The topics below will help you learn to find information effectively, or to reach a librarian if you need individual support.
There are several ways to reach us.
However you choose to get in touch, we’ll do our best to answer your questions as quickly and clearly as possible.
Is the information you’re finding CRAAP? Is it Current, Relevant, Authoritative, Accurate, and have a clear Purpose?
Visit our Evaluating Information page to see what types of questions you should be asking as you choose your sources for your research projects.
Individual Help
Reference Service
There is always a Reference Librarian available to assist you during the library’s opening hours. Whether you need help finding a book on the shelf, or are struggling to find relevant sources for a term paper, a librarian will be happy to help you overcome your research challenges.There are several ways to reach us.
- Call or visit us in person at the Reference Desk, 6C, (514) 931-8731 ext. 1731;
- Click Ask a Librarian to send us your question(s) by email; or
- Make an appointment using our Book a Librarian scheduling tool.
However you choose to get in touch, we’ll do our best to answer your questions as quickly and clearly as possible.
Academic Integrity
The Dawson College Academic Integrity Policy opens with the following statement of values and principles:
Learn more on the pages below:
Citing Sources
Avoiding Plagiarism
Dawson College is an institution committed to academic integrity. To act with academic integrity is to act honestly and truthfully in the preparation of one’s work and not to represent the work of others as one’s own.
It is expected that students, faculty, staff and administrators will act with integrity as they engage in, and/or support, teaching, learning and research. The College community takes pride in the quality of its graduates and strives to ensure that attestations and diplomas from Dawson College continue to be held in high esteem in higher education, in all aspects of employment, and in society.
It falls to the students, faculty, staff and administration of the College to create an environment which encourages adherence to the principles of academic integrity.
The surest way to ensure the integrity of your work is to become familiar with the rules and principles of citation, and to apply them as diligently as possible in all of your research and course projects.It is expected that students, faculty, staff and administrators will act with integrity as they engage in, and/or support, teaching, learning and research. The College community takes pride in the quality of its graduates and strives to ensure that attestations and diplomas from Dawson College continue to be held in high esteem in higher education, in all aspects of employment, and in society.
It falls to the students, faculty, staff and administration of the College to create an environment which encourages adherence to the principles of academic integrity.
Learn more on the pages below:
Citing Sources
Avoiding Plagiarism
Developing Your Topic
Sometimes the hardest part of a research project is knowing where to start. Visit our Developing Your Topic page for advice on how to select, explore, and refine a research topic.
Search Strategies
Search Tips Handout (General) // Search Tips Handout (RM)
Choosing Your Keywords
Often the key to a successful search is knowing what search terms to use. Find out how to identify the right keywords for your search.
AND, OR, NOT
Learn how these three words (a.k.a., Boolean Operators) can give you control over your searches.
Truncation (*)
One simple tool helps you find every variant form of your search term(s) inside the library’s databases.
Limiting/Expanding Sometimes the key to finding the best (or any) information is knowing how to effectively limit or expand your search strategies.
Choosing Your Keywords
Often the key to a successful search is knowing what search terms to use. Find out how to identify the right keywords for your search.
AND, OR, NOT
Learn how these three words (a.k.a., Boolean Operators) can give you control over your searches.
Truncation (*)
One simple tool helps you find every variant form of your search term(s) inside the library’s databases.
Limiting/Expanding Sometimes the key to finding the best (or any) information is knowing how to effectively limit or expand your search strategies.
Types of Sources
Information comes in many different forms, and different types of sources have different qualities that can make them more or less useful for your research assignments. Follow these links to learn more.
Types of Sources
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Scholarly vs. Popular Sources
Types of Sources
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Scholarly vs. Popular Sources
Evaluating Information
Is the information you’re finding CRAAP? Is it Current, Relevant, Authoritative, Accurate, and have a clear Purpose?
Visit our Evaluating Information page to see what types of questions you should be asking as you choose your sources for your research projects.
Research FAQs
If you haven’t found the information or guidance you need on our other Research Help pages, check our Research FAQs to see if the topic is covered.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please Ask a Librarian or let us know by completing our Comments & Suggestions. This will let us know there is an information gap we need to fill.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please Ask a Librarian or let us know by completing our Comments & Suggestions. This will let us know there is an information gap we need to fill.
Video Tutorials
Most of the Help topics on our pages are very nicely (and succinctly) explained in the video clips gathered on our Video Tutorials page.
This page also provides links to a number of comprehensive, self-paced tutorials on the library research process.
This page also provides links to a number of comprehensive, self-paced tutorials on the library research process.