Other Useful Guides

Getting Started: Choosing Your Topic

To get started, you must select a topic that fits your assignment. Sometimes a professor gives you a topic or even a list of topics to choose from, but this is not always the case. At the LSC-Montgomery College Library, many books on the writing process are available in the Student Success and career Collection. A librarian will be happy to help you select such a book.

Places to start:

I’ve Chosen My Topic: Where Can I Find Information?

The Library’s online catalog and research databases are the perfect places to find your information. Libraries are filled with materials that can help you write about a current or controversial issue.

Databases:

Lone Star College System provides its students, staff and faculty with an incredible variety of licensed databases containing magazine, journal, newspaper articles and electronic books. The databases listed below have been chosen as some of the best for Current and Controversial Issues topics. For a list of suggested databases: http://www.lonestar.edu/library/14629.htm

To reach the complete list of LSCS library databases organized by subject, go to http://www.lonestar.edu/library/article-databases.htm

Accessing Databases from Home:

You can access these databases from home using your library barcode number. If you have problems accessing the databases, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

Series Of Books:

Series of books designed especially for Current and Controversial Issues are available in the Reference Section of the LSC - Montgomery College Library. Each of these series addresses a variety of issues.

The Library Catalog

To search the Library Catalog for resources about your topic,go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter a term related to your topic into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Circulating Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

Tips!

Requesting items not available at Montgomery Library:

If there is an item listed in the catalog, but it is not located at Montgomery Library, just select the “Request First Available Copy of this Item” button from the catalog record to have the item sent to Montgomery Library for pick-up. To complete your request, you need your library barcode and PIN number. Generally, your PIN number is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to register for classes. If you have problems requesting an item, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

If the item is not available in the catalog:

Just select the “Requests” tab located in the upper, right-hand side of the screen. Complete and submit the Inter-Library Loan Request Form – LSCS. Contact a librarian if you need help!