Making Effective Use of the Library
Get to the library! There is lots of information available today on the Internet, but only libraries have librarians. Whether you go to a public library or a college library, the first thing you need to do when you walk in the door is find the Reference Desk and introduce yourself. Explain to the librarian that you are conducting research on companies in the hospitality industry. Ask for a list of the resources at the library and write them down.
You want to know which books, magazines, newspapers and databases are available, and where they are located. Using databases can be intimidating. Any reference librarian will give you a personal tutorial on searching if you ask.
If you do not already have borrowing privileges at the library, find out how to get privileges. Public libraries usually grant privileges to residents of the city or county that funds the library. Libraries within a county or even a state may allow borrowing by anyone who holds a library card at another library in the county or state.
College and university libraries may allow anyone to use the library facilities, but they restrict borrowing of items to students, faculty, staff or alumnae who are members of the alumnae association. Even if you no longer live in the city where you went to college, join the alumnae association if it means you get access to the library via the Internet.
