Research Tips
- Start your research GENERAL and let the library's resources guide you to keywords, phrases, and names that can make your subsequent searches more precise.
- If you have ONE book that looks good, look at the book record in Orbis or Quicksearch and review its LINKED SUBJECTS -- which will bring you to more related books on your topic.
- KEEP TRACK of phrases and subjects that have worked for you -- you will want to remember them for later searches.
- Imagine yourself in a CONVERSATION. Search for scholarly literature EARLY in your research process and OFTEN, and get familiar with the scholars in your field. Find points and counterpoints to help strengthen your research question.
Your Personal Librarian
All Yale College undergraduates have a Personal Librarian. Find yours here: library.yale.edu/pl
Reach out to your PL if you have questions about:
- Navigating the library
- Finding books and articles
- Formulating a research question
- Managing citations
- Using special collections
- and more!
Navigation
Use the Yale University Library website as your gateway to accessing the library's resources. Here are some quick links to get you started:
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Your Personal LibrarianEvery student in Yale College has a Personal Librarian!
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Consult with a Subject SpecialistYale Library has subject librarians in every field, and they can help you discover resources for research in your major.
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Ask Yale LibraryLate night? Have a quick question? Ask Yale has an extensive knowledge base of commonly asked questions and research advice.
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QuicksearchSimultaneously searches books, articles, and digital collections - a great place to start if you don't know where to start
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OrbisGreat to use to books - but remember that Orbis does not have individual book chapters or articles, only whole items! Pro-tip: Try "Subject Browse" from the Basic Search form to identify subjects on your topic.
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Borrow DirectIf a book is not available at Yale, search for it in BorrowDirect - items can be delivered in about 2-4 business days
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Articles+Use this resource to find newspaper articles, scholarly journal articles, and even ebooks.
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DatabasesLinks to over 1,000 subject specific databases provided by Yale University Library.
