Research Help Center
Wondering how to get started with your research? Where to find the best information for your topic? Here are some quick guides and FAQs to get you started.
How do I...?
Still have a question?
- Try our 24/7 Online Chat Reference *
*In most cases, you will be communicating with a librarian who does not work at MiraCosta College. The librarian may be from another California college library, or elsewhere in the national 24/7 reference consortium.
Find Books, DVDs, CDs and other Materials in the MiraCosta College Library
It is easy to find books and othermaterials by searching in the MiraCosta Library Catalog. Choose the type of search you want to do, and follow the step-by-step instructions. Be sure to write down the call number for the book and proceed to the San Elijo or Oceanside Campus library to retrieve the book. If you are not familiar with call numbers in academic libraries, take a look at this helpful web page.
The MiraCosta Library Catalog also searches our E-Book resources. E-Books are online, full-text versions of printed materials available through netLibrary. If you wish to access e-books from home, you will need to create a netLibrary account on campus.
If you need additional assistance, please call or visit our Ask a Librarian page.
Hours and phone numbers can be found on the libary home page.
Find Magazine, Journal, and Newspaper Articles
There are many resources to help you find information in magazines, journals and newspapers. The links below will help to get you started on your search.
Wondering what a journal is? Read is it a magazine or a journal?
To find periodical articles on a particular subject, you will need to use a periodical index. The MCC libraries subscribe to a number of online full-text periodical databases which will allow you to search multiple publications for articles on your topic. All of these databases are accessible from home. You will need to log in with your SURF ID and password.
Try ProQuest for magazines, journals and newspapers. JSTOR is another database for journal articles only. For more options, review the list of All Online Databases available at the MiraCosta College Library.
To find out if the MCC libraries have access to a particular periodical electronically or in print use the Periodicals Portal to perform a Periodcial Title search.
There are a few web sites that provide free full-text articles online, Find Articles, HighWire Press from Stanford, and Google Scholar.
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Find Information on Controversial or "Hot" Topics in the News.
If you are having trouble finding quality information on a controversial topic try the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database. If you are accessing the database from home, you will be asked for your SURF ID and password before you can proceed. Another helpful database is the CQ Researcher, which provides an in-depth look at many current and controversial issues in the news.
Still looking for additional information? Try this excellent web page, Controversial and Hot Topics, from Santa Ana College. Also, don't forget to check in ProQuest for current magazine, journal and newspaper articles on your topic.
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Find Encyclopedias and Other Reference Sources
The Library reference collection contains many general and specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries and atlases. If you are unsure where to start, email Ask A Librarian or call us!
The library subscribes to a number of online full-text reference sources. If you wish to access these databases,you will need to log in with your SURF ID and password.
General Encyclopedias
- Encyclopedia Britannica Online Over 118,000 articles. Also has Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus and a world atlas. Most search results have links to relevant web sites and periodical articles.
Free Web Encylopedias (available to anyone)
Dictionaries & Thesauruses
Foreign Language Dictionaries
Multiple Languages
French
Spanish
Atlases
- Altapedia - Political and physical maps of the world. Also background and facts about countries.
- Map Machine - Atlas providing maps, flags, facts, and profiles for the countries of the world and the U.S. states.
- Mapquest - Get directions, or find local, national and world maps.
Helpful Internet Reference Websites
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Find Good Web Resources
The Web is huge, and finding the information you need can be tricky. Use the links below to help you learn to navigate the web, evaluate information, and find useful sites for many different subjects.
- Finding Information on the Web - Lists useful sites for college research including information from company, organization, government and statistical web sites.
- Evaluating Information from the Web - A checklist to help you determine if the information from a website is "worthy" of being included in your research. See if your website is up to snuff for college research.
- Subject Web Links - Browse a subject list of useful web links.
- Search Engines - Find the best search engine for your information needs.
- Search Engine Tips - Learn some tricks on how to get the most out of Internet search engines like Google and Teoma.
- Digging Deeper - Find information in the "Invisible Web" and other hard to locate resources.
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Find Information at Other Libraries
The MiraCosta Library Catalog includes materials from both the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses. You can even request the item be sent to the campus most convenient for you!
MiraCosta Library also provides reciprocal borrowing privileges with Palomar College and CSU San Marcos. To borrow books from either institution, you must come to the MiraCosta College Library each semester to be entered into the system. You may then present a current ID at Palomar or CSUSM to check out books. See our circulation policies for more information.
You may also want to search other area college libraries. Although you may not have borrowing privileges, you can always go to their libraries and do research there. Finally, San Diego and North County area public libraries may also have information and materials for your research. Click here for a complete list of area libraries.
Still can't find what you need? Perhaps our Inter-Library Loan Service is the answer! This service can take some time, but you may be able to access materials you haven't been able to find anywhere else.
If you need additional assistance, please call or visit our Ask a Librarian page.
Hours and phone numbers can be found on our main page.
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Find Help with Writing Papers
Writing is an integral part of college life and the following selected resources are available on our Writing Resources page to assist you with your writing. If you have specific questions please contact your instructor or The Writing Center. For help with citing sources for your paper or speech, try our Citation Style Guides page. You'll find examples and instructions for APA, MLA and Chicago citation styles.
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To suggest additions or corrections to this page, send an email to pperry@miracosta.edu
last updated 9/21/2007
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