This Research Guide will give you access to many of the resources that you'll need to conduct academic research during the course of your studies. Library Research takes time and can seem complicated at first, so don't hesitate to contact Bethany Paul (bethanypaul@capilanou.ca) to get help of any kind. We can email or chat over Teams - whatever works best for you!
The quality of information that you use in your courses at University is very important. Before you submit your assignment, make sure that your sources are appropriate.
Sometimes you'll encounter articles, websites or other information sources that you have questions about. Although they might sound useful, they may contain misinformation or be from someone that is not an expert or a knowledge keeper. You need to make sure you can clearly see how a website, for example, got its data or facts. If there is an author or knowledge keeper, are you able to find out more about them or even interview them so that you can assess their expertise?
The University of Toronto Writing Centre has a list of questions you could ask before using a piece of information you found on the internet.
Before You Begin - A Checklist
To successfully find information you will need:
|
Strategy |
Example |
| Use "quotation marks" for exact-phrase searching |
|
| Search for keywords within specific fields - use the drop-down list beside the search box. |
|
| Use suggested topics, subjects and thesaurus terms for more refined searching | |
| Use the available limiter options (left side of results page) |
|
| Use narrower keywords |
|
| Check "Books & Media" to find just books, ebooks and media |
|
Strategy |
Example |
| Use "OR" to look for versions of the same concept (synonyms, related words) |
|
| Use * [shift+8] after a word's root to search all endings |
|
| Use broader keywords |
|
| Uncheck “CapU Library Collections and Subscriptions” in Discovery |
|
If you find an item we don't have, get it via interlibrary loan.
Many CapU Library online resources (databases, electronic books) want to authenticate you to ensure you're a CapU student before giving you access. When you try to access these resources off-campus, and occasionally when you are on campus, the CapU account login page will appear.
Just enter your CapU Network ID:
username: firstnamelastname
password: CapU password
If you are asked to log in to a page that doesn't have the CapU logo, something has gone wrong. Contact us to help sort it out.
There is no charge to bring in any article or book from outside CapU Library.
Remember to plan ahead - it can take a few days or a few weeks to get your item, depending on availability.
Did you know you have borrowing privileges at other universities?
Visit the Library Services counter to get a reciprocal borrowing card and start taking books out from UBC LIbraries, SFU Library and more!
