CLLS 101 - Cook

Clinical Laboratory Sciences Research Guide

Finding Library Materials

To find books, journals, videos, and other library materials, there are several resources to use. Beginning at the library's homepage, you will find links for locating all types of library materials.

The snapshot of the Library Homepage below highlights the Find menu which is a good starting point to find articles, books, class help pages, citation help, and more!

• Find Books, videos, and more using the online catalog. The online catalog is set-up so you can perform keyword searches, subject searches, title searches, etc.
• Find Journals: Journals may be available online, in print, or in microform. You can search by the full journal title, title words, or by subject.
• Find Articles using Databases. You can select Health and Medical Resources if you are specifically searching a health-related topic, or select other subject areas as necessary.

CLS Journals Available Online as well as in Print at FLITE:

You can search online for topics of interest in these individual journals by linking out to the full text from the online catalog journals tab, or by clicking on the links below and then selecting the GO button by the Full Text option (see the Sample Journal Link-Out below). OR, you can also pick up the print copy from the second floor shelves and browse through the journal to find an article of interest.

American Journal of Clinical Pathology
American Laboratory
Clinical Chemistry
*Clinical Laboratory Science
*Laboratory Medicine
*Medical Laboratory Observer
Transfusion

Sample Journal Link-Out from the Online Catalog Journals Tab

Finding Articles using FLITE Databases

To find articles pertinent to clinical laboratory sciences and other medical research articles, it is essential to use the appropriate databases that provide access to many citations and full-text articles. If you are doing research from off-campus, you will need to log-on to use databases licensed by FSU. You can log-on to the databases using your MyFSU username and password. Click here for more information on off-campus database access.

General OneFile
This is a general database that will be useful for finding information on about any topic you can come up with! By default, you start off using the Find Subject search box. If you don't find your subject, switch to the Basic Search to search by keyword. Also consider switching to the Advanced Search that will let you limit your articles to particular journals, as well as to full-text, peer-reviewed, etc. Academic Onefile is a database that will have many similar articles, but will also have unique content, so try them both! Academic OneFile operates in the same manner as General OneFile.

CINAHL
The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) currently gathers information from more than 3000 journals. After you've run a search, use the left-hand menu and scroll down to Subject Major Heading and check the box next to the major topic you are interested in, and select Update to get a more on-topic results set. You can narrow and expand your search using the options available in this database, such as peer-reviewed, date ranges, etc.

PubMed
This is the largest biomedical database, with over 21 million citations. Search using keywords and then limit your search if necessary using the Limits link, related citations link, or selecting the Review link. Another highly useful resource from the National Library of Medicine is Medline Plus - Consumer Health.

Click here for a PubMed tutorial.

Obtaining the Full-Text of Articles

In some databases you will see an option for a Text version of the document or a PDF version. In general, the PDF version is preferable as it is most often a scanned version of the original and will therefore contain the graphics. When e-mailing, printing, or saving a group of articles, be sure to select the full-text or PDF option if available.

Some databases contain little full-text, but allow you to link out to Ferris' holdings or the interlibrary loan request form. You will notice the Find it! links following individual citations that will indicate the availability of the article. The article may be available online, in the library, or may need to be obtained through interlibrary loan. Click on the Go button and you will be taken to the online version, library holdings record, or interlibrary loan form to obtain the article you desire.

Evaluating your Articles

Before requesting articles from interlibrary loan, please review the abstract and make sure that the article is on-topic. Also, please insure that the article is in a language that you speak, as some databases, such as PubMed index many non-English articles that have abstracts written in English. After you have evaluated the topical coverage and language of the article, please do not hesitate to request it through interlibrary loan if it is not available on campus.

Citation Styles

Avoid plagiarism by properly citing your sources. Please go to the Citations webpage to learn how.

APA Citation Style Guide:
Learn basics about APA style, a prevalent citation format in the medical field.

Any more questions? Contact: Alison (Ali) Konieczny / Email / Phone: 231-591-3696 / Office: FLITE 315

Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.

Last update: October 1, 2011