Welcome!
This guide provides an overview of library resources for University Honors students. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, visit the Gorgas Library Information Desk, or use Ask a Librarian to request assistance.
Guide Contents
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Getting Ready to ResearchThis section provides links to reference resources and brainstorming techniques to help you come up with and develop a topic for your research.
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Finding Scholarly SourcesThis section provides links to key resources to help you find appropriate databases and to search for books in UA Libraries.
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Newspapers and MagazinesThe University of Alabama Libraries provides digital access to a wealth of historical and contemporary newspapers and magazines. This page will get you started with some of the most popular and wide-ranging databases.
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Finding Primary SourcesPrimary sources are original materials that document an era or event, created by someone who witnessed or lived through it. Examples include letters, diaries, photographs, manuscripts, magazines, and newspapers. This page provides access UA Libraries' special collections, and a resource guide with more detailed information on primary source databases.
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Evaluating SourcesOnce you've found a source, you have to decide whether it's reliable or not. This page provides links to fact-checking resources, information about the peer review process, and things to consider when evaluating sources.
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Writing and Citation HelpFind links to style guides for Chicago, MLA, and APA and information about citation managers and the UA Writing Center.
Library Services
New to UA Libraries? This video tutorial gives an overview of the Libraries' main search tools: Scout, the A-Z databases list, e-journals, and the library catalog.
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ScoutThe main search tool for UA Libraries, Scout allows you to search the catalog, most of the libraries' databases, and the digital repository Acumen. Scout is a great place to start a broad search on a topic, but more targeted searching may be more successful in the catalog or subject-specific databases.
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A-Z Databases ListIf you want to access to a specific database, you'll find it here. You can filter the list alphabetically, or browse databases by subject area or type of materials.
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E-ResourcesE-Resources, or E-Journals on the main Libraries page, allows you to search our journal and e-book collection by title, or browse by subject.
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Libraries CatalogSearch the traditional catalog to find print, ebook, music, sound recordings, video, video, and more in the Libraries' collections. The catalog is useful tool to help find specific items in the collection, rather than broad searching.
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Find Reserve ItemsSearch the catalog for items placed on reserve by course and instructor.
The libraries offer a variety of spaces for you to work, including group study rooms and presentation practice rooms that you can reserve. Follow the links below to learn more and reserve space.
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Find an Available Computer (no reservation required)Use this page to find an available computer in any of the libraries at UA. This is especially useful during finals, when we are extra busy.
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Presentation Practice RoomsThese rooms in McLure and Rodgers come equipped with the technology you need to practice your presentation, and to record it so you can evaluate how you're doing.
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Group Study RoomsBook a group study room here. Most rooms have a dry erase board and large monitor. Cables and dry erase markers are available for checkout at the circulation desks in each library.
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Spaces by LibraryA listing of study rooms organized by library.
UA Libraries has black and white and color printing, 3D printing, and a variety of equipment such as cameras, laptops, tablets, and audio recording equipment that you can check out or use in the libraries for your projects. Learn more and reserve equipment at the links below.
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Print, Scan, CopyLocations of printing, scanning, and copy equipment in each library, and instructions for how to use them.
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3D Printing3D printing is available for a fee in all UA libraries. To use the 3D printing studio in Rodgers, students must first complete a training workshop. Learn more at this link.
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Reserve EquipmentBrowse and reserve available equipment here, including headphones, laptops, audiovisual equipment, and phone chargers.
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Whisper BoothsWhisper booths are small recording rooms you can use to record sound for your multimedia projects. The two whisper booths in the Music Library (first floor of Gorgas) are equipped with microphones, computers, and an electric keyboard for recording music. A larger recording studio is available in the Sanford Media Center.
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Sanford Media CenterThe Sanford Media Center offers training and software for your multimedia projects, including the Adobe Creative Suite, music production software, video editing programs, and a recording studio that can accommodate up to 5 people.
If you need materials that aren't available in the UA catalog, you can request them from another library via interlibrary loan. You can receive copies of physical books or scans of articles and book chapters. The video tutorial below provides instructions for setting up your account and requesting materials. A transcript is available at the link.
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Contact MeAs your liaison librarian for the Honors College, I can help you with research questions and connect you with other subject specialist librarians for help with research in other areas.
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Ask a LibrarianHave a question? Submit it here and a librarian will get back to you within 24 hours.
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Find a Subject LibrarianIf you need specialized help in a discipline for a course, find the appropriate subject librarian here.
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Report a Login ProblemIf you have a problem accessing electronic library resources, filling out this form is the fastest way to have your issue resolved.
