Academic English

Write down as many different types of resources and services you can find at a library (e.g., magazines, copy service, etc.). If you had to write a research paper on African lions, what steps would you take to find information at the library (without using the internet)?

1. 1. It’s faster to find good information online than in a library.
   2. Libraries are more reliable than the Internet for academic research.
   3. Most students don’t need libraries anymore.
   4. Searching online teaches better research skills than using a library.
   5. Libraries are quieter and better for studying than home.
   6. Online sources are often more up to date than books in libraries.
   7. Using both online sources and libraries is the best approach.
   8. It’s easier to get distracted online than in a library.
   9. Library staff are more helpful than search engines.
   10. Digital libraries will eventually replace physical libraries.

“thumb through” = look casually at
“I thumbed through a number of books related to my research topic, but I didn’t find what I needed.”

“bite off more than you can chew” = try to do more than you can accomplish
“I think you’ve bit off more than you can chew in this case. Trying to write a research paper on the history of civilization in one week is really impossible.”

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

• facilities (noun): usually buildings with different types of equipment and offices
  – Full-time students can use all of the university facilities, including the library and gym.
• reference materials (noun): generally books such as dictionaries and encyclopedias that can not be checked out
  – I’m sorry, but reference materials can only be used in the library. They cannot be checked out.
• houses (verb): preserves, holds, contains
  – The special collection on the fifth floor houses our rare books.
• circulation desk (noun): the main desk where you check out books
  – Please go to the circulation desk to check out these books.
• periodicals (noun): magazines, journals, and newspapers
  – You can find that magazine in our periodicals section straight down this hall.
• back issues (noun): older periodicals, sometimes over several months old
  – Back issues of Time magazine can be found on the third floor.
• renew (verb): check out again
  – Yes, I’d like to renew this book, please.
• overdue books (noun): books that have been checked past the due date
  – I have two overdue books that need to be returned to the library.

What online libraries and resources have you used instead of visiting a library at your school or in the local community?