Here are some hints from the Inglewood Public Library Staff to aid students in making effective and efficient use of the library. While some advice will be pertinent to users of our library, much of what we offer here is relevant to any library a student may use.

Be Sure You Understand the Assignment

If the teacher does not provide a handout for each student, copy the information carefully. Be sure words and names are spelled correctly. If the assignment is unclear, ask your teacher to review what s/he wants.

Bring a Copy of Your Assignment to the Library

Don't rely on your memory.

Know the Basic Principles of Indexing

Although the card catalog may have been replaced with a computerized database, the principles are the same. When you are looking for names, they will be indexed under the last name of the person (either as author or subject). If you are seeking criticism of Shakespeare's works, they will be listed under Shakespeare, William in the catalog, encyclopedias, and other indexes. Initial articles (a, an, the) are ignored for searching. Thus the book A Night to Remember is listed under N, not A.

Know the Differences between BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY and between BIOGRAPHY and BIBLIOGRAPHY

A biography is the story of a person's life. An autobiography is a life story written by the person him/herself. A bibliography is a list of works about a subject or person. Examples:

Two well-known autobiographies:

Douglass, Frederick. Up From Slavery

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Biographies: stories of the lives of the subject.

Van Doren, Carl. Lincoln: The Prairie Years

Bibliographies: lists of works (which may include books, magazine and newspaper articles, films,videos, sound recordings, pamphlets, and websites) dealing with the subject.

Burich, Nancy J. Alexander the Great: a Bibliography

Hombs, Mary Ellen. AIDS Crisis in America: A Reference Handbook

Learn to Use the Library's Catalogs and Indexes

Our library catalog is available on the Internet. We offer electronic access to magazines, newspapers, and full text resources. We continue to subscribe to the print Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, New York Times Index, and Los Angeles Times Index. In addition, we have Book Review Digest, Book Review Index, and sets of literature criticism. If you don't know how to use an index--computerized or printed--ask the librarian at the reference desk for help.

Remember Your Library Manners!

The library is not a social hall. Adults and other students come to the library looking for a quiet place to work or study. If a group wants to review material together, there are conference and study rooms available on the second and third floors for that purpose.

Libraries Exist To Share Resources

Please return materials on time; do not highlight, underline, or write in books or magazines; do not tear or cut pages from materials. The library (meaning you and your parents) spends thousands of dollars each year to replace materials which borrowers do not return or which have been vandalized.