Library Research

Research

There are heaps of places to find information – it’s not just Google – and these are just a few of what the library can help you with: 

• Books – yes, people still use books and we have them in abundance in the library! They are great for getting a deeper understanding of a topic – and if you like reading about a subject, why not see if there is a fiction book on the same topic.

• Articles – newspaper, magazine, and journal articles, scholarly and peer reviewed articles, are a great source of up-to-date information.

• Databases are an excellent starting point to find articles on your research topic. Check with your teacher or the school librarians for a list of databases for your topic.

• Encyclopaedias – a good starting point to find information on a subject. We have a number of great encyclopaedias available in print and online.

• Or search the library catalogue for your topic.

• Check out The World Book (available in print and online), Te Ara Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The school librarians are keen to help you with your research questions. Feel free to email them on library@riccarton.school.nz or come over to the library.

Accurate Referencing

When writing a research project, it’s important that you say where you got the information from and cite your resources correctly – include a bibliography of your references. Riccarton High School uses APA style referencing for bibliographies – see How to Write a Bibliography for more information on how to do this.

Plagiarism occurs when you use someone else’s work and say it’s your own.
This is why it’s very important to make sure you cite your sources.

Get Started

These are some places to get you started with your research: