Finding Books |
Using Reference Sources |
Finding Journal Articles & Dissertations |
Finding Government Documents
Obtaining Information from Other Libraries |
Other WWW Resources |
Citing Sources
Following is some general information about resources and tools to assist researchers in the area of sociology of sport; many of these materials are available at the University Library. The research process for each researcher will be different, so this guide cannot cover every possibility. Please do not hesitate to contact the Reference Department at 603-862-1544 or at the Reference Desk on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library should you have any questions regarding your individual research project. Research guides for the history of American sport and sport studies are also available.
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 (Level 3) 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 researching topics or looking for information in the field of kinesiology include:
Many of the Internet-accessible indexes the UNH Library subscribes to are limited to use by UNH faculty, students, and staff. Read these Academic Search Premier 1982+
While the above indexes are the ones most often used in identifying research materials on kinesiology topics, additional online indexes as well as print indexes are available for other areas of interest such as public policy and history.
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.
The University Library is a federal government depository library, and 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.
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 include:
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.
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. 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.
You may also request a book (not journal articles) that our library does not own by using the ILL (InterLibrary Loan) icon when searching WorldCat. Perform a search in WorldCat and if our library does not own the book, click the ILL icon on the screen and fill out the ILL request. For further help with this library service, ask a librarian at the Reference Desk.
There is a wealth of information (and sometimes misinformation) available on the WWW. Any researcher must use critical thinking skills to evaluate Web resources just they would any other source, whether in print, on television, or through personal communication. See the research guide on Evaluating Web Sites for Quality for some guidelines. The following listings are just a sample of some sites on the WWW focusing on various aspects of kinesiology:
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 Style are 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.