How the Library Helped Me: Research

April 09, 2012

A couple weeks ago, I attended a workshop to teach me about Gale Virtual Reference Library. It's a database offered through MCPL.

First, it's very pretty looking and very easy to navigate—a feature anyone doing research or just looking up a subject will appreciate. There is also a vast quantity of interesting subjects to explore, and it's a very helpful for those looking for quick reference information and students doing research papers. Last week, I had the opportunity to use it just as that—a student!

I had a speech to give in my society and ethics class on sweatshops and globalization of the free market. I didn’t know really where to begin. I knew what a sweatshop was (or so I thought, turned out my definition at first was a little too vague for a philosophy class), but had no idea of the history or how to search for the ethics of these facilities.

I went to this awesome reference library, searched 'sweatshop ethics,' and up popped a gregarious list of relevant resources. Some were geared towards history, others politics, and even another one towards drama. I found a topic overview of sweatshops, and there I had it.

I knew the types of issues that were relevant to the ethics of sweatshops, and I had much more to search for in other databases.

Research: It’s not just a one step process.

I gave my speech last Thursday. I rocked it, to say the least.

One more thing to say about this awesome reference library is that if you can't come into the library to use a reference book, this is a wonderful resource that you can use from home! All you need is your library card, and and you're good to go.

Huzzah for the Gale Virtual Reference Library! You saved my beehive!

Which MCPL Database have you used recently?

~Cody C.
Parkville Branch