FINDING SOURCES:

THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM

The Dewey Decimal System is a commonly used way libraries organize books (along with systems like the Library of Congress Classification and BISAC). It uses numbers to sort books into subject categories and decimals to show more specific topics and subcategories. There are 10 main categories, numbered 000–900, and each one represents a broad subject area. The numbers after the decimal point break subjects into smaller parts, adding more detail. 

Find out more here to learn how it works and how to use it in the library in this video. Explore the categories in this interactive chart.

EVALUATING SOURCES

FINDING ACCURATE INFORMATION 

Not everything you read online or see in the news is true, so it’s important to evaluate sources. Good researchers always check sources carefully to see if they are trustworthy. Some of the ways they do this include checking who wrote it to see if they’re an expert, looking at the website to see if it’s credible, paying attention to the date, comparing with other trustworthy sources, and watching for bias, which tries to persuade without facts. Asking these questions helps you figure out if information is accurate, so you can make smart choices and find the truth.

Learn more here!

CITING SOURCES

When writing informative text, it’s essential to cite your sources. You can do this through quotes or paraphrases, but the goal is always the same: show your readers where your information comes from. Failing to cite sources is considered plagiarism and violates academic integrity. Proper citations not only allow others to verify your facts but also make your work more trustworthy, demonstrating that you’ve done your research and can support your ideas.

Find out Am I Plagiarizing? 

USING THE DIGITAL LIBRARY

Did you know LAUSD has a digital library? It’s an online collection of books, articles, videos, and other cool resources that you can use for school projects or just for fun. You can access it easily through Clever, which is the same place you log in for other school apps. With the digital library, you can read, research, and explore anytime, anywhere!

Watch tutorial here!