Bard College at Simon's Rock: the Early College

Alumni Library

The search for knowledge begins here. 

 

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Research 1 2 3

Developing Your Topic & Research Preparation
Starting Your Search & Refining Results
Evaluating Your Sources & Information Ethics

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Info For

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Contact Us

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library@simons-rock.edu
413-528-7370
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Library Hours

Monday–Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Wednesday–Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Explore the Library

Circulation & Reserves
Student Borrowing book from circulation
Circulation is the main intersection in the library: check books and DVDs out, access items on reserve for your courses, and get that all-important cup of coffee.
Reference Desk
A student consults with a librarian about her research.
Ask a librarian for assistance with a research project or get some quick info – the reference desk is Q&A central. Contact us anytime.
Library Commons
Student relaxing while studying
Whether you want to relax with the newspaper; find an article from a peer-reviewed journal; browse for a DVD; or meet up for a group study session, this is the place.
Quiet Study
Student Borrowing book from circulation
Much of the library is designated for quiet study so that you can always find a place to read, write, think, study, or just relax. The Reference Room and all the stacks are quiet areas.
Reference Room
Student deeply involved in research
With large tables to spread out, get deeply involved in your research, whether you’re using the reference collection or the library’s extensive online resources.
Senior Theses
A student uses library resources while writing a paper.
The senior thesis is a requirement for a Simon’s Rock BA; it is also a work that adds to the world’s knowledge. The library archives a copy of every thesis submitted in the Reference Room.
Stacks
A student finds just the right book for his research.
With 75,000 books in the stacks, this is the number one place to find just the right book or a quiet nook for a serious study session.
Atrium
The library Atrium
Enjoy the quiet splash of water and the occasional call of a bullfrog – you can also meet with a tutor, get help at the writing center, or ask advice of the pros in the Win Commons.
Research Guides
Research Methods

Even in the age of easy to use search engines and convenient access to online information, it pays to know how to conduct research in a methodical way. Here's some help getting started:

Collections and Databases
Writing Resources

By citing your sources, you're showing your reader where you got your information. It is important to distinguish the sources of information that you use from your own ideas, interpretations, and conclusions. Failure to cite your sources is plagiarism.

Writing well is a skill that you develop over time. Here are some resources to help:

Tools
Library Tools

Turn your browser into a research tool:

Zotero

For a quick and reliable tool that helps you build a bibliography instantly from any computer or device, without creating an account or installing any software, try ZoteroBib.

For a more robust solution perfect for extensive research (such as a thesis), you want Zotero, which will help you collect citations directly from your browser as you search, organize your research, cite sources using an extension for MS Word, and generate a bibliography with one click.

 

LibX

Install this free plugin for Firefox or Chrome and search library resources directly from a button in your browser’s navigation bar.

Library Extension

Install this free extension for Chrome (Firefox coming soon) that automatically shows you whether the library has a book when you search sites like Amazon - that way you never buy a book the library owns!