Here are some simple search tips for finding relevant articles and books:
Use AND/OR/NOT to combine/exclude words or phrases (this is called Boolean Searching):
Example Search Phrases:
Basketball AND football = articles that have both basketball and football as topics together.
Basketball OR football = articles that have either basketball or football (or both) as topics.
Basketball NOT football = articles that are about basketball and that exclude football (be careful, this can exclude a lot of useful resources since it will exclude articles that have both basketball and football together).
Phrase searching:
Put quotation marks around words you want to search as a phrase. Not generally used for single words.
Example Search Phrases:
"Edgar Allan Poe"
"social connection"
"creative composition"
Literary scholars often share their research in books or book chapters. Use the Library Catalog to search for your topic or for a specific title. The Library Catalog can also be accessed via the Books tab on the library's home page.
Use the Quick Search box for articles in several relevant databases in one easy search. Includes important search tools such as the MLA International Bibliography, Academic Search Complete, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and Education Source. It also links you to journal collections such as JSTOR.
The classic version of the library catalog. Search the library’s collections to find books, e-books, journal titles, films, and more. Search your topic by keyword or subject--or search for specific items by author or title. Often the best place to start for literary research.
Find scholarly articles, book chapters, and dissertations in literature, languages, folklore, & communication. Includes links to available full-text articles. Great for literary criticism and explication. Does not include book reviews. Tip: Start by searching for broad topics (e.g., Virginia Woolf) and narrow from there.
Academic Search Premier covers the expansive academic disciplines offered in colleges and universities. It provides comprehensive content, including PDF backfiles to 1975 for many journals and searchable cited references for more than 1,000 titles.
Provides online access to the full text of over 500 scholarly journals in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and mathematics.
176 Central Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Administration: 828-227-7485
Reference: 828-227-7465
Circulation: 828-227-7485
Ask-A-Librarian
Reserve a Study Room
My Account
Library Catalog
Article Databases
Interlibrary Loan