Establishing the date an event occurred or locating a summary of a current event can be a useful starting point for researching a topic. The most recent information is available in publications that are designed to provide up-to date coverage of new events in a timely fashion.

The most current research on any academic topic is usually found in journal articles.

Use databases to find articles on a particular topic.

Robertson Library licenses databases for the campus community and they can be accessed directly through the campus network or if you are off campus you will be prompted for your UPEI credentials.

Print indexes can be found in the Reference area on the Main Level, shelved alphabetically by title [note: some indexes are also shelved in compact storage].

Specialized bibliographies on a specific topic consolidate information from various sources including: books, journals, newspapers, and theses. To locate subject bibliographies search the subject file of the Library Catalogue, i.e. Genocide - Bibliography.

When you are doing research on a topic, you will often encounter unfamiliar terms, or familiar ones used in a specialized way. DICTIONARIES can provide a quick definition and often some elaboration on the uses of the term. ENCYCLOPEDIAS provide background information on unfamiliar subjects, leading you quickly to key ideas and sources in developing your topic. Many encyclopedia articles will also include brief bibliographies which will lead you to further sources of information. Dictionaries and encyclopedias covering political science topics include:

• Finding Background Information: Political Science
• Finding Books: Political Science
• Finding Subject Bibliographies: Political Science
• Finding Journal Articles: Political Science
• Finding Information About Current Affairs: Political Science
• Findi

Quick lookup information:

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology - Reference Q121.M3 2002

Good for the non-scientist

CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics (online - also print edition in Reference QD65.H3)

Tables of physical and chemical formulae, properties of substances, etc.

Physics Research

• Books: use OneSearch to find print or electronic books; only use the library catalogue to find print books
• Reserves material - specific reading material selected by instructors of specific courses in physics
• Help: For help with your physics research efforts, contact the

Finding Journals: Philosophy

Finding Books: Philosophy

Finding Web Sources: Philosophy

Finding Background Information: Philosophy

Finding Primary Sources: Philosophy

When information is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, the source of that information must be documented. 

Part 1: Nursing

There are many Web resources relating to Nursing. To locate authoritative sites look for those created by professional organizations, academic institutions, research agencies or government departments. 

Canadian Nurses Association
Resources include position and policy statements, fact sheets, Nursing Now (Issues and Trends in Canadian Nursing), as well as sections on careers, education, and advocacy.

Government documents are useful in researching health topics, whether for statistical data or information on various subjects. Start with the Government Docs search box on the Library website. 

The following Web resources are useful in finding information and statistics on health topics:

The most current research on any academic topic is usually found in journal articles.

Step 1

Use databases to find articles on a particular topic.

Print journals are shelved alphabetically by title on the Upper Level. Those in microfilm or microfiche format are located in Special Collections on the Main Level.

Books (print and ebooks)

To find books or video materials on a particular topic, begin with a keyword search in OneSearch and use the limiter for Books Only, or do your search first then use the "Source Type" limiter on the left side for Books, eBooks, and/or Videos as needed.

When you are doing research on a topic, you will often require a quick definition of a term, a specific fact, or condensed, detailed information about particular topics. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and manuals covering nursing topics are a great place to start.

Many sources of online sheet music are listed on this Wikipedia list of Online Digital Musical Document Libraries.

Research Help -- Bibliographies; Handbooks; Citation Guides

Music reference and research materials : an annotated bibliography / Duckles, Vincent H. (Vincent Harris)  ML113.D83 1997 REF

Sourcebook for research in music / Phillip D. Crabtree and Donald H. Foster.  ML113.C88 2005 STACKS  Also, online version

The balanced musician : integrating mind and body for peak performance / Lesley Sisterhen McAllister.   ML3830.M33 2013 STACKS

The biology of musical performance and performance-related injury / Alan H.D. Watson.   ML3820.W27 2009 STACKS

Making your mark in music : stage performance secrets / Anika Paris.
ML3795.P34 2011 STACKS

Some other resources you might find helpful :

Websites:

Canadian Music Centre  --"exists to stimulate the awareness, appreciation and performance of Canadian new music by making the music of its Associate Composers available through the Centre's collection, information resources, and production and distribution services."

When you are doing research on a topic, you will often encounter unfamiliar terms, or familiar ones used in a specialized way.  DICTIONARIES can provide a quick definition and often some elaboration on the uses of the term.  ENCYCLOPEDIAS provide background information on unfamiliar subjects, leading you quickly to key ideas and sources in developing your topic. Many encyclopedia articles will also include brief bibliographies which will lead you to further sources of information.

When information is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, the source of that information must be documented - cited and referenced. Should you fail to document your sources you be plagiarizing. To help you avoid plagiarism, the library has prepared a tutorial and quiz.

Bilingual dictionaries

• Oxford Reference Online 

Finding sources on a topic

• OneSearch - for print or electronic books and videos; 
• Library

• Modern Languages: Finding Books
• Modern Languages: Finding Articles
• Modern Languages: Citing Sources

The Mi’kmaq on Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island)

Although most works on the Mi’kmaq peoples in general contain anything from a few pages to an entire chapter or section about the Mi’kmaq experience on PEI, full-length books/reports on the Island Mi’kmaq are rare. That said, our Library's PEI Collection holds a few general "survey" titles on the Mi'kmaq in this province, including:

The UPEI Library has a wealth of published material on Canadian First Nations in general, and on the Mi’kmaq in particular. Because of the significant Mi’kmaq presence on Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk, often anglicized as “Abegweit”), many of our Library’s Mi’kmaq-related titles are housed in the PEI Collection (SPEC-PEI Location in the Library Catalogue): PEI Collection titles are available for consultation by anyone presenting photo ID, but can only be used within the Library.

I. Getting Started
The Library has a number of Reference works discussing North American First Nations (predominantly in the E77 - E99 call # range), including a couple which have detailed entries on the Mi’kmaq:

Researching the Mi'kmaq at Robertson Library

Pjilsa’si -- Welcome!

• Help
  • ​For help with your mathematics/statistics research efforts, contact the Library's Service Desk (in person, using the AskUs tool on the Library website, by email reference@upei.ca, call 566-0583) or your Mathematics/Statistics Subject Librarian, Mackenzie Johnson.

To find books on a particular topic, beg

Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia of international sports studies - GV567.E483 2010 - REFERENCE
• Sports culture : an A-Z guide (ebook)
• The Gale Encyclopedia of Fitness (ebook)

Handbooks, Quick Reference, Dictionaries

• Functional anatomy for sport and ex

This page is an introduction to using the library to find information. It gives you an overview of the research process, the types of information available, and the basic research tools

Additional help

Step 1: Select topic and identify your keywords

• Books - use OneSearch to find books.

When information is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, the source of that information must be documented (cited). Otherwise, you are guilty of plagiarism. For more information about how to avoid plagiarism, please visit the Library's Academic Integrity Portal.  

The most current research on any academic topic is usually found in journal articles. In many scholarly disciplines, specialized subject databases have been developed to provide a search portal for the published writing of that particular discipline, and especially journal articles: examples include PscyInfo (Psychology), ERIC (Education), etc. There is no database product specifically dedicated to Island Studies, however, as it is a relatively new, still-developing field of study.

To find books (print or e-books) about your subject, use the "Books" tab on the main Library homepage (further tips on the UPEI Library's book searching options are available here).

In addition to the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, there are a number of other scholarly and scientific groups actively engaged in Island Studies research that share publications, news, and other significant information through their Web sites. These include:

• Finding Background Information: Island Studies
• Finding Books: Island Studies
• Finding Journal Articles: Island Studies
• Citing Sources: Island Studies

Citing Sources in History: A Brief Guide for Undergraduates at the University of Prince Edward Island

There are many Web resources relating to History, but as with all information found on the Internet, the quality varies widely. For help in evaluating Web information and using search tools, see Finding Quality Web Information.

Organizations and associations can be excellent resources for finding specialized information on a topic. Directories can be ideal for identifying these, and provide information such as personnel, contact information, and publications.

To locate information about history organizations and associations, use directories such as:

Information about people can be found in books, journals, and websites.

The most current research on any academic topic is usually found in journal articles. Currency of information may not be as pressing a concern in history as it is in other disciplines – the life sciences, for example – but new findings, theories, and critiques are constantly emerging in historical writing, and this writing will typically appear in journals first. Journal articles can also provide a more detailed examination of particular aspects of a topic than is usually available in books, which tend to take a broader or more general view of their subjects.

To find books, microforms, or audiovisual materials about your subject, use the Library Catalogue.

When you are doing research on a topic, you will often encounter unfamiliar terms, or familiar ones used in a specialized way. Dictionaries can provide a quick definition and often some elaboration on the uses of the term. Encyclopedias provide background information on unfamiliar subjects, leading you quickly to key ideas and sources in developing your topic. Many encyclopedia articles will also include brief bibliographies which will lead you to further sources of information.

American Decades

When you are doing research on a topic, you will often encounter unfamiliar terms, or familiar ones used in a specialized way. Dictionaries can provide a quick definition and often some elaboration on the uses of the term. Encyclopedias provide background information on unfamiliar subjects, leading you quickly to key ideas and sources in developing your topic. Many encyclopedia articles will also include brief bibliographies which will lead you to further sources of information.