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FTS: Reading and Writing Place: Scientific Approaches

Overview

The library has numerous sources to help you explore the animals, plants and biomes of the Arb. If you have any questions about how to find or use these resources, contact Julie. These resources - especially the lists of field guides - aren't comprehensive. We have lots of similar source in the library. Search the catalog or browse the shelves nearby to find similar resources. 

Did you know books in the library are shelved according to topic? Once you find the right area, you are almost guaranteed to find other books on your topic. How do you find which areas to browse?

  • Start with a book you already have. Notice below that most of the field guides are in the QK and QL sections. If you are looking for similar books, head to those shelves and browse. (You can find building maps here or ask anyone who works in the library for directions. There's also a directory opposite the information desk near the entrance.)
  • Browse the Library of Congress Classification system, which is the system we use to shelve books, to find several subject areas that relate to your topic and then go browse!

Field Guides & Books about Plants

Field guides are excellent resources to help you identify plants and animals in any given environment. The call number tells you where to find the book in the library. (Most of these are on the main level in the middle row of books.) You can consult our guide to finding books and/or ask someone at the Information Desk for help. 

Field Guides - Animals

Online Resources

There are several online resources that can help with your research, too. Researching scientific fields can be tricky, as it's easy to stumble into scientific articles that require a strong background in the field to understand. Many of these resources contain that kind of scientific literature, but they also contain overviews and information suitable for a general audience, too. 

In the Reference Collection

These books can't be checked out, but they might have useful background and factual information. Though they are written like Wikipedia articles, the authors are experts in the field and they sometimes provide a scientific focus you won't find at Wikipedia. They are located on the main floor on the Beck Hall side of the building.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0