Course: Agronomy 340
Spring 2008 – Phippen

Librarian: Sean Cordes
Email: cs-cordes@wiu.edu
Phone: 298-2785

Office Hours: Mon 8-10, Tue 1-2, Wed 1-2

Off-Campus Access Library Internet Resources: If you are off-campus, you will need to enter your student id # or your ecom (email) username and password. If you have problems, call the reference desk at 309-298-2700 or 800- 413-6544.

What are scholarly articles?

As a student of agriculture, you will often be asked to use scholarly journal articles. A scholarly article, as opposed to magazines or news articles, are reviewed by professionals and experts in the field to verify the accuracy of the work. Scholarly articles also have citations, (footnotes, end notes, works cited pages, and bibliographies), that you can use in your own work to follow up further verified information to support your research.

Introduction

"Cornman" by Kinky - National Geographic Videos

Agriculture happens in the field, but touches everyone and everywhere (Even urban cattle)!

Key Resources for Agriculture Research

Bibliographic Databases in Biology or Agriculture

Agricola, 1970- .
Agricola describes materials acquired by the National Agriculture Library and cooperating institutions. Includes records of books, serials, audiovisual and other materials. If the University Libraries owns a particular item, the bibliographic records will indicate holdings.
Biological Abstracts, 1996- .
Biological Abstracts is the premiere index in the academic/scholarly world of biology. Undergraduates may consider searching Biological and Agricultural Index before tackling this comprehensive index.
Biological and Agricultural Index Plus, 1983- .
Biological & Agricultural Index Plus is a bibliographic database that indexes English-language periodicals published in the United States and elsewhere. The database includes abstracts and full text coverage for selected journals. Periodical coverage includes a wide range of scientific journals, from popular to professional, that pertain to biology and agriculture. About 45 percent of the focus is on agriculture.

Multidisciplinary Periodical Databases

Academic Search Premier, 1985- .
Academic Search Premier provides full text for more than 2,050 publications, including more than 1,500 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the full text, indexing and abstracts are provided for all 3,476 journals in the collection. This database offers information in nearly every area of academic study.
General Science Index, 1985- .
General Science Index contains citations to articles from over 265 leading journals and magazines from the United States and Great Britain including popular science magazines and professional journals. Topics covered include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Health & Medicine, Zoology, etc.
Expanded Academic ASAP by InfoTrac, 1980- .
InfoTrac is one of the WIU Libraries’ most popular multidisciplinary database. Easy to use and a majority of the citations include full text.

Determining Full-Text Access

find it
When you see this button, click on it to determine full-text availability. By clicking on the Find It! button you are engaging the libraries Peridocials Holdings List. The example below shows the Find It! button in a bibliographic citation:

oak wilt

Periodicals Holdings List
The Periodicals Holdings List (PHL) is a listing of both the print/microform periodicals available on the shelves of the Western Illinois University Libraries, and the full-text e-titles available via databases purchased by the Libraries. This resource currently indexes over 20,000 periodical titles.

Interlibrary Loan Service
Researchers who need library materials from other libraries are encouraged to use the WIU Libraries' Interlibrary Loan Department. Since ILL requests can take 7-10 business days tolfill, you are encouraged to start your research early and place a request as soon as you know what you need.

Citing Your Sources: Hard Copy, Internet and RefWorks

There are a number of style you can use to cite your work, ask your instructor which they prefer.

Here are some of the most common ones. Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual features three popular formats: MLA, APA, and Chicago. Of the three listed, APA is the style I recommend for science research papers. For special instructions on how to cite Internet sources, see Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual, Fourth Edition, pages 174-175. You can, of course, always consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition (APA Manual). We have APA Manuals at the Reference Desk. For Internet sources, see pages 268-281. The Reference Staff have created handouts on two of three popular styles, Chicago is currently under revision and is not available.

To manage your citations, you might consider learning how to use RefWorks. It is citation management software that is compatible with most of the University Libraries's databases. Contact a librarian to set up a personal account and begin filling folders with citations. You will find RefWorks on the WIU Libraries list of databases.

Useful Agriculture Reference Books in the Library Reference Collection, Second Floor

Library Reference Service

If you need more help with the library tools demonstrated today, visit the Library Reference Desk, located on the main (second) floor of the library. The desk is open Mon-Thurs. 9-9, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 1-5, and Sun 1-5, 6-9.