ESL 101: Home
General Questions and Reference Assistance
Anytime:
We'll respond within 24 hours of the start of our next business day.
During Library Hours:
Voice: (217) 373-3839.
Text: (217) 615-0079.
Chat:
The Library is here to help!
The Parkland Library wants to help you succeed in school and life!
In the Library you will find:
- Helpful people who can answer all kinds of questions
- Books for your research
- Fun reading -- bestsellers, paperbacks
- DVDS - for entertainment or education
- Magazines - from ESPN and People to Veterinary Economics
- Calculators you can check out to take to math class
- Kindles you can take home
- Laptops you can use in the Library
- Group study areas, with whiteboards
- Quiet study areas
When you need to do research for a college class, use the Library's resources to be sure you are getting credible academic information. (Don't just Google). Use the tabs on this research guide to help you find good quality information.
Not sure what source(s) to use? ASK US!
Key words
One of the biggest challenges for researchers is finding and using KEY WORDS -- the search words you need to get to the information you want. It can be especially hard for when you are working in a language that isn't your native one! Ask a librarian or your instructors for help! Try to come up with as many alternative ways of saying something as you can. For example:
Family dinner
Family meal
Dinnertime
Eating together
what else????
Map out your search strategy
Creating a concept map can help you set up your search. Pose your research question then determine the elements of your search. Add synonyms to create a great search!
- Blank Concept Map and ExampleThis guide from the UIUC library has a blank concept map and an example that is already completed. Use these to help plan out your research.