Ethics Materials Found in SPC Libraries

Reference Books
Encyclopedias and dictionaries that cover general ethics may be found in the reference are under the call letters "BJ." Additional reference materials with ethics-related information might be found within the sections covering other subjects, such as biology (QH, QL), medicine (R), business (HF), or criminal justice (HV). Use a reference book to help you narrow your focus and to provide key vocabulary terms that can be used with electronic databases.

Pro/Con and Opposing Viewpoints Collection
Some campus libraries have a special reference collection displaying these books. Many of the controversies discussed in these volumes can be used to support research assignments in ethics. The Pro/Con books provide a variety of opinions focused around specific problems or questions. They are another good tool for narrowing your topic. (Note also the call numbers on any useful books you find here. If you check the regular shelves using the same call number, there may be similar books that you can borrow.)

Reserve Items
Ethics materials are often found on reserve at the library front desk. Items that might be here are codes of ethics, textbooks, videos, supplementary readings, instructor notes, and photocopied articles.

Using the LibraryOnline for Further Research
You can locate and use many different research tools from any computer with Internet access. The library web address is:  www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline.

Finding Books and Audiovisual Materials
Once you call up the web site, you'll see a link to the library catalog. The catalog may be searched using keywords such as "medical ethics" and can be set to search one or all of the SPC library collections. The catalog provides complete information about each book or audiovisual item and will even indicate if the material is available for use.

Finding Magazine and Journal Articles
The listings on the library web page help you to locate various electronic databases that can provide complete articles from magazines and journals. Databases are searched using keywords. To obtain a focused selection of articles, it's usually best to combine two or three words, such as "ethics AND teaching AND college." Three examples of databases with full text resources are:

Academic Search Premier
Student Resource Center
Business Source Elite

Using the Internet
Check Top Links for "Select Websites" to get links to specific Internet sites chosen by our faculty. The selections include several useful resources for viewing Codes of Ethics. The "Search Engines" feature helps you get started with a general Internet search. The Internet is particularly useful for finding web sites about various professions or vocations. Effective searching depends upon selecting the right search words and knowing the tricks associated with each particular searching program. Look for a section labeled "tips" or "help" when using a program that is new to you.

Getting More Help and Advice

Librarians at any SPC site are available to help you plan your research and get your started. You can reach them in person, by telephone, or via the Online Reference Desk.