Libraries | Research Resources Forum

Dean of Libraries Sarah Pritchard will start the day by welcoming the incoming PhD students to Northwestern Libraries. Following her talk will be the keynote presentation on “The Art of Research,” by Professor Danielle Bainbridge of the School of Communication.

Engaging with Primary Sources

Hands-on session

Location: 1South

Personal papers, rare materials, pamphlets, institutional records, documents, historical photographs, newspapers, and other primary source materials in both physical and digital formats are crucial to research in most humanities and social sciences fields. These unique materials can be difficult to track down because of how they are organized, indexed, stored, and accessed. This session will offer an introduction into doing research with archival and primary source collections including framing research questions; a brief overview of Northwestern’s McCormick Library of Special Collections & University Archives and Herskovits Library of African Studies; and an overview of similar collections beyond Northwestern.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will become aware of archival and primary source materials at Northwestern University Libraries; become familiarized with basic elements of doing research with archival and primary sources, and become acquainted with librarians/archivists and know what library support is available.

Presenters: Dana Lamparello, Assistant University Archivist, dana.lamparello@northwestern.edu, Florence Mugambi, African Studies Librarian, florence.mugambi@northwestern.edu, and Jason Nargis, Special Collections Librarian, j-nargis@northwestern.edu. 

Copyright and Your Research and Publishing

Location: Lower Level, B183

What do you need to know about managing your own copyrights and navigating use of copyrighted material in your research? Throughout your career at Northwestern, you will be creating material to which you own the copyright: presentations, papers, images, digital media, reviews, articles, your dissertation, and more. You may also want to use others’ copyrighted material in your work. This session will help you understand the basics of copyright, what it protects, what exceptions are granted under the law, when to ask for permission, and how to prepare to publish your book or article. The basics of a publishing agreement and a brief introduction to open access and other emerging publishing models will be included.

Learning outcomes:  Attendees will learn what copyrights they hold and how to manage them, ways to legally use others’ copyrighted work in their research, and where to find more information about copyright

Presenter: Liz Hamilton, Copyright Librarian, emhamilton@northwestern.edu

Research Data Management and Data Sharing

Location: Lower Level, B182

This session will provide an overview of data management and why it is important for researchers to properly manage and share their data from the beginning of their research through publication and beyond. It will define data and data management; discuss governmental, funder, and publisher mandates for data sharing; and provide tips and best practices for data management and sharing.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will learn about the importance of data management and data sharing, they will have knowledge of mandates by funding agencies and journals for data management and sharing, and will learn a few best practices in data management and data sharing. 

Presenters: Cunera Buys, Data Management Librarian, c-buys@northwestern.edu

Academic Integrity: What to Do If You Encounter Plagiarism and Other Violations

Location: Video Theater, 2nd Floor

Presenters: Tracy Coyne, Schaffner and Distance Learning Librarian, tracy-coyne@northwestern.edu, and Anne Zald, Government Information Librarian, anne.zald@northwestern.edu

Resources for the Study of Art and Visual Culture

Location: Lower Level, B182

This session will discuss the imprecise nature of language as it is applied to the history and theory of art and visual culture and they ways in which advanced key word searching can aid in discovery. Participants will learn about several notable databases for the use of the study of art and art history; examine the information architecture that is consistent between different databases and types of content; and how different resources should be cited. Image searching will be covered briefly, and critical thinking will be applied to selecting and (ethically) using images.

This session is oriented towards Art History doctoral students, Art Theory and Practice students seeking a masters degree, Theater students involved in stage and costume design, and any other students involved in the study of art and visual culture.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will understand how language is used in art and art historical research and be able to identify and use key word searching, will become familiar with databases for books, journals and images and will be able to understand the basis of information architecture, will be able to evaluate information sources within the context of art, architecture and design methodologies, will learn about resources that can aid them in citation of materials and about the ethical use and citation of images.

Presenters: Cara List, Head of the Art Library, cara.list@northwestern.edu

Managing Your Citations: EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero

Location: Lower Level, B183

This session will introduce participants to EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley, the bibliographic management software platforms that are supported by the Northwestern Library Bibsupport team. We will examine the features, similarities, and differences of the platforms, and how to get access to support for them.

Learning outcomes:  Attendees will become aware of the bibliographic management platforms supported by Northwestern Libraries as well as how they are similar to and differ from one another; attendees will understand how to access the platforms, and will understand how they can receive additional support for bibliographic management.

Presenters: Jason Kruse, Undergraduate Services Librarian, jkruse@northwestern.edu and Jeannette Moss, User Education Librarian, j-moss@northwestern.edu. 

Social Science Data Services

Location: Lower Level, B234/238

This session will introduce the resources and services available to those conducting quantitative or qualitative social science research. Software access, software learning opportunities, open data, subscription data, proprietary data, the data life cycle, and other issues pertinent to success in the Northwestern information environment will be addressed.

Learning outcomes: After this session, participants will be able to identify library resources and services that support empirical research with quantitative and qualitative data sets.

Presenter: Anne Zald, Government Information Librarian, anne.zald@northwestern.edu

Copyright and Your Research and Publishing

Location: Video Theater, 2nd Floor

What do you need to know about managing your own copyrights and navigating use of copyrighted material in your research? Throughout your career at Northwestern, you will be creating material to which you own the copyright: presentations, papers, images, digital media, reviews, articles, your dissertation, and more. You may also want to use others’ copyrighted material in your work. This session will help you understand the basics of copyright, what it protects, what exceptions are granted under the law, when to ask for permission, and how to prepare to publish your book or article. The basics of a publishing agreement and a brief introduction to open access and other emerging publishing models will be included.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will learn what copyrights they hold and how to manage them, they’ll learn ways to legally use others’ copyrighted work in their research, and they will learn where to find more information about copyright.

Presenters: Liz Hamilton, Copyright Librarian, emhamilton@northwestern.edu 

Hidden in Plain Sight: An Introduction to HathiTrust Digital Library and the HathiTrust Research Center

Hands-on session

Location: Lower Level, B234/238

The HathiTrust Digital Library is a research collection which contains over 15 million books, journal issues, and other documents that are gathered or sourced from libraries and repositories around the world. Hathi includes both full and partial text materials. The over 3 million works in full text are available for download by students and faculty from any of the over 160 universities (including Northwestern) who are members of the HathiTrust. In this session, we will introduce students to Hathi, and provide tips on the most optimal way to use this massive collection for research, including guidance on how to log in, search, set up a personal Hathi collection and distinguish between full text and partial views. We will also introduce the HathiTrust Research Center and tips on how to use Hathi’s pre‐built algorithms to do text analysis on content in the research center.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will know how to login and download available material, will learn how to set up and maintain a personal HathiTrust account, will understand the breadth of resources available in the HathiTrust, and will know how to access the HathiTrust Research Center and use available algorithms for research and analysis.

Presenters: Harriet Lightman, Senior Librarian for Research and Engagement, h-lightman@northwestern.edu, and Geoff Morse, Research Services Manager, gmorse@northwestern.edu

Navigating Science Resources

Hands-on session

Location: Lower Level, B182

This session will be an introduction to the scientific databases and resources available at Northwestern University Libraries. We will discuss tips and tricks for making the most of your searching in some specialized databases, and you’ll have the opportunity to have some time for searching yourself. This session is geared at students in Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Plant Biology, Biological Sciences, and Astronomy, though all are welcome!

Learning outcomes: Attendees will learn what scientific databases Northwestern Libraries subscribes to, various tricks for making the most of their searching, and will gain hands‐on experience in database searching.

Presenter: Becca Greenstein, STEM Librarian, rgreenst@northwestern.edu

Support for Qualitative Research Analysis

Location: Video Theater, 2nd Floor

This session will introduce participants to the kinds of support for qualitative data analysis that are available from the Library as well as elsewhere on campus. Information will include how to access available qualitative analysis software/platforms as well as kinds of consultative support librarians can give. Additionally, a research guide will be shared that points to tutorials and text‐based support materials for various stages of qualitative research. Suggestions for how to find support elsewhere on campus, such as through departments, courses, and communities of practice, will be offered. Selected sources of qualitative data will also be shared.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will recognize the qualitative analysis software and tools available to them, will understand the support the library provides for qualitative analysis and qualitative software, and will recall additional qualitative analysis support through the university, tutorials, and guides.

Presenters: Jason Kruse, Undergraduate Services Librarian, jkruse@northwestern.edu and Jeannette Moss, User Education Librarian, j-moss@northwestern.edu. 

Managing Your Citations: EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero

Location: Lower Level, B183

This session will introduce participants to EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley, the bibliographic management software platforms that are supported by the Northwestern Library Bibsupport team. We will examine the features, similarities, and differences of the platforms, and how to get access to support for them.

Learning outcomes:  Attendees will become aware of the bibliographic management platforms supported by Northwestern Libraries as well as how they are similar to and differ from one another; attendees will understand how to access the platforms, and will understand how they can receive additional support for bibliographic management.

Presenters:  Mariah McGregor, Business and Entrepreneurship Librarian, mariah.mcgregor@northwestern.edu and Lauren McKeen, Communication Studies Librarian, lauren.mckeen@northwestern.edu

What Leaves a Trace? Theatre in Context

Location: Lower Level, B183

How do you find out about something ephemeral like a play production? You look for the evidence left behind. This session will introduce you to valuable tools you can use to research play productions. We’ll also talk about what each type of material can add to our understanding of a play’s history.

Learning outcomes: At the end of the session students will be able to identify three multimedia databases that contain information about theatrical productions, locate theatrical reviews in ProQuest Historical Newspapers using keyword searches and filtering options, summarize the value of selected sources by identifying what each source reveals about a production or play in order to conduct research on a play’s production history.

Presenters: Basia Kapolka, Circulation Services Supervisor, basia.kapolka@northwestern.edu and Greg MacAyeal, Curator of the Music Library, g-macayeal@northwestern.edu

Mapping Your Research: Using Geospatial Analysis Across Disciplines

Location: Lower Level, B182

This this an introduction to geospatial analysis and research at Northwestern University. The intent of the session is to discuss what geospatial analysis is focusing on its beginning and where it is today. Highlight several geospatial projects that have happened or are in progress at the University from a range of disciplines to highlight its applicability to a variety of research.

Learning outcomes:  Attendees will understand what geospatial analysis is, how it could apply to their graduate research, and how to get geospatial support on campus.

Presenter: Kelsey Rydland, GIS/Data Analyst, kelsey.rydland@northwestern.edu

Research Computing Services at Northwestern

Location: B234/238

This session will provide an overview of the services offered by Northwestern IT Research Computing Services, including facilities, training and workshop offerings, data support services, and consultations. Attendees will learn when Research Computing services might be useful for their research, and how to contact them for questions and support.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will understand the overall scope of the services offered by the Research Computing Services team, and how to engage for assistance and support.

Presenters: Matthew Rich, Senior Cloud Services Specialist, m-rich@northwestern.edu

Free and Open: How the Internet has changed Scholarly Publishing

Location: Video Theater, 2nd Floor

Open access is the free availability of scholarly literature online. What began as a controversial movement to remove technical and legal restrictions on sharing and publishing research has since become a mainstream practice in scholarly publishing, taking various forms across academic disciplines. This session will cover the history of open access scholarship, address major issues related to free online research publications, and introduce resources available to authors for sharing and publishing research online.

Learning outcomes: Attendees will understand how academic information is created, distributed, and recorded in order to navigate the world of paywalls, databases, open access, social networks, predatory publishers, and authorship.

Presenters: Chris Diaz, Digital Publishing Librarian, chris-diaz@northwestern.edu

Lunch will take place in 1South and is an RSVP only event. Following lunch is a scheduled coffee hour in which you’ll have time to meet your subject librarian, discuss your research interests, and mingle with students from other disciplines. 

Contact Anne Marie Sticksel with questions: amsticksel@northwestern.edu. 

Herskovits Library of African Studies

Led by African Studies Librarian Florence Mugambi.

Northwestern University Archives

Led by University Archivist Kevin Leonard.

University (Main) Library and Deering Library

Led by various staff.

The Styberg Library

Garrett Evangelical Seminary, coordinated by Religious Studies Librarian, Geoff Morse.

Following lunch, the expo will reopen until 2:30 pm. Expo booths listed below.

Citation Management Support

Get hands on assistance with Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote. Bring your laptop for assistance with program setup and installation, or if you’re already using a citation management tool, stop by to have your questions answered. Learn more about Citation Management Support.

Digital Humanities

The Digital Humanities Librarian will be available to answer your humanities related research questions and to provide advice and guidance on pedagogy projects that involve digital methods and tools. Learn more about Digital Humanities at Northwestern Libraries.

General Library Services

The Libraries offer a multitude of services to provide you with support throughout your academic career. Some of these services include research consultations, Interlibrary Loan and book request services, reservable study rooms, and rentable lockers and carrels. Stop by to learn how you can utilize these services!

GeoSpatial and Data Services

Stop by to speak our GIS and data specialists to learn about the services available, including data collection, formatting, and visualization, and GIS software applications, map creation, and geospatial analysis. Learn more about GIS and Data Services.

Graduate Writing Place

The Graduate Writing Place serves graduate students from across Northwestern, as well as postdoctoral students and faculty. Individual writing consultation are available to receive feedback and guidance on papers for coursework, conferences and presentation, journal articles, manuscripts, dissertations, and book chapters. Visit the Writing Place site.

Intro to the MakerLab at Mudd Library

Interested in learning about the 3D printing tools? Stop by the MakerLab table to learn about the technology available in the MakerLab, and how to go about submitting projects and scheduling a consultation. Learn more about the MakerLab.

Online Resources

Learn about some of the online resources available to you to take your studies wherever you are, such as our resource catalog (NUSearch); helpful apps and add ons; software availability; and “anywhere” services such as online research help and VPN access.

Primary Sources in the Libraries’ Digital Collections

The Libraries hold thousands of unique collections that have been digitized and made available online. Stop by the expo table to learn about finding and using these digitized primary source materials. Visit Northwestern Libraries’ Digital Collections.

Scholarly Output and your ORCID iD

Take 30 seconds to set yourself up for success! Unsure you get credit for work by creating an ORCID iD and associating your ORCID iD with your Northwestern NetID. ORCID is an independent organization that maintains a registry of unique identifiers, called ORCID iDs, for researchers and scholars. When you use your ORCID iD in a grant proposal, a publication submission etc., it can be easily associated with you. When you move from one employer to another, the history of your scholarly outputs persists in ORCID with no manual re-work.

Transportation Library Collections and Services

Northwestern’s Transportation Library is one of the largest transportation information centers in the world, encompassing information on all transportation modalities, including: air, rail, highway, pipeline, water, urban transport and logistics. Stop by to learn how you can utilize this one-of-a-kind collection in your research. Visit the Transportation Library site.

What is Preservation and Conservation?

The Preservation Department is responsible for the preservation of library collections in all formats, including books, archival materials, audio, film, and digital collections. Learn about the broad range of programs and services designed to improve the useful life of collections. Learn more about the Preservation Department.