special collections at the Ransom Center, the Briscoe, the Benson and more. These are one of a kind materials where you can do original research.
- Are all our books academic? No. We have literature, graphic novels, cookbooks, Tarot how-to guides. Anything can be academic if you are using it for school, of course. The very best way to look for a book is to talk to a librarian, but I will show you how to search on your own.
- Which library is right for me? I tend to choose my study spaces based on proximity to snacks and comfortable furniture. We have nine libraries on campus.
- How do we acquire new books? Librarians are experts within a discipline (fine arts, history, engineering) and they choose books for their collections. They take input from faculty members and graduate students, too. Same goes for subscriptions to journals.
- How do we prevent books from decaying? Oh my goodness. It is a Herculean task. Cold storage, dry conditions, glue, binding repair...all balanced with providing access to researchers.
- My favorite study space in PCL is the Map Room (it is quiet, has globes and the map librarian is my best friend), but my favorite study space on campus is a tie between the Life Science Library's stacks (they have little tables in nooks with individual lamps and windows!) and Engineering (because there are very good breakfast tacos in EER).
- Are there limits at the library? Not really. Check out as many books as you like. Return them when asked. Every space in PCL is open to you all the time, unless one of us is teaching a class in that space. Some group study rooms are reservable.
