Graduate School Library Research

Finding Sources

Learn about the library research process, including how to understand information sources, prepare for researching, how to find high quality library sources and how to avoid plagiarism in the below tutorial.

Library Resources in Canvas Courses

Find easy access to library resources and services within your Canvas courses, such as

• Research Guides for your subject
• Subject specific databases
• Research appointment booking with your personal librarian
• Live Chat with a librarian

Find the "Library Resources" tab in the left navigation menu in your courses.

Access to Library Materials

The library supports the research needs of Xavier students, working on or off campus, by providing the following services and resources.

Access library materials 

In-Person Check Out

Items may be checked out and holds picked up in person at the Connection Center on the 3rd floor of the CLC.

For an overview of different ways to request library materials as an online student, use the following guide. Resource Sharing: Distance Learning Patrons

Access electronic books

You can search the library's e-book collections from the library's homepage. Choose the Books and Media tab, which accesses the Xplore library catalog. You can also search for e-books through Search@XU. Limit your results in the left menu to Xavier Xplore/OhioLINK Catalog Only and look for the eBook icon in your results.

Researching off-campus

When you access library research resources from off campus, you will be prompted for your Xavier credentials using the Microsoft Authentication app, which are the full email address and password that you use to log into your Xavier email and Canvas.

Renew materials

You may renew materials in person at the Connection Center on the 3rd floor of the CLC, by calling 513-745-3881, or by emailing libcirc@xavier.edu. 

Managing Sources

Once you begin finding sources, using a citation management platform can help keep them organized.

Zotero is a free, cross-platform software citation management system that is used to collect your research in one place.

The below guide will help you get started.

Citing Sources

Why Cite Sources?

• Gives credit to authors whose works you have used.
• Provides a trail by which others can locate the materials you consulted.
• Provides evidence of your research.
• Properly citing materials is one strategy to help you avoid plagiarizing.

What needs to be cited?

• Anything you’ve learned in your research
• Information that would not be common knowledge, even if you knew it before
• Summaries
• Paraphrases
• Direct quotes

Access to Citation Style Guides

Find information on citing your sources correctly from the University Library list of citation style guide resources.

Citation Style Guides

Avoiding Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

• Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.
• Plagiarism is copying from the internet, from a web page, or from another person without giving credit.
• Plagiarism is using ideas which are not your own without citing those ideas.
• Plagiarism can be applied to ideas, research, art, music, graphs, diagrams, websites, data, books, newspapers, magazines, plays, movies, photos, solution manuals, and speeches.
• Plagiarism does not apply to common knowledge.

Why is it wrong?

• It is stealing.
• It takes away from another's original work.
• Students who plagiarize hurt themselves because they do not learn the process of academic achievement.
• It undermines academic and moral values.
• Consequences can be severe and can result in expulsion from Xavier.

Learn more about Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism in this guide.

In-Person resources include:

• A library with thousands of books! 
• Quiet study spaces in McDonald Library
• Group study rooms Links to an external site. may be reserved in the CLC
• Physical copies of various newspaper subscriptions
• A Makerspace with access to a 3D printer, Cricut Maker, button maker, a laser etcher, heat presses, sewing and embroidery machine, Raspberry Pis, Ozobots, Spheros, and more!