Library
There are many reasons for an individual to visit the library in their town or city. The library is a collection of books, periodicals, computers and other sources that are usually available to residents for free. One of the main library purposes that serve a community is giving an individual a place to research a subject.
• The main library in an area will usually be the biggest and most well-stocked building within the library branch. For instance, the New York Public Library has many branches but the main library is the largest location, with three floors and hundreds of thousands of ways to do research. To start researching a subject in the library, one should do a search on the available resources within the main library on the subject. If an individual is researching birds, then they should do a search of what books and videos the library has on birds. Nowadays, the library catalog is available through a computer within the library. There are also magazine articles and newspaper articles available.
• One should not just search the computer databases in the main library. Librarians are available to help individuals find the location of various items. If an item is available at one branch of the library but not another, the librarian can request an inter-library loan on the item. This allows the individual to get the source at their main library after it is sent there, even though the item is usually located in another branch. The person should also be able to return this item to the same branch of the library that they normally use; in other words, their main library.
• After searching the library catalog, the individual should find the location of the sources that are going to be used. This is done by finding the call numbers, which are a series of numbers and letters that categorize the sections of non-fiction books. Sections are arranged according to topic. When in the library, an individual may notice books on their subject in the bookshelves that they did not notice on the library Internet database. An individual who is searching for a newspaper or magazine article will have to search a different section of the library. The main library will have a section specifically for magazines and newspapers. The articles are not arranged according to topic, but according to year and name.
With the help of the library Internet database, which lists every resource available in the library, as well as the library staff, an individual can find exactly what sources they need to research a subject.