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UMass Libraries > Research by SubjectPrintable Version

Library Course Guide: Law and Public Policy
Legal Studies 397N

Introduction
This guide is arranged in the order that one might work through the research process. However, if you would like to go to a particular area, choose from the alphabetical grouping below.

  Books | Citation Styles | Databases | Internet Resources 
Journals, Periodicals | Library Help & Contacts | Locating Library Materials 
 Reference Materials 

Reference Materials
Locate background information on your topic by using the Library Catalog.

Some sample reference books on the topics for this class (located on the Main floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library):

Please note: The "REF" before the call number indicates an item in the Reference Collection.

Books
Search for books in the Library Catalog by subject. Below are a few of the subject headings you could use:


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Databases
Locate citations, abstracts and/or full text of journal articles, magazine articles, newspapers, dissertations, government documents, and other information sources in your subject.

Please note: In some of our databases you may see the UMLinks button - graphic for SFX/UMLinks service . Clicking on this button will take you directly to the full text of your article, if available, or to other options for finding the article if not available online. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions about UMLinks.

Examples:

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Locating Materials within the Libraries
After you have the citation for your material (from a database, library catalog etc.) find the call number. If not available in the database or index you are using go to the Library Catalog.

  1. Choose "title begins with" and type the name of the journal title, book or other material in the box that appears.
  2. If your title appears write down the call number given and location (UM/Main - W.E.B. Du Bois, UM/Sciences - Integrated Sciences & Engineering Library, Special Collections etc.).
  3. Consult the Call Number chart to identify the floor for your material.

If this library doesn't own the material you want, try searching for an item from the Five College Catalog, or fill out an Interlibrary Loan Request Form with the appropriate citation information. Staff will attempt to locate and bring the material here for you to use.

 

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Internet Resources
Please note: Keep in mind when you are researching information on the Web that anyone can publish a web page. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of the "Free Web" and evaluate the information you find.

While you are a student, you may use LexisNexis to locate case, statutory and administrative law. However, once you're no longer a student, you likely will not have remote access to this database. Below are links to websites containing legal material that are free:

Findlaw

Hieros Gamos

Legal Information Institute

Washlaw: Legal Research on the Web

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Citation Styles
Legal Citation Guides
See Using Citation Styles for examples and links to other standard style formats.

Library Help & Contacts

 

 

 

Prepared for Legal Studies 397N, Public Policy and Law, 9/14/2004 (updated 2/5/2007).
Library guide by Barbara Morgan, Law Reference Librarian

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