Finding Books |
Using Reference Sources |
Finding Journal Articles, Conference Papers, and Dissertations
Obtaining Information from Other Libraries |
Other WWW Resources for OT Research |
Citing Sources
The following contains general information about resources and tools available at the University Library to assist researchers in the study of occupational therapy. The research process for each researcher will be slightly different, so this guide cannot cover every possibility. Please feel free to contact the Reference staff at 862-1544 or at the Reference Desk on the main floor (Level 3) of the Dimond Library should you have any questions regarding your individual research needs.
The library's holdings are best accessed through our online catalog, called Triple I (III). This system can be searched by author, title, subject, journal title, or key word. Help in using the online catalog is available onscreen and at the Reference Desk. The library catalog can be accessed from your home or office via the Internet.
You can use the list of Library of Congress subject headings to draw up a list of subject headings related to your topic. These are located in the Reference area on the main floor of Dimond Library. You can also use the "related subjects" entries, the "Show Similar Items" feature on the online catalog, or click on the subject links in the Web version of the catalog to extend your original subject search. Examples of possible subjects include:
The University Library's books are arranged by the Library of Congress classification system. In Dimond Library, the general collection is located on Level 4 (A through L call numbers) and Level 5 (M through Z call numbers).
The reference collection not only has general encyclopedias and dictionaries such as the World Book Encyclopedia and Webster's Dictionary, but also has many specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries as well. Other reference works include directories, statistical sources, and bibliographies. Reference works you may find useful for research in occupational therapy include:
Journal indexes are generally arranged by subject. Many indexes are subject-specific, while some are very general in nature. Be sure to check the library catalog by searching for the title of the journal to see if the Library has the journals you need and where they are located. In Dimond Library, journals are located on Level 2: current periodicals are arranged by title, bound periodicals are organized by subject and shelved by Library of Congress classification numbers, and periodicals stored on microfiche or microfilm are found in the Microforms Room on Level 2.
Many of the Internet-accessible indexes the UNH Library subscribes to are limited to use by UNH faculty, students, and staff. Read these instructions for more information about accessing such restricted databases from outside the library.
While the above indexes are the ones most often used in identifying research materials on topics in occupational therapy, additional online indexes as well as print indexes are available for other types of material such as newspapers, general interest magazines, and legal resources.
The University Library is a federal government depository library, and as such receives many (but not all) publications of the U.S. government. The Documents Department's Reference Desk and reference collection are located on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library with its circulating collection accessible on Level 1. Many government publications come in microfiche and are available in the Microforms Room on Level 2. Both the paper and microfiche collections are organized by the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification scheme which is based on originating agency and document type, rather than on subject like the other library collections.
Many of the library's holdings of federal documents published after 1976 are shown on the online catalog; additional indexes to this material include:
In the past several years, many government agencies and bodies have begun putting publications, summaries, directories, program information, statistics, etc. on the WWW. The extent, depth, and currency of information available online varies greatly depending on the agency maintaining the site. Some of the most useful materials available to researchers in the field of occupational therapy and allied health include:
Materials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Labor Department, and the Department of Education may also be of interest.
Librarians and staff who specialize in locating and identifying U.S. and international government documents are available to help you at the Documents Reference Desk on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library.
The University Library is also a depository for New Hampshire state documents. Most of these are located in Special Collections on Level 1 of Dimond. Paper copies of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, N.H. Reports, and New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rulesare in Reference. The New Hampshire State Government web site has links to various state agencies, the legislature, the court system, local communities, and a subject index to state information.
Most college and university libraries and large public libraries will welcome you as a library user. Hospital libraries will often allow you to use their collections if you make arrangements through their librarians. A few libraries restrict access to their collection to their own registered users. A phone call to the library before your visit will allow you to learn the rules and guidelines for that library's use.
If you allow enough time for your research (i.e. begin your research well in advance of the due date for your paper or presentation), you may be able to take advantage of the library's Interlibrary Loan service to obtain books, journal articles, and other materials not available at the University Library. Interlibrary Loan requests are submitted online through a system called ILLiad. The first time you use ILLiad, you must set up your individual account. After that you simply need to login to ILLiad and complete the form for the type of material you are requesting. Please include as much information as you can for each item you request. Interlibrary Loan materials are generally received within 10 days to 4 weeks; the average time is about 2.5 weeks (but can take longer). Undergraduates are limited to six requests (books and articles) per week. This service is available only to UNH students, faculty, and staff.
Materials located at the UNH Manchester campus library can be requested for delivery to Dimond LIbrary by calling or speaking with a staff member at the Loan Desk in Dimond Library.
The Boston Library Consortium's Virtual Catalog allows current UNH students, faculty, and staff to search and directly request books from the Virtual Catalog's participating members. Books usually arrive at Dimond Library from 2 to 5 days from the request date and you will be notified by email when your item is available for pick-up. The loan period is 28 days from the date of pick-up at the Loan Desk in Dimond Library and items cannot be renewed.
WorldCat allows searching of authors, titles, and subjects across multiple library catalogs. Remote access to this database is limited to UNH students, faculty, or staff. Read these instructions for more information about accessing WorldCat from off campus. Interlibrary loan requests for books not owned by the UNH Library may also be placed through WorldCat.
There is a wealth of information (and sometimes misinformation) available on the WWW. Any
researcher must use critical judgement to evaluate the quality of Web resources just they would any
other source, regardless of medium. The following listings are a sampling of some sites on the WWW
focusing on various aspects of occupational therapy:
Appropriate citation of sources and references is an important part of the research process. The Reference Department website has a page of examples of footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography entries for books and periodicals following the style of Kate L. Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Other style manuals, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, and The Chicago Manual of Styleare available at the Reference Desk. Citing electronic sources can be difficult and is a developing area at this time. There is some online guidance for citing electronic resources in MLA style and APA style. Also, Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information is located at the Reference Desk and provides many additional examples.