Library Services What do we do? Lesley Library supports learning and creative inquiry by welcoming all students to use our services and resources. Learn all about the research process from our expert team of librarians and use our Ask Us! service if you get stuck along any step in the process, from brainstorming topics to citing your sources. When are we available? Summer 2024 Hours: Moriarty Library (May 11-September 3): Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am–6:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 am–12:00 pm Weekends and Holidays: Closed Sherrill Library (May 18-September 3): Closed for construction. Services are available by appointment. Email asklib@lesley.edu for: Research Consultations Library Instruction Pick-Up Appointments Where can you find us? View our hours, get directions to our physical locations, and access our virtual library by going to research.lesley.edu. Why would you contact us? Looking for popular or scholarly sources Answers to your basic questions Questions about your research journey How do you contact us? If you have a question, just Ask Us! Questions How do I find a specific ebook or article I need? Most of our articles can be found using our Library's search tool @LL Search, which searches all library resources including databases, journals, and articles. It is usually easiest to search by title; if you know you have the exact title use quotation marks around it. It may help to add the author's name if you are doing a general keyword search Visit the library self help portal for more information How do I pick a topic and start my research? Tips for Deciding on a Research Topic Read the assignment requirements carefully. If you are unsure what topic would be relevant, talk to your professor. Choose a topic you find interesting. Consider how others have written about your topic. Resources they have used will likely be helpful. Consider your topic's scope. How broad or narrow is it? If your topic is too broad it may be difficult to find focused and relevant information. The topic also should be focused enough that it is meaningful to your audience. It may be hard to find information on a very narrow topic. If your topic is highly focused, be more flexible in your search strategy. For example, if you're interested in organic food labeling in a specific city, widen your information search to organic food labeling within the United States. Also think about what topic will be meaningful to your audience. What relevance will the topic have to them? Visit the library self help portal for information related to research and topics How do I log in to access library resources? Please use the login library tool