Introduction | Reference Sources | Indexes & Databases | Internet Resources | Citation Styles

For further research assistance, please contact Maureen Perry (mperry@usm.maine.edu; 753-6546), Arts and Humanities/Leadership and Organizational Studies/Social and Behavioral Sciences Liaison at Lewiston-Auburn College Library, University of Southern Maine.

In order to find books, journal titles, videos, government documents and other materials held in the University of Maine System you will need to consult URSUS, the online catalog. Because journal article citations are not individually included in URSUS, you will need to use a discipline-specific index to find this information (see Resources by Subject).

If you do not know the exact subject heading describing the topic you need, try doing a keyword search using other word/s related to that topic and then click on the subject heading links found within the relevant records to find additional, useful resources.

The Library of Congress provides a breakdown of the call number classification scheme. To find a listing of call numbers click on any of the subcategories to see more detail.

The following is a listing of selected subject headings relating to Service Learning. Each subject heading is hotlinked directly to URSUS

Community service

Reflective teaching

Student service

Voluntarism

To obtain materials not located at your USM, but still within URSUS, you will need to click on the Request button on the URSUS screen and enter your name and barcode number (found under the barcode on your USM Card, which begins with 25022....). Your barcode will need to be activated at the Circulation Desk.

If the item is not available through the University of Maine System (URSUS) or Maine InfoNet you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (Illiad).

Reference sources are useful tools to obtain background information and to develop a vocabulary of possible search terms. The following items are print resources available within the University of Maine system

The complete guide to service learning : proven, practical ways to engage students in civic responsibility, academic curriculum, & social action
BPL New Books 373.119 K1822

Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
LEW Periodicals 1994-present

Service learning : curricular applications in nursing
LEW RT73 P64 2001

SMSU Journal of Public Affairs
Available from 2001-the present through Academic Search Premier

Voices in dialogue
LEW LC220.5 V64 1995

Where’s the Learning in Service Learning?
LEW LC220.5 E95 1999

Because of the lengthy publishing cycle for a book, information in a book is not always current. Periodical articles are current sources of information. There are two main types of periodicals: scholarly and popular. Scholarly periodicals are usually referred to as journals. Articles in journals contain reports of primary research; the articles are written by experts in the field and for other researchers/scholars; use terms and language specific to that discipline; may include graphs, charts, etc. related to the topic; most often are peer reviewed via an editorial board; are published by professional organization or society, university, research centers, scholarly presses; and often include a bibliography. Popular periodical articles contain general information; are written using easily understood language that appeals to a varied audience; are usually written by journalists or others who are not experts in the field; do not include citations; has a limited or non-existent editorial review board; and may contain glossy photographs. The Finding Articles tutorial provides more information on how to find articles.


To find scholarly articles it is necessary to consult a discipline-specific electronic or print index/database. The following are electronic indexing sources available to the Unversity of Southern Maine community.

Academic Search Premier
Date coverage: Dates vary by publication. Click here to determine coverage
Provides full text for nearly 4,000 scholarly publications of which 3,100 are peer reviewed. Academic areas of study include: social sciences, humanities, education, computer sciences, engineering, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, and ethnic studies.

Education Full Text


ERIC
Date coverage: 1966-present
Indexes and abstracts journal articles and documents on education research and practice. Includes information in the area of educational psychology.


PAIS International
Date coverage: 1972-present
Citations for articles, books, conference proceedings, government documents, and book chapters


Sociological Abstracts
Date coverage: 1974-present
Citations for articles, books, dissertations, and conference proceedings in sociology and related disciplines

There is no authority control for the Internet. In choosing Internet resources it is imperative to evaluate the authenticity of the source. Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources (UCLA College Library) provides excellent evaluation criteria. The following selected resources have been chosen because of authenticity and comprehensiveness of coverage.

Campus Compact Sites

Maine Campus Compact

Massachusetts Campus Compact

National Campus Compact

Service Learning Sites

International Partnership for Service Learning and Leadership

National Commission on Service Learning

National Service Learning Clearinghouse

National Society for Experiential Education

USM-Community Sites

USM Civic Engagement Coordinating Committee (Definitions)

USM Service Learning Page

Citation Styles

Created by: Maureen Perry
Created on: 01.26.2006
Last Updated: 05.23.2007