Written by: Jariyatu Abdul Rashid

The Mizzou Libraries are not just a place to borrow books; they’re a hub for research support. Sure, it has quiet study spaces and shelves stacked with books, but behind all of that is a network of resources designed to make your academic life easier. The library has tools to help with doing assignments, preparing for a presentation, or working on projects. Most of us take some courses that involve lots of writing, at least once, before graduation. And let’s be honest, writing usually comes with research. Even if you’re not in an English class, plenty of courses require some form of research, whether it’s a lab report, a case study, or a group project. Fortunately, the library has exactly what we need; research resources, knowledgeable librarians, and materials that go far beyond what you can find on your own. 

Databases: Here’s the thing, Google is fine for quick answers, but when you need credible, peer-reviewed sources, the libraries have your back. Through the Find a Database page, you can access collections that cover every subject imaginable.

Some of the most popular ones include JSTOR, great for humanities and social sciences, PubMed, perfect for health sciences and biology, PsycINFO, a must for psychology majors, and Business Source Complete for business, marketing, and economics.

Normally, these databases and articles are locked behind expensive paywalls, but as a Mizzou student, you get them for free. That’s a huge deal when you’re trying to impress your professor with solid sources. For example, instead of citing a random blog post, you can pull a peer-reviewed article from JSTOR or PubMed that gives your paper credibility. Also, in many classes, using peer-reviewed resources is required for research.

Research Guides: If you’ve ever felt lost about where to even start, the libraries also have Research Guides created by subject librarians. Think of them as roadmaps for your major. Instead of digging through endless options for resources, the guides point you straight to the best ones for your field. For example: Political Science majors can find guides for government and policy research. Biology students can access resources for lab studies and medical research, and Business students can dive into market data, company reports, and industry trends. It’s like having a librarian whispering, “Here’s where to look first.” These guides can save hours of wasted time and frustration. Personally, I wish I had known about them earlier. My first research paper would have been a lot less stressful if I had followed a guide instead of clicking through random websites.

Here’s another thing I wish I knew earlier: you can schedule a research consultation with a librarian. Yep, a real person will sit down with you (in person or online) and help you brainstorm keywords, find sources, and even figure out if your sources are reliable.

It’s basically like having a research coach, and it can save you hours of frustration. Imagine spending three hours searching for articles on your own, only to come up empty-handed. A librarian can often point you to the right database or search term in minutes. They’ve seen it all before, and they know the shortcuts.

Citations: Citations are the part of research papers that nobody enjoys. Formatting in MLA, APA, or Chicago style can feel like learning a new language. Luckily, the libraries offer workshops on tools like Zotero which organize your sources and automatically generate citations. Imagine finishing your paper and having your bibliography done in seconds- it’s a total game-changer. The organization also means if you’re working on a big project or even a thesis, you won’t lose track of where your information came from.

Here’s the truth: The libraries aren’t  just a place to cram before finals or to grab coffee at Bookmark Café. They’re a resource that can make your life as a student so much easier. Instead of panicking over where to find credible sources, you can use the libraries’ tools and people to get ahead. The next time you’re staring at a blank Word document, don’t just rely on Google. Check out Ellis Library’s Research Help page, explore a subject guide, or book a consultation. Not only will your research be stronger, but you’ll also save yourself a lot of stress.

Written by: Libby Gremaud

Have you ever needed a book in the library but couldn’t understand what the random numbers and letters in the call number meant? Have you ever gotten lost in the stacks while looking for a book? The call numbers can be confusing for someone who isn’t familiar with them, but once you learn how it works, you can find any book you want in the library! 

The library uses a few different systems of call numbers. If it begins with a letter, it is a Library of Congress call number, which is the main system used in academic libraries. These organize the books into subjects, with each grouping of numbers representing a more specialized topic. For example, the letter J is for Political Science books. The second letter represents an even more specific topic. In particular, JC is the subcategory of political theory under the broader category of J for political science. What is convenient about this system is that similar topics will be located next to each other in the library. 

A few collections in Mizzou Libraries use a different system like the Dewey Decimal system, which are all number codes.

To figure out where the book you’re looking for is, first see whether it uses the Library of Congress system or the Dewey decimal system. The Library of Congress sorts its books alphabetically, so the letters that appear at the front are going to be important for finding where the book would be located. This list guides you to where in the stacks they are located: 

After going to the floor where your book is located, look at the signs on the ends of the stacks to figure out which aisle your book is in. The books are sorted by ascending number order which comes after the letters in the call number- make sure you read each number as a whole number. 300 versus 3000 would be decently far apart in the stacks. Those numbers will be printed on the spines of the books, so once you have the right aisle, go down the row and read the spines. When you’ve found the correct number, down to the last digit, there’s your book! 

If your book uses the Dewey Decimal system, there’s only a few places in the library where it might be. For the most part, books with these numbers are in 4 East or the Depository. The Depository is where all of the overflow books are located, which is off campus and doesn’t have public access. In order to retrieve a book from the Depository you have to request it and it will be sent to the library for you to pick up. If the call number for your book is 353.8, that means it will go to the Government Documents section of the library, which is located in 1 East.

While finding a book may seem difficult, once you figure out how the call numbers work, you’re good to go! Of course, if you ever need help finding your book, feel free to visit the Peer Navigator desk on the first floor or ask for help through the Libraries Chat. For more information on how to find a book, visit the Locate a Book Using its Call Number: How to Find a Book page on the library website.