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Fairfax County Public
Library wants you to succeed.
No matter what you want to be or what you want to accomplish,
the Library can help you get there.
Working with your school libraries,
we can help you find information for your school assignments.
The following "tips" will help you get the most out
of the library and do a better job on your homework.
And, if you follow these suggestions, you will also
spend less time in the library!
- Bring your library card. If you
don't have your card you can borrow materials, if
you have some form of identification. No ID -- no
books!
- Understand your assignment, when
it's due, and how your teacher wants the finished
product to look. If you have the assignment in writing,
bring it with you.
- Bring a pen, pencil, paper, change
for the copiers, and other supplies. Photocopies cost
15 cents a page; microform copies cost 25 cents.
- Allow plenty of time for delivery
of books or materials from other libraries. If your
neighborhood library doesn't have what you need, it
can borrow the material from another branch. Allow
three days for delivery, and remember: no delivery
on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.
- Ask the librarians how to use the
library. They know tricks to help you save your valuable
time.
- Be creative. Try all available
resources: books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets,
videos. Special booklists called "pathfinders" are
available on some subjects -- ask at the information
desk.
- Jot down the citation or
bibliographic information the same way every time.
That way, you don't have to wonder what it means later.
Use this order:
- author
- title of book, magazine, etc.
- title of article
- publisher
- date and volume number
- pages used
- Another approach:
copy the front and back sides of the book's
title page. Use this information for footnotes and
bibliographies.
- Narrow down broad, general topics.
For example, if your teacher asks you to write about
acid rain, you might focus on acid rain in the U.S.
or on laws and legislation. Look in the catalog or
magazine index under "Acid rain - U.S. - Law and Legislation."
By narrowing your topic, you'll have a few dozen useful,
well-chosen references instead of hundreds that you
need to sort.
- Teachers are impressed by a neat
appearance, so be sure to give yourself plenty of
time to make your paper look attractive.
- Take a break! Your brain will thank
you. Get some fresh air, or find a good book to read
when your homework is finished. After all, you're
using the library faster now.
- PLAN AHEAD. Yes, you've heard it
before, but here it is again. If you wait until 6:00
pm the night before the assignment is due to start
working on it, you're going to find: not much left
on your topic (your classmates got there first), librarians
who are worried because they don't have enough time
to help you do a good job, and the library might not
even be open! We want you to get what you need to
get a good grade, so come early. We'll be happy when
you leave with time to spare, and you will be too.
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