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Books are written or printed works produced by one or more authors. Individuals or committees with expertise in the field often edit books. Because they provide comprehensive information on their subject at the time of publication, books are very valuable in the research process. For many subject areas this is the best starting point for research. Many books contain valuable bibliographies at the end of each chapter or at the close of the book. This provides an excellent entry point into the subject material as well to the authors publishing in a particular field of study.
| Blaze: the Forensics of Fire | TH 9180 .F35 |
| Building Construction Related to the Fire Service | RES TH 145 .B82 |
| Essentials of Fire Fighting | TH 9151 .E88 |
| Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 1999 | REF TH 9503 .F42 FA-211 |
| Fire Service Loss Control | RES TH 9310.5 .F577 |
| North Carolina Fire and Emergency Services Laws Annotated | REF KFN 7781.A3 |
Online information databases are large, regularly updated collections of digitized information -- including but not limited to abstracts and full text articles from journals and newspapers, conference proceedings and submitted papers, dissertations, government reports, essays, book chapters, web pages, etc. The content is created by publishers who release print versions, then lease the rights to their information to database vendors. Database records are easy to search and retrieve because the content of each record has been analyzed and assigned appropriate subject headings, keywords, names, etc. New records are regularly downloaded from the producer of each database.
In order to access these resources off-campus, you must first obtain the passwords.
If you are looking for a specific journal within a database, use the E-Journal Portal. It returns the names of databases which contain the desired journal.
Government information is generated by local, state, national, and international governments on almost all topics. Most government information is undergoing a major shift from traditional formats such as print and microfiche, to a variety of electronic formats available through the Internet. Government information is considered to be a primary, authoritative and reliable resource. To find government information on your topic, search the library catalog, specialized indexes, and government agency web sites.
An excellent resource for all types of government information in virtually any subject area or topic is the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. Individuals can access information online or by using the Consumer Information Catalog to locate items.
Handbooks, manuals and guides are resources which supply concise factual and statistical information, often in the form of charts, graphs, tables and formulas. These sources have very basic information, with little or no discussion or analysis of the facts they present. They cover a wide variety of topics, and as with other reference sources, these tools may be general or specific to a field, group of people, or era. These sources are frequently updated, which makes them valuable for locating current information. Try searching the online catalog using the keywords of your topic combined with one of the following keywords: handbook, manual or guide.
| EMS Report Writing: a Pocket Reference | RC 86.3 .S73 |
| EMT Basic National Standards Exam | RC 86.7 .E593 |
| Everything You Need to Score High on Firefighter | TH 9157 .A37 |
| Guide to Developing Effective Standard Operating Procedures for Fire and EMS Departments | REF TH 9503 .F42 FA-197 |
| Medicine for the Outdoors: the Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid | RC 88.9 .O95 A94 |
| Paramedic Licensing Exam | RC 86.9 .P34 |
| The Paramedic Manual | RC 86.8 .G7 |
Journals are scholarly periodicals which publish current research and commentary on their specific field of study. Most scholarly journals are peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed and verified by a panel of experts in the field.
Statistical sources attempt to answer questions beginning with “How much?” or “How many?” The tool needed to answer such a question is determined by the question's depth and complexity. Typically a straightforward question requires searching for statistics already analayzed and recorded in books, journal articles, and the publications of governments, associations, and organizations.
| Report of the United States Fire Administration Program for the Study of Fire Patterns | REF TH 9503 .F42 FA-178 |
| Essentials of Fire Fighting; 23 volumes. Instructor check-out only. | RES COVT 4283 |
| Essentials of Fire Fighting; 10 volumes. Instructor check-out only. | RES COVT 4437 |