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Starting Research 


See Help by Subject under Research for subject-specific research help.    


How Do I Start?

P R A T T C A T

The Library's online catalog contains records of all the titles in the Pratt Institute Libraries (Brooklyn & Manhattan) including books, multimedia, magazines, journals and course reserves. Be sure to check "All Locations" to view all copies of an item available. If currency is important, also take note of the publication date. PrattCat is searchable offsite.


D A T A B A S E S

The Library subscribes to a collection of online databases, most of which are electronic periodicals indexes. These databases contain records of articles found in magazines and journals. They provide the volume, issue, date and source of articles on your topic.

An excellent source for recently published material. In some cases, entire articles are available (full-text), while in other cases only citations or abstracts can be obtained. If only a citation or abstract is available, the Library may have the article in print (see "Print Periodicals" below).

Some databases are available offsite. See the Databases page for a complete listing.


P R I N T   P E R I O D I C A L S

The Brooklyn Campus Library subscribes to approximately 600 magazines and journals in print. Current periodicals are located in the 1st and 2nd Floor Reading Rooms. Bound back issues of periodicals are located in the 2nd Floor Reading Room (art) and the lower level of the stacks (general and non-art).

The Manhattan Campus Library subscribes to over 150 magazines and journals in print. Current periodicals are located on the wall to the left of the main entrance. (Some periodicals are located behind the Circulation Desk, where you must request the current issue). Bound back issues are in the main stacks.

To locate articles available in print at the Library, on a particular subject, by a particular author, date or periodical, consult our online databases for citations. To find articles in popular magazines, especially articles published before the early 1980's, use the print Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (050 R28), located in the Brooklyn Campus Library, on the 1st floor (recent years) and 3rd floor (older years).


N E W   Y O R K   T I M E S

The Library subscribes to the InfoTrac Custom Newspapers database, which includes the full-text of New York Times articles from the past year. The Brooklyn Campus Library also subscribes to the New York Times on microfilm. This microfilm collection begins in 1851 and continues to the present year. To locate articles on a particular subject, by a particular author or date, consult the New York Times Indexes (R 071 N56) at the Brooklyn Campus Library, located on the 1st floor (recent years) and 3rd floor (older years).


B E Y O N D   P R A T T

WorldCat, accessible via our Databases page, identifies the holdings of libraries worldwide. It acts as a subject guide to literature in all formats and includes selected Internet sites, bypassing the irrelevant hits found on commercial sites. Should you need material not owned by Pratt, WorldCat records can be used to initiate Interlibrary Loans.

In addition, Pratt students, faculty and staff have access and/or borrowing privileges at select libraries in New York City. See Using Other Libraries for information on libraries open to you.


I N T E R N E T

Useful for locating such sources as professional organizations and their position statements. Remember that information on the Internet is not always authoritative and is not to be confused with articles published in professional journals.

For information on evaluating and citing Internet sources, consult a Pratt Institute librarian, visit our Citations & Bibliographies page on this website, or consult staff from the Writing and Tutorial Center. The Center staff accept walk-ins and appointments in North Hall, and at the Pratt Manhattan Center three days a week:

Writing and Tutorial Center (at Pratt Manhattan)

Location: Room 622

Hours:
Monday, 10am - 2pm
Wednesday, 3pm - 6pm
Thursday, 12:30pm - 5:30pm

Available Staff: Jon Scott

We recommend you make an appointment to have your work in progress reviewed.

 


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Last Updated: July 27, 2005 (sk)

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