1.  To find books in the GCHS Library using the automated card catalog: 

            On the desktop, double click on Spectrum Circ/Cat

            Click on Catalog

            Type in your topic

            Click Search

When you find a list of books that matches your topic, print the list or copy the list.

Make sure you include the call number (ex. 372.1ALT).  This number will help you locate the book in the library.

If you do not find a list of books that match your topic, try again by typing in a related search word.

2.  To locate the book using the Dewey decimal system:

Look on the bookshelves for posters that state book sections (ex. 100’s, 300’s, 900’s).  If your book is 372.1ALT, then start looking in the 300’s section.

Then look on the side of the book until you find the call number that matches the book on your list

Ex.  If your book is 372.1ALT, then you would look in the 300’s section until you find this number on the side of the book.  There may be more than one book containing that number.  In that case, you need to refer to the letters beside the number.  These letters stand for the first three initials of the author’s last name.

3.  To find magazines in the GCHS Library Periodicals Room:

Pick up a red Reader’s Guide.  These will be on the tables or in the reference section at the front of the library. 

Look up your topic in the guide.  If the entry says see also, continue looking until you can find a listing of useful magazine articles.

Once you have found a listing of articles related to your topic, copy down the entire entry.  It is especially important to include the month, day, and year of your article along with the title of your article.  You will not be able to locate the article without this information.

Once you have this information written down, you may begin your search in the periodicals room.  Magazines are arranged by year with 2005 on top, 2004 on the next shelf down,2003-2002 on the next shelf, and 2002-2001 on the bottom shelf.

You may not take magazines out of the library; you may copy the entire article using the copy machine in the periodicals room.

4.  If the magazine can not be located in the GCHS Periodicals room, you may be able to         

     locate the article using the Tennessee Electronic Library.

            On the internet, log on to www.tennessee.gov/tsla/tel           

 Click on “Grundy” under the county listings

            Click on “access your databases” under Grundy County High School

            Enter the password “_____” then click proceed (ask Mrs. Nunley for the password)

            Click on Infortrac One file for the most information or choose your database from the list

(Teachers may want to use the professional collection database)

Once you get into your chosen database you may enter a search word in the basic search box

or

            Click on journal search if you know the name of a particular magazine you would like to research

            Type in the name of your magazine in the search box then click search

            Choose your magazine title from the list and click on it

            Click on the year you are searching for and the date of the publication

Search through the list until you find the article you are searching for, review  the article and print if needed.

5.  To locate newspaper and magazine articles using the vertical file:

In the periodicals room you will find two filing cabinets.  This is the vertical file; it contains file folders with newspaper clippings and magazine articles.  They are arranged in alphabetical order.  (Ex. If your topic is steroid use among high school athletes, you would look in drawer N-S.  After you have located this drawer of the filing cabinet, flip through the file folders until you find your topic.  Not all topics will be found in the vertical file.

6.  To use the reference section of the GCHS library:

The reference section will be very useful in finding information for your research paper.  The reference section is located in the first three shelves at the front of the library.  Here you will find regular encyclopedias as well as specialized encyclopedia.  Almost any topic can be found in the world book encyclopedia, so make sure you try and use an encyclopedia as one of your sources.

7.  To use the internet to find sources:

            Start with a reliable search engine such as msn, yahoo, or google

            Type your topic in the search box

Look through your results page and click on the most reliable sources of information