LSCS Libraries | Research Guides | Research Guides - Montgomery |

Current and Controversial Issues

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, books on paper topics can be found in the Ready Reference Section of the library, located behind the Reference Desk. A librarian will be happy to help you select such a book.

Places to start:

Title	Call Number
100 Research Topic Guides for Students	Reference Desk
10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, and Reports	REF LB 1047.3 .L35
99 Jumpstarts to Research: Topic Guides for Finding Information on Current Issues	REF ZA3050 .W47 2001

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.

Title	Description	Call Number Range
Opposing Viewpoints Series	Series is located in its own section of the Reference Collection. The series is clearly visible with yellow labels on each book of the series.	REF BD 431 - REF Z 657
Contemporary World Issues Series	Series is located in its own section of the Reference Collection. It is clearly visible with light blue labels on each book of the series.	REF BL 65 - REF Z 658
Library in a Book Series	Series is located in its own section of the Reference Collection and is marked by bright pink labels.	REF BL 238 - REF ZA 3225
Information Plus	Each volume in the Information Plus series explores a current issue in depth. Good for statistics and for breaking your topic into manageable divisions.	REF HN59 .I5 A2

The Library Catalog

To search the Library Catalog for resources about your topic, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select Library Catalog. 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!

Getting research assistance . . .

Reference Desk

Email: mclr@lonestar.edu

Phone: 936 273 7390

Would you like to suggest a resource? Contact Us!