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UB Libraries: Information in the Passing Lane
The University Libraries' Web site at http://ublib.buffalo.edu endeavors to meet the UB community's information needs as quickly and simply as possible. With the advent of the academic year, take the time to peruse the menu options. You will find a variety of resources and services, which will put you on the information fast track.
For example, this fall the UBLib Web site introduces a BISON Catalog Quick Start feature that allows those searching for books and other library materials to do a simple author, title, keyword and subject search directly from the main screen. (Of course, one can do searches that limit by date, type of material, language, etc., by doing an advanced search from the actual BISON main screen—just click on the blue BISON and select "keyword search" at the bottom of the page.)
And if by chance we do not own the item you are looking for, you can request the item using our new ILLiad Web-based interlibrary loan system. Current UB students, faculty and staff should register as a "first-time user" to take advantage of ILLiad's many conveniences such as:
Quicker turnaround time
No need to key in your personal contact information each time
Stored information concerning your document delivery preferences
The ability to check the status of your requests 24-7 on the Web
Electronic delivery of journal articles if desired
For more information about ILLiad, see our announcement at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/announcement.html.
Of course, many people use the Libraries' Web site to satisfy their research needs by using the wonderful databases we provide. Our full listing of more than 200 databases can be found at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/cgi-test/title.cgi and our databases sorted by subject area can be found at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/cgi-test/subject.html. Undergraduate students new to the world of academic research will want to try our "Getting Started" page at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/quickstart.html. This listing provides links to key databases and Web sites, which help in selecting topics, finding background information, identifying journal and news articles, discovering electronic books, gathering statistics, and locating worthwhile images and multimedia.
More detailed information about undertaking library research via the UBLib Web site, as well as in our physical locations, is found in "The Research Assistant" http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/ugl/tutorials/research.html, a tutorial aimed at students, which not only includes the basics of using the BISON catalog and research databases, but instructs in evaluating and citing sources as well.
Students and others also will benefit from a database of UB librarian-produced guides to doing research by subject area at http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/guide/guides.asp. Examples of subject guides are: Astronomy & Astrophysics http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/astronomy.html, Energy http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/govdocsubj/energy.html, Evidence-based Health Care http://ublib.buffalo.edu/hsl/resources/guides/EBHC.html, Film Reviews http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/film_reviews.html, and Mystery and Crime Fiction http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/mysterycrime.html.
At times, however, there is no substitute for getting information-gathering advice from a librarian on campus. Just go to the "Ask Us—UB Librarians" page at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/contact.html. Here you will find a subject librarian listing as well as a form for booking research consultation appointments. There are also reference desk telephone numbers and a link to our two electronic reference services: email reference and the ever-popular Instant Librarian. The latter service, which also is featured prominently on the Libraries main homepage, provides a real-time chat session that enables you to ask library-related questions via Instant Messenger. The Instant Librarian reopens for business on Sept. 8.
—Gemma DeVinney, University Libraries