Getting Started
- Introduction to the YCCC LibraryLearn about the many services offered by the YCCC Library (YouTube video, 9 minutes).
- Using the YCCC Library's WebsiteA brief overview of how to use the Library's website for academic research (YouTube video, 5 minutes). Take this little quiz and test your knowledge!
About this guide
This guide is designed to help you learn about the research process through a series of online tutorials, demos, and videos.
- Identify & develop your topic
- Search for & retrieve sources
- Evaluate & select sources
- Cite your sources
Be sure to use the Ask Us button for any further questions you may have.
Identify & Develop Your Topic
- Choose a TopicUse some of the library's resources to help you choose a topic.
- Choosing and developing your topic
- Determining Information Need(a short YouTube tutorial from the Pollak Library at Cal State Fullerton)
- Developing a topic(a short YouTube tutorial from the Pollak Library at Cal State Fullerton)
- Credo Reference: How to use itFind background information for your topic. Better than Wikipedia! Plus, each article comes with a properly formatted citation.
Search for and retrieve information sources
- Finding Books in the Library Stacks
- Borrowing material from other Minerva libraries
- How to download audiobooks

- Ebsco Basic Search Tutorial
- Proquest Basic Search Tutorial
- Stat!Ref Video TutorialStat!Ref is an excellent resource for nursing, medical, and other health related information. Full-text, online.
- Tips for Developing Search QueriesLearn to search like a librarian.
Evaluate and select your sources
- Scholarly Journals vs. Popular MagazinesA short YouTube video that teaches you about the important differences between scholarly journals and popular magazines.
- Evaluating a web siteA handy tip sheet from the YCCC Library.
- Evaluating websites(a short YouTube video from the Pollak Library at Cal State Fullerton)
- Using Wikipedia for Academic Research(a 3 minute YouTube video produced at San Jose State University)
- The Lemming Rescue and Rehabilitation Society
A Powerpoint presentation about lemmings. - Martin Luther King Learning ActivityA Powerpoint presentation evaluating a web site about Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cite your sources
The following are all online tutorials for which a free Flash plug-in is required.
- Intellectual PropertyWhat is it and why does it matter?
- PlagiarismWhat is it and how to avoid it
- Citation Style, Part 1Learn when to cite, how to paraphrase, and how to summarize
- Citation Style, Part 2The elements of a citation and how to find them
- What is an annotated bibliography?A short online tutorial

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