The University at Albany Libraries have well over 2.5 million items in our collections, in both print and digital formats. With so many items to choose from, the most challenging part of researching here is often finding the few items you need to accomplish your goals. When you add in the time constraints of a short visit, it's important that you prepare as much as possible beforehand, and that you don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Below are a few things you can do to make the most of your time.
Before you arrive:
- If you can, narrow down your research topic, and think of search terms (subjects, authors, etc.) that you can use to search our online resources when you're here.
- Use the library's search tool to find items on your research topic, and write down the call numbers, titles and authors. That way when you get here you'll have more time to look at the sources you've found and decide which ones are most valuable.
While you're here:
- Take advantage of our librarians' expertise! You'll likely have a librarian helping you to get oriented to the library, and there will also be librarians working at the reference desk. We're here to help, so don't spend too much time wandering around lost, or stuck in a database that's not giving you the results you're looking for. One question can save you hours of frustration.
