Library Research Guides

Style Guides

For more on citing sources, see How to Cite

• MLA Handout (PDF File) – 9th Edition
• APA– 7th edition (Word)
• Chicago
• ASA – 7th edition

Top Research Guides

• L Building Map (1st Floor and 2nd floor)
• Library Basics 2014 (Word File)
• The Research Process(PDF File)
• Plagiarism Brochure (PDF File)
• Developing a Research Topic and Identifying keywords (PowerPoint File)
• Library Vocabulary (PDF)

Searching the Library Databases

• Article Database Tutorials are above in 'Resources for Students'
• COA Library Tutorial: Searchpath

Developing a Thesis Statement or Research Question

• Information Literacy Puzzle
• The Research Process – Seattle Central College
• Picking Your Topic IS Research! – North Carolina State University (Flash)
• Research is a Conversation — University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Flash)
• It’s All About the Questions — Oklahoma State University (Video)

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

• What is a Primary Source? (NCSU Libraries)
• Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources (UC Merced)

Scholarly & Popular Periodicals

• Scholarly vs. Popular Magazines (PDF File)
• Peer Review — North Carolina State University (Flash)
• Scholarly Articles — SUNY, Albany (Video)

Evaluating Information

• Evaluation of Sources (PDF File)
• Who Do You Trust and Why? — Oklahoma State University (Video)
• How to Spot Fake News –FactCheck.org (Video)
• Evaluating Health Information – National Library of Medicine (HTML)
• Safiya Noble | Challenging the Algorithms of Oppression (Video)

Call Numbers

• How to Read a Call Number – University of Arkansas (Video)

Information Literacy

• Los Rios Libraries Information Literacy Tutorials– Canvas modules in the Commons

Title Lists

• LGBTQ+ History Month Title List – October 2021
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Title List – January 17, 2022
• Black History Month Title List – Feb. 2022
• Women’s History Month Title List – March 2022
• Cesar Chavez Day Title List – March 31, 2022
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Title List – May 2022

Research-based Writing Resources

• Evidence Interpretation and Analysis Log

Library Archive

• The Reporter – College of Alameda Newspaper – Archive (Contact the Periodicals Department for more information)
• Fiset Guitar Collection – Finding Aid