Research Handbook

Arthur County Schools

Arthur County High School
111 Elm Street
Arthur, NE 69121
 Table of Contents

General Information……………. p. 3

School Mission Statement……………. p. 4

Library Mission Statement……………. p. 4

Library Vision Statement……………. p. 4

Media Center Map……………. p. 5

Call Numbers and Dewey Decimal Overview……………. p. 6

Basic Steps the Research Process……………. p. 7

Available Resources……………. p. 8

Finding Resources……………. p. 9

Evaluating Resources……………. p. 10-11

Plagiarism……………. p. 12

Citing Sources Using APA Format……………. p. 13-15

Reference Page Examples……………. p. 16

Reference Page Requirements……………. p. 17

Database Login Information……………. p. 18

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 General
Information

Arthur County Schools High School Media Center

111 Elm Street
Arthur, NE 69121
308-764-2253

Serving Students in grades 7-12.

School Hours
7:40 a.m. to 3:46 p.m.

Library Hours
7:40 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Open access during all hours.

Mandy Vasa, School Librarian

E-mail: mandy.vasa@arthurcountywolves.org

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 Mission Statements

School Mission Statement:

The mission of Arthur County Schools is to provide quality
educational experiences for all students, helping them achieve their
potential in a changing world.

Library Mission Statement:

The mission of our library to is make a welcoming place to our
students, staff, and community members as we promote a love of
reading. Arthur County Schools strives to ensure that students and
staff are effective and ethical users of ideas, information, and
technology empowering the learning community to be critical
thinkers, enthusiastic readers, and lifelong learners.

Library Vision Statement:

Arthur County Schools library will enable our students to become
seekers of ideas and information, we strive to help nurture an
interest in reading, and will encourage a desire for lifelong learning.

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 Arthur County High
School Media
Center Map
Door
Computer Lab and Fiction Section
Printing Station Authors A-J
Smartboard

Work Work Work

Table Table Table

Fiction Section
Authors K-Z
Work Work Work
Table Table Table
Circulation Desk

Couch

Non-Fiction Selection
Chair
Chair

End 000-900
Table
Chair Coffee Table
Talbe

New Book Newspapers

Display and
Fireplace and Photo Gallery TV Magazines

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 Call Numbers
& Dewey Decimal
Overview

HOW TO READ A CALL NUMBER

Fiction Books Non-Fiction Books
The call numbers will The call numbers will have
M have only letters. numbers and letters.
BAC The first line will have a The first line shows the section
letter, showing the the book is in.
section the book is in. The second line will have
The second line will numbers telling the subject of
have the first three the book and where you can
letters of the author’s find it shelved.
last name. The books The third line will have the first ER
are shelved in three letters of the author’s last 576.8
alphabetical order by name. The books are shelved in TRE
the author’s last name. numerical order.

NON-FICTION DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM OVERVIEW

000’s – General Information
100’s – Philosophy & Psychology
200’s – Religion
300’s – Social Studies
400’s – Language
500’s – Natural Science
600’s – Technology
700’s – Arts & Religion
800’s – Literature
900’s – History & Geography

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 Basic Steps in the
Research Process

Step 1: Identify and Develop your Topic

- Select a topic relevant to the assignment and/or task.
- Choose a topic of personal interest to you.
- Create questions to be answered about the topic.

Step 2: Preliminary Research

- Access resources to answer the questions you
developed over your topic.
- Determine there is enough information regarding
your topic.
- Locate materials.
- Evaluate your sources.

Step 3: Processing of Material

- Organize your information.
- Make notes.
- Evaluate your ideas.
- Review assignment rubric and expectations.

Step 4: Create Assignment

- Create a rough draft to outline your final product.
- Edit the rough draft as needed.
- Create and finalize the final product of your research
and assignment.

(Basic Steps in the Research Process, 2022)

https://www.nhcc.edu/academics/library/doing-library-research/basic-steps-
research-process

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 Available Resources

To ensure success, you must locate helpful

resources. This can seem overwhelming and challenging, but
there are so many resources available to you. The library
has access to several resources, all of which you can utilize
at any time.

Resources Available

Print Non-Print Digital

Almanac DVD’s Nebraska Access

Atlas Globes ProQuest
Biographies People/Experts to
Books Wordbook Online
Interview
Catalogs Videos
Dictionary Presentations *Check with your
Encyclopedias librarian for
Magazines current research
Maps databases
Newspapers
Phone Book
Textbooks Preferred Online
Search Engines:
Google Scholar,
ERIC

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 Finding Resources

When you need to find resources, follow these steps.

1. Ask your librarian.

2. Search Destiny, our online library catalog for books and
materials on your topic.
a. Organize what you find, to be able to find it in the
library. Write down the call number and title of the
book.
Call # Title of Book/Resource

3. Search online databases for your topic.

a. Search in multiple ways, try various keywords and
phrases to search. Don’t get frustrated, search in more
than one way.
b. If you are having trouble, ask for help.
4. Search for other available online resources.
5. Always ask the librarian for help if you are struggling or have
questions!

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 Evaluating
Resources

Not all resources are reliable, once you’ve found a resource you need
to evaluate it and make sure it is one you can trust. Listed below are
ways to help ensure the resource you have found is a good one, utilize
these steps and practices when evaluating a resource.

(College of DuPage Library, 2022)

https://codlrc.org/evaluating/sources

How do you determine if a source is credible? You can evaluate the

reliability and scholarship of information you find both online and in
print by using these guidelines:

Authorship
If the author is not identified be wary. When an article or website is
authored anonymously it has little credibility. It should be evident
who created the content. What are the author's credentials? Does
he/she have expertise in this field? Is biographical information
provided?

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 Evaluating
Resources, Continued
Publisher
This can help you determine the origin of the document, for example whether it is
produced by an established publisher, a government agency, a nonprofit
organization, or a commercial website. Consider the publisher's reputation and
trustworthiness.

Accuracy and objectivity

Can the facts presented on a website be substantiated elsewhere? Beware of
information that can't be confirmed or that presents a biased view. Always check
multiple sources to determine credibility.

Timeliness
Be aware of when the web page was created and how recently it's been updated.
Is the information current? Outdated information and broken links indicate the
page is not being maintained.

Footnotes and bibliographies

Legitimate references and links to other sources can add to a document's
credibility and depth of scholarship.

Sponsorship
Some sites are officially approved by the parent organization to which they're
linked. Others can be on a parent site but not officially sponsored by the
organization. A personal homepage on a university's server does not
automatically confer credibility.
(Columbia University Libraries, 2022)
https://library.columbia.edu/libraries/undergraduate/evaluating_web.html

Below is a breakdown of the most common domain extensions:

• .com⁠—a commercial website

• .gov⁠—a government owned/operated website
• .org⁠—a website associated with an organization
• .edu⁠—a website associated with an educational institution
• .net⁠—a website used by network providers

(Purdue Online Writing Lab, 2022)

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/evaluati
ng_sources_of_information/evaluating_digital_sources.html

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 Plagiarism

Plagiarism (noun): the practice of taking someone else's work or

ideas and passing them off as one's own.

There are four common practices of plagiarism.

Direct Self Plagiarism Mosaic Accidental
Plagiarism Plagiarism Plagiarism
Word for word Submitting one’s “Patch Writing”, Neglecting to cite
transcription of own previous borrowing sources or
someone else’s work without the phrases from a misquoting
work, without permission from source without sources,
attribution and all instructors quotation marks unintentionally.
without quotation involved. or keeping the
marks. same structure or
another’s writing
but using
synonyms for
various words.

(Bowdoin, 2022)
https://www.bowdoin.edu/dean-of-students/conduct-review-board/academic-
honesty-and-plagiarism/common-types-of-plagiarism.html

Plagiarism can become an issue at various stages of the writing

process. You can avoid plagiarism by:

• Keeping track of the sources you consult in your research

• Paraphrasing or quoting from your sources (and adding your
own ideas)
• Crediting the original author in an in-text citation and in your
reference list
• Using a plagiarism checker before you submit

(Scribbr, 2022)
https://www.scribbr.com/plagiarism/how-to-avoid-plagiarism/

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 Citing Sources
Using APA Format

When citing sources, you will use APA format to give credit to your
sources. All sources in this handbook are APA specific. If you have
any questions, as always stop by the library and I’d be glad to help
with any and all questions!

Great resources for APA format is Purdue Online Writing Lab:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_for
matting_and_style_guide/general_format.html and Scribbr:
https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/book/

Book Citation Overview

Book Citation Example

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 Citing Sources
Using APA Format,
Continued

Webpage Citation Overview

Webpage Citation Example

Journal Citation Overview

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 Citing Sources
Using APA Format,
Continued

Journal Citation Example

(Scribbr, 2022)
https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/book/

Additional resources and examples regarding APA are

available in the library.

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 Reference Page
Examples

Full Reference Entry

References

American Association of School Librarians (2018). National school library standards for
learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.

American Association of School Librarians. (2018). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AASL-Standards-Framework-for-
Learners-pamphlet.pdf

Dcaldwell-Stone. (2021, January 14). Library privacy guidelines for students in K-12 schools.
Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy/guidelines/students.

Deep Springs Elementary Library Circulation Policy. (n.d.) Retrieved October 14, 2021, from
https://www.fcps.net/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=19150&dataid=
16673&FileName=Library%20Circulation%20Policy.pdf

Green Elementary School Library Media Center Policy and Procedure Manual. (n.d.) Retrieved
October 14, 2021, from
https://ms01910533.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/MS01910533/Centricity/Domain/1540/Gree
n%20Elementary%20School%20LibraryPolicyandProcedureManualrevised.pdf

In-Text Citation Format

(Citation Machine, 2022)

https://www.citationmachine.net

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 Reference Page
Requirements

Creating Citations for Reference Page, APA:

- If you are using a database, it will be created for you.
o Look for a “citation” or “cite for me” option.
- For all other websites, you can utilize Scribber,
BibMe, or Citation Machine.
o www.scribbr.com
o www.bibme.org
o www.citationmachine.net
- Make sure you are following the steps and have as
much information as possible regarding the source.

Reference Page Checklist:

- Is everything in Times New Roman, size 12 font?
- Are all references in alphabetical order?
- Is the reference page at the very end of the paper and
at the top of its own page?
- Do you have it titled “References” at the top of the
page, centered, and bold?
- Did you use hanging indents?
o Creating a Hanging Indent in Google Docs
§ Highlight the citation(s) you want to indent.
§ Along the top menu, click on "Format," then
go down to "Align & indent," then click on
"Indentation options."
§ In the Indentation options menu, under
"Special," select "Hanging."
§ Click "Apply."
(Google, 2022)

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 Database Login
Information

Database Username
&
Password
Nebraska Access: Automatic
https://nebraskaccess.nebraska.gov/resources.asp connection
at school
Wordbook Online: **
www.worldbookonline.com ***

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