Commonwealth Honors College: Getting Started With Library Research

Welcome!

Welcome to the UMass Amherst Libraries!

We have many resources and services available for you to use!

This guide will help you with getting started with research, finding study spaces, finding library events and workshops, and getting help!

What’s Available on This Guide?

The sections on the left have more information about the following topics:

Discovery Search	If you’re looking for a few items for your research or want to get a sense of what might be available on a topic, Discovery Search is a great place! It searches the physical materials held at the UMass Amherst Libraries, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College, as well as some of the 600+ databases that the Libraries subscribe to for research.
Articles	If you’re looking for more in-depth and specific research, this section is a good place to start! We have over 600+ databases and many of them contain articles from journals, magazines, newspapers and more!
Print Materials	Looking for physical items that you can hold in your hands? This section can help!
eBooks	Interested in finding eBooks that you can access from nearly anywhere? This section can show you all the ways to access eBooks!
More Formats (Videos, Data, etc.)	Looking for something beyond books and articles? Use this section to search for archival materials, data, eBooks, images, maps and videos.
Interdisciplinary Topics	Many topics are interdisciplinary, and you’ll be able to find relevant research by searching in other fields, such as Business, History or Sociology. Use this section to find helpful resources in other disciplines.
Borrowing From Other Libraries	Don’t pay for materials! If we don’t have it, we can usually borrow it from another library! Use this section to request materials from other libraries.
Evaluating Information	How do you know if what you've found is valid? Use this section to learn about three different methods for evaluating what you've found when researching.
Citation Management	Trying to manage your research? Check out this section to learn how to use Zotero to capture citations and organize your research.
Reservable Library Spaces	Need space? Use this section to find reservable spaces include 4-Hour Individual Carrels, Group Study Rooms, Sound Rooms, and more!
Library Workshops and Events	The Libraries offers workshops on many topics from academic help to crafting your own holiday cards, as well as events, including trivia nights! Check this section to see the calendar of things available for you!
Getting Help!	Help! If you’re stuck on any aspect of your research or you want to find out if the Libraries have a specific service to any question at all, click on this section to find out where to get help!