Frequently Asked Reference Questions

What kinds of questions can I ask at the Mann reference desk?

The reference desk is where people can go for help using the library, our resources, and our collection. All questions are welcome, from "Where do I find my book?" to "What is the circumference of the Earth?" to "How do I begin researching agroforestry?" See a list of reference question examples.

What kinds of information expertise do librarians at Mann have?

The professional librarians at Mann Library are all experts in the general areas of our collections -agriculture and life sciences, human ecology, biology and nutrition. Many of us specialize in narrower areas like business, plant pathology, geographic information, etc., or in particular resources and software applications. To find out who the expert in your field is, contact reference services or request a consultation.

What subject areas are covered at Mann?

Our collection strengths are in fields such as:

• Plant and Animal sciences
• Biotechnology
• Nutrition and Food Sciences
• Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Textiles and Apparel
• Education and Health Administration
• Climate Studies and Soil Sciences
• Design and Ergonomics
• Microbiology and Entomology
• Family Studies and Human Development
• Genetics
• Population Studies and Housing
• Other Life Sciences
• Human Services and Rural Sociology
• Other Social Sciences

Learn more about our collections and policies here.

What instructional services or additional assistance does Mann offer?

Mann Library offers a variety of instructional services, including workshops each semester. More information can be found on our Instruction pages. In addition, we offer individual consultations with librarians. If you have an in-depth research question or feel like you need some extra help, feel free to stop by the reference desk to see if a consultation is appropriate, or click here to request a consultation.

When are librarians available to help me?

Times and options for getting reference assistance are listed here.

What is the Reference Collection?

Near the Reference Desk on the first floor, you will find our Reference collection, which consists of two sections: print reference indexes and abstracts, and reference books. The Reference Indexes and Abstracts are the print version of the electronic databases that you use to locate literature on a topic. They will help you locate older journal citations. The reference books are chosen for their up-to-date information value. Among them you will find dictionaries, encyclopedias, and general reference materials for quick fact-finding.

Where can I study in Mann?

A limited number of graduate (individual) study rooms can be checked out for one day. The other individual study rooms can be checked out for 4 hours. Group study rooms have a 2 hour loan period. All are available on a first come, first serve basis. One exception is a group study room equipped with a projector, that can be reserved in person at the Circulation desk. Check the Equipment and Rooms page for more information, including availability. Wireless networking is available on all floors of Mann Library. On the 1st, 3rd and 4th floor, you will also find study tables wired for Internet access for laptop connections.

Where are the books located in Mann?

Mann's collection is located on the 3rd and 4th floor stacks, except for the reference collection which is located on the 1st floor, and the Ellis collection which is on the 2nd floor. The reference collection contains materials used to help find answers to questions and to help in the research process.

The journal title in my citation is abbreviated, how do I find the complete title?

Often, citations to articles will include abbreviated journal titles. In some cases you may be able to successfully use the Search by Journal Title Abbreviation search function in the CU Library Catalog to see if Cornell Library owns the journal. You can also try this tool. Reference books such as Periodical Title Abbreviations may also be useful. If you still have problems, try contacting the reference desk. 

CUL does not have the resource that I need, can I still get it?

Despite the size and comprehensiveness of the Cornell University Library collection, individuals may require materials that CUL does not own. If the Cornell Library system does not own the material you need, you may request books, articles or microfilm to be delivered from another institution. This is a free service for current Cornell students, faculty and staff. For links and information, see Mann Document Delivery.

If you think the resource that you need should be a part of our collection, please let us know so we can consider purchasing it for the library.

How do I identify articles on my topic? It seems like many of the article databases only go back 10-20 years. So, how do I find old journal articles?

To identify articles on your topic, you need to perform a literature search in a print or electronic index. Most electronic indexes do not go back more than 10-20 years. For older articles use a print index. Electronic indexes are available through the Find Databases portion of the Library Gateway. Select a general category and browse through the indexes you retrieve. Based on the description, choose an index that is most likely to contain information on your topic. You can also search Find Databases for a suitable index but your search term should be a general category rather than a specific topic.

For further help with selecting an index, go to the Library Gateway Help page: Research Strategy and Process: Finding Specific Types of Materials: Finding Articles, or ask a Librarian.

Once I find information about an article that I am interested in, how do I locate the full article?

If the index you are using does not offer full-text access to journal articles, you need to do a journal title search on the CU Library Catalog. Please note that you cannot search the Catalog for the article title or author. Use the Basic Search option, select the journal title field, and type in the title. If Cornell carries the journal, you will retrieve the holdings and location information, including call number. If the journal is not available at Cornell, fill out an Interlibrary Loan request form.

If you need further assistance determining how to locate the full-text of a journal article, consult the Library Gateway Help page: Research Strategy: Finding Specific Types of Materials: Finding Articles, or ask a Librarian.

What is a peer-reviewed or refereed journal and is there a list of them?

A peer-reviewed journal of a refereed journal is a journal in which the articles are submitted by researchers who are experts in the field, and before publishing are reviewed by the editors or outside referees. Serials guides, such as the Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory (Mann Reference Z6941 U45; also available through Find Databases), contain either lists of refereed journals or information on whether a specific journal is peer-reviewed. In some databases, it is also possible to restrict your search to peer-reviewed journal citations only.

For help with determining whether a journal is peer-reviewed, contact the Reference Desk.