How do I start searching for library resources?
The best place to start would be to use our library search tool called QuickSearch @ Camp. This search tool is set-up to search all of our resources in the collections/databases available through Paul D. Camp Community College at one time by default (All items). All you have to do is type your keywords in the search box and click Search.
How do I find books for my research?
You can conduct a basic book search by using QuickSearch @ Camp. Type your keywords in the search box and select Books in the first Show Me: drop-down box, then click Search. If you have a specific title or author in mind, you can type that information as your keywords in the search box. The results from this search will identify resources from our print collections, as well as eBooks (electronic books) and audiobooks.
- Audiobook Collection (Overdrive Media) — contains thousands of audiobooks to be checked out online, downloaded, and heard on many devices.
- eBook Collection (Ebsco) — a collection of books presented in a digital format. The collection contains over 50,000 titles of books, and the full content of each book is intact.
- Ebrary eBook Collection (Physical Sciences) — a collection of thousands of digital books focused on the physical sciences, such as biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics, physics, and many more.
- Safari eBook Collection — access to thousands of online, technology-based books.
How do I find videos/multimedia for research?
You can conduct a basic video search by using QuickSearch @ Camp. Type your keywords in the search box and select Multimedia in the first Show Me: drop-down box, then click Search. The results from this search will identify resources from our video collections, including online video streaming.
- American History in Video — offers a rich collection of video available online for the study of American history.
- Films on Demand — provides access to thousands of full-length streaming videos and clips from many different subject areas.
- Treasures from the Film Archives — a database which contains credits and holdings information for more than 48,000 silent-era films (features, short films, actualities and fictional works) in the collections of the major international film archives.
How do I find articles from databases for research?
You can conduct a basic article search by going to QuickSearch @ Camp. Click on Advanced Search, then select Material Type – Articles. Type your keywords in the search box and select Articles in the first Show Me: drop-down box, then click Search.
QuickSearch @ Camp has an Advanced Search feature. You can tell the difference between a Basic/Simple Search and an Advanced Search by the number of text boxes into which you are able to put keywords. Basic/Simple Searches will have a single text box in which to type; Advanced Searches will provide several text boxes and will likely offer other ways to limit or expand your search.
Commonly used search strategies/techniques/tips are: Boolean Operators = AND, OR, NOT Some databases provide a drop-down list for these between text boxes.
- AND connects two keywords meaning that you would like both in your results, narrowing them
[Keyword example: students AND learning…student and learning will be searched for together] - OR connects two keywords meaning either of them can be in the results, broadening them
[Keyword example: dreaming OR daydreaming…dreaming or daydreaming will be searched for] - NOT connects two words meaning you want one keyword without the other in the results, narrowing them.
[Keyword example: singing NOT choir…singing will be searched for without the word choir]
Nested Logic = Parentheses ( ) around words that use OR to connect them in a keyword search
- [Nesting example: animals AND (fins OR feathers)…the results should include only animals that have fins or animals that have feathers]
Side-by-Side Keywords = Quotation Marks “ “ around compound words or short, common phrases to keep those words together in your results
- [Side-by-side example (compound word): “learning style” will have both words side-by-side in that order within your results]
- [Side-by-side example (common phrase): “balance of power” will have all three words of the phrase in that order within your results]
Truncation = asterisk * (wild card) after a brief form of a keyword to broaden your results
- [Truncation example: Teen* locates all forms of the word teen (i.e. teens, teenage, teenager…)]
**More detailed instructions on how to use search strategies/techniques/tips are available at Ebsco Tutorials.
The following online databases are available for your use: (to access these resources off-campus, you should consult the Remote Access information)
- Agricultural Science Collection — contains agricultural science related full-text articles, granular access to figures and tables within articles, and the entire range of bibliographic records from AGRICOLA.
- APA PsycNET—a compilation of databases to provide information in the field of psychology and behavioral sciences. It provides access to PsycArticles, Psycbooks, and PsycInfo.
- Aquatic Science Collection — contains aquatic science related full-text articles, granular access to figures and tables within articles, and the entire range of bibliographic records from Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA).
- Artemis Literary Sources — research authors and their works, literary movements and genres and search across your library's Literature databases to find full text of literary works, journal articles, literature criticism, reviews, biographical information and overviews.
- Atmospheric Science Collection — contains atmospheric science related full-text articles, granular access to figures and tables within articles, and the entire range of bibliographic records from Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts (MGA).
- Biological Sciences Collection — supports over two dozen areas of expertise, Biological Sciences provides access to literature from serials, as well as conference proceedings, technical reports, monographs and selected books and patents.
- BioOne — provides a must-have collection of critical, high quality titles across the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences.
- CAMIO—Catalog of Art Museum Images Online — is a growing online collection documenting works of art from around the world, representing the collections of prominent museums.
- CQ Researcher — is noted for its in-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy.
- Criminal Justice Collection (Gale Database) — provides access to over 150 journals specifically geared toward the criminology field.
- ebrary Physical Sciences eBooks — collection provides over 4,700 title in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Ebsco Host Research Database — a compilation of databases dealing with a broad spectrum of fields of study. The available databases may be searched all at once or individually. By clicking on the EBSCO Host Research Database hyperlink above, you will be able to see a description of what each of the following databases contain.
- Abstracts in Social Gerontology
- Academic Search Complete
- Alt Health Watch
- America: History & Life
- AP NewsMonitor Collection
- Associates Programs Source
- Business Source Complete
- CINAHL
- Communication & Mass Media Complete
- Computers & Applied Science Complete
- EconLit with Full Text
- Education Research Complete
- Environment Complete
- ERIC
- European Views of the Americas: 1493 to 1750
- Family Studies Abstracts
- Fuente Academica
- GreenFILE
- Health Source: Consumer Edition
- Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
- Historical Abstracts
- Hospitality & Tourism Complete
- Humanities International Complete
- Legal Collection
- Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
- MasterFILE Premier
- Medic Latina
- Military & Government Collection
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts
- Newspaper Source Plus
- Peace Research Abstracts
- Political Science Complete
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection
- Public Administration Abstracts
- Race Relations Abstracts
- Regional Business News
- Religion & Philosophy Collection
- SocINDEX with Full Text
- Teacher Reference Center
- Urban Studies Abstracts
- Vente et Gestion
- Violence & Abuse Abstracts
- Web News
- Women’s Studies International
- Environmental Science Collection — collection contains environmental science related full-text articles, granular access to figures and tables within articles, environmental impact statements, and the entire range of bibliographic records from Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management (ESPM).
- FirstSearch — provides electronic access to dozens of databases and more than 10 million full-text and full-image articles.
- Gale Databases — a compilation of databases dealing with various fields of study, which can be cross-searched. You will need to enter your MyVCCS username and password, the one you use to enter Blackboard, to access the Gale databases. It contains the databases listed below.
- HarpWeek — contains a fully indexed, digitized version of historical exploration with the preeminent news and literary journal of the last half of the 19th century.
- Issues & Controversies — a database that focuses on in-depth investigations of today’s top issues.
- Materials Science Collection — collection contains materials science related full-text articles, granular access to millions of figures and tables within articles, and the entire range of bibliographic records from the Materials Research Database, the leading global database in materials science.
- OVID — a collection of books, journals, and database resources containing information for the scientific and healthcare communities.
- Project Muse — a collection offers a comprehensive selection of prestigious humanities and social sciences journals to support a core liberal arts curriculum.
- Today’s Science — which is a database that centers around important developments in biology, chemistry, the environment, space, physics, and technology.
- Wiley InterScience — contains full text journals, reference works, books, and databases promoting discovery across the spectrum of scientific, technical, medical and professional endeavors.
- WorldCat — allows you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world.
- World News Digest — which brings together and enhances nearly seven decades of news from the renowned Facts On File World News Digest in print.
**Sometimes it is necessary to search several different databases depending on your topic. If you are not sure which database(s) to use, please consult a member of the library staff.
How do I find an article from an electronic journal (eJournal)?
If you specifically need journal articles, you can go to QuickSearch @ Camp and use the E-journals feature. From there you will see an A – Z list of the different online databases at your disposal through the VCCS. You can either type in the title of the particular journal/magazine in the search bar, or you may browse the list alphabetically by clicking on the letter in the A – Z list with which your journal/magazine begins.
What newspapers does the college offer?
**Each campus retains a copy of the previous month's issues**
Franklin Campus Newspapers: New Journal & Guide The Smithfield Times Suffolk News-Herald The Tidewater News The Virginian Pilot
Suffolk Campus Newspapers: New Journal & Guide The Smithfield Times Suffolk News-Herald The Virginian Pilot
Can I use resources/materials from other colleges/universities?
There are two ways for those affiliated with Camp to utilize resources from other colleges/universities. You may either request books through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) or get a consortium card.
How do I cite sources for my research project?
The instructor of your course should tell you what style he/she requires. Different academic disciplines require different formats for citation styles. Here are the two most common styles:
Some other common citation styles include:
- CBE (Council of Biology Editors)
- ASA (American Sociological Association)
- Turabian
- University of Chicago Press
If you need additional help in conducting research, visit the library, contact us at 757.569.6737 for the Franklin Campus or 757.925.6345 for the Suffolk Campus.
What if I need research assistance from home or after hours?
Currently registered Camp students, faculty, and staff can receive assistance using our Online Live Reference Service called Camp Ask A Librarian. Ask A Librarian enables you and a reference staff member to chat online, in real-time. The service also allows the reference staff to share web pages and other helpful materials to assist you with your research, collaboratively and interactively.