ENGL 250: Methods of Literary Study (BMC)

    Keyword Search:

         E.g.,    Awakening Chopin criticism

   Or Subject Search:

         E.g.,  Chopin, Kate > 1850-1904 > Awakening

                   Chopin, Kate > 1850-1904 > Criticism and interpretation

When you find a book in Tripod, check the locations to see which library it's in.

If the book is only available at Haverford or Swarthmore,  SIGN IN, then REQUEST to have the book delivered to Bryn Mawr! You'll receive an email when it arrives, usually in 24 hours.

How do I find where the book is shelved at Bryn Mawr?

Look at the book's "call number" to find its location. 

Book locations are listed here.

How are the call numbers arranged on the shelf?

Materials are shelved by the "Library of Congress" call number classification system. If you need help locating a book, please ask at the  Circulation desk!

What do I do if my book is checked out?
If the book is listed as "out of library" it may be checked out.  You can request a copy from outside the TriCollege Libraries by using EZ-Borrow / Interlibrary Loan.

Scholarly Authority

A. Author

1. What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation (where he or she works), educational background, past writings, or experience? Is the book or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise? 
2. Has your instructor mentioned this author? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. 
3. Is the author associated with a reputable institution or organization? 

B. Date of Publication

When was the source published? How have the ideas about your topic changed over time?

C. Book Publisher

If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although the fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality, it does show that the publisher may have high regard for the source being published.

D. Title of Journal

Is this a scholarly or a popular journal? This distinction is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas.  If it is scholarly, is the journal peer-reviewed? 

Adapted from Cornell University's Critically Analyzing Information Sources: Critical Appraisal
and Analysis   http://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing

• Sample MLA Style Annotation from the Purdue Owl.

Zotero: The Tri-College Libraries recommend Zotero, a free online app that can format your bibliography, keep your citations organized, and even save your articles in the cloud so you can access them later.

Need help getting started? TriCo Guide to Zotero

Zotero workshops are listed in the LITS Events Calendar