The first step for most research projects is to find books on your topic. Books contain background or in-depth information, giving you a broader understanding of your topic.

THOMCAT, our library's online catalog will direct you to titles on your topic, tell you where they are located in the library and whether or not they are checked out.  ThomCat includes all book, CD, and DVD titles in Thomason Library.  Titles of journals and newspapers can also be found in ThomCat, but NOT titles of specific articles. See Find Articles above for more information.  How to Search ThomCat 

Our Location Guide provides information on call numbers and where to find materials and rooms in the building.

The PASCAL Catalog will identify more books on your topic that may be available at other libraries in SC. Books found here can be ordered directly from this catalog for delivery to PC within 3-4 days [at no charge] through the statewide program called PASCAL Delivers.

WorldCat will identify even more books on your topic that may be available outside SC. Library materials owned by Thomason Library will be highlighted in your search results. Items found in this catalog that are not available at PC or in the PASCAL Catalog can be ordered through Interlibrary Loan with a small fee.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Borrowing Agreement allow Presbyterian College students, faculty, and staff to borrow library materials from other libraries.  Community borrowers should check with their public library for ILL service.  

See Citing Resources or refer to our citation manuals in Ready Reference (RR) to correctly cite the sources you have used.  The Writing Center will also help you prepare/correct your bibliography.

Please ask a Reference Librarian if you have any questions.  We are here to help you find information.

After you find books on your topic, your next step should be to find articles.