HS 601: Library Techniques in Horticulture

How and Where to Begin

Databases for Horticulture

Search Tips

Finding Journal Articles

Keeping Up with the Literature

Managing your Bibliography

Citing the Journal Literature

HS 601: Seminar Techniques and technology

Course Instructor: Todd Wehner
Librarian: Josh Wilson

How and Where to Begin

Start with the NCSU Libraries' home page as a portal to many useful research resources on your research topic.  Use this page for direct access to the NCSU catalog and databases and to:

• Search the catalog to find journals and books in the library

• Link to and search databases to find articles (Databases)

• Browse e-journals by title or subject area (Journal List)

• Request books and articles from other libraries if they are not available at NCSU (TRIPSaver/Interlibrary Loan)

For those in Extension:

• The NC State Libraries Partners in Extension web site to access many of the NCSU Libraries' resources. It is especially geared towards off-site library users.

Get ready to search by analyzing your topic to identify:

• The main concepts or ideas and their relationships

• Appropriate terms and synonyms to use for each concept.

  • The CAB Abstracts Database has a built-in Thesaurus that is helpful for finding terms.

  • Try the USDA Plants Database to find common and scientific names of plant

This Search Strategy Worksheet provides a helpful guide to analyzing your topic and planning your search.

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