Bluffton University patrons have a number of excellent options for locating and borrowing books. Sometimes it’s as easy as finding it here on the shelf at Musselman Library, while other times it means requesting from another library. Here is a simple breakdown of what the process might look like to find the books you need. Librarians would be happy to help you with any part of this process.
o Step One: Search the Bluffton Library Catalog - to find materials here at our library.
o Step Two: Search the OhioLINK Catalog - to find materials at around 120 academic libraries in Ohio.
o Step Three: Search the SearchOhio Catalog - to find materials at a number of public libraries in Ohio.
o Step Four: Search WorldCat / Interlibrary Loan - often the first three steps will enable you to find what you need. But if not, you can search WorldCat to see if it might be available there. WorldCat includes materials from libraries around the world. If materials are found, patrons can fill out an Interlibrary Loan request form. The library staff will then try to borrow the book from a library that owns the item. The Interlibrary Loan page can be accessed through the link in the More Research Tools category on the library's homepage.
NOTE: while the above are described as step one, etc. there will be times when you might go directly to, say, SearchOhio. Or if you’re off-campus and rarely come to Bluffton, you might begin with OhioLINK.
While you will often find materials by searching the library catalog, browsing the shelves can also be a useful tool.
Books in the main library are organized using the Library of Congress (LC) classification system.
Below you will find LC classification areas in the library for materials on the topics of TESOL and Linguistics.
You should consult not only the general collection, but also the Curriculum Resource Center, Reading Room and video collections as well.
However, searching the catalog is often the best way to begin. You may find relevant materials that don't fit into the classifications listed below.
P -- Philology. Linguistics
PE -- English Language
LC -- Special Aspects of Education
Articles in reference sources can provide excellent overviews. They can be a good way to gain a general understanding of a subject. They are reliable sources, and can be cited. Reference articles are often written by scholars, and may list additional sources for research.