Library

During your online program it is likely that you will be required to write research papers. When it comes to searching for materials regarding a specific topic, you will want to start with the UM-Flint Thompson Library.

The Thompson Library is part of the University of Michigan library system, providing you with access to online resources such as digital collections, databases, online e-books and other resources to support your research needs in your program.

Link: Library Homepage

Services

Catalog

The Catalog is the definitive place for finding materials held by the U-M Library. Your results will include everything in our physical collection (books, audio, video, maps, musical scores, archival materials, and more), as well as materials available online such as electronic books, streaming audio and video, and online journals.

Link: UM-Flint Library Catalog System

Watch(5min): How to Search the Catalog System

Databases

A library database is a searchable electronic index of published, reliable resources. Databases provide access to a wealth of useful research materials from academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. Some databases also include e-books, relevant Web resources, and various multimedia.

The information found in databases is either originally created or comes from different, reliable sources.

Link: UM-Flint A-Z Databases

Course Reserves

Course reserves are items (textbooks, course packets, films, articles, etc.) that professors put behind the circulation desk or make available online for the class they are teaching. Not all classes will have course reserves and the library does not have textbooks for every class. The library does not actively collect textbooks because of their cost and the number and frequency of editions.

Link: Search for Course Reserves

Watch(1min): How to Search for Course Reserves

Interlibrary Loan

UM-Flint students, faculty, and staff can obtain research materials that are not available in the Thompson Library through Get This or through Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad).

Interlibrary Loan is for:

Books, dissertations, and microforms not available in Flint or Ann Arbor.
Copies of periodical articles or short sections of books not available in Flint.

Link: Interlibrary Loans

Watch(12min): How to Place and Interlibrary Loan Request

Get This

You can have circulating books sent from Ann Arbor to Flint using Get This. You can also use the Get This to place a hold on a book that's on loan to someone else, or to have the book retrieved and held for you at the Circulation Desk.

Link: Get This

Watch(2min): How to Use Get This

Open Education Resources

A number of UM-Flint classes, primarily in the mathematics department, have adopted OER textbooks from OpenStax.org, a non-profit organization affiliated with Rice University. OpenStax OER textbooks are unique; in addition to the freely available textbooks online they also sell affordable print versions for students that still want a physical book.

Link: OER Books

Research Process

Maybe you've never really written a research paper. Maybe you didn't know what you were doing last time you wrote one. Maybe it's been a while and you've forgotten. No matter what the scenario is, we can help at every step of the way.

This guide will help you through the process of research, including picking a topic, focusing your topic, finding keywords, searching library resources, evaluating sources, and citing sources.

If you are having trouble at any point during the research process, please contact a librarian and we can help you.

Link: UM-Flint Library Research Process