Skip to main content

*Communication: Getting Started

Resources for researching mass communication.

Summer 2020

The GSU Library buildings are currently scheduled to reopen on August 24 (as of July 29).

Access to our print books will continue to be available through curbside pickup (on the Atlanta, Dunwoody, and Clarkston campuses).
Click here for information on arranging for curbside pickup. This service is available to all GSU faculty/staff/students.

Special Collections & Archives will be open as of August 24 to researchers by appointment only; please contact them at archives@gsu.edu for assistance.

We currently cannot provide physical materials (i.e. books) via GIL Express or Interlibrary Loan.

Please note that the Library North entrance/exit is currently closed due to construction. Please use the Library South entrance/exit.

All of our electronic resources remain open!

  • For a list of our online databases, see the Databases by Name list on the library's homepage.
  • You can also sort our databases by subject area using the Databases by Subject dropdown on the library's home page.
  • You can search for electronic books in the library's catalog. The Books tab on this guide has information on how to search for ebooks, and on other electronic-book collections being made available.
  • You can place Interlibrary Loan requests for articles and for book chapters/sections ONLY (which can be requested and delivered electronically). Expect a lag on these requests, and be aware that we may not be able to fulfill book chapter/section requests due to other libraries not being able to provide access to print books. This includes articles and chapters held in GSU's print collections.
  • You can view films through our three streaming services: Kanopy, Films on Demand, and SWANK. (Sadly, the library is not able to provide access to commercial streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

And you can still get help!

  • You're here! Check out the resources on this research guide.
  • The blue "Ask Us" button on the right-hand side of this page will take you to our chat reference service, staffed by reference librarians from 9am - 9pm Monday-Thursday and 9am - 5pm Fridays.
  • We have an extensive list of library FAQs which is available for research assistance 24/7. FAQs related to using the library during social distancing are collected here.
  • You can contact me directly via email -- cilck the Email link in the box with my photo in it or email me directly at janderson73@gsu.edu. As always, email is the best way to start with me, but we can also make an appointment to meet via WebEx (rather than in person as previously)
  • I will not be available for in-person instruction or consultations until further notice, but I will be holding online drop-in office hours via WebEx, to be announced when the semester begins.

Communication Reference

Reference Materials:

  • Condense information into a general overview.
  • Are usually written by scholars in the field.
  • Contain suggestions for further reading.

What about Google Scholar?

What's included?

Google Scholar can be an excellent way to locate scholarly resources. The search engine is Google, but limited to scholarly resources including:

  • Scholarly books (though often not entire books, due to copyright issues)
  • Scholarly articles
  • Theses & dissertations
  • Patents
  • Legal opinions & journals

Tips

If you are searching in Google Scholar on the Georgia State University campus, you'll see a link to a PDF or HTML copy of the item if the GSU Library provides access to it. If we do not have that item available, you can place an Interlibrary Loan for the item. (Click here to begin the Interlibrary Loan process).

If you are not on the GSU campus, you will be asked for your Campus ID and password to get access to an item held by GSU. For information on connecting to GSU's holdings from home through Google Scholar, click here!

Especially helpful!!: You may also see a link for an item that says "Cited by." Clicking on that link will show you items that have cited the item you are looking at. Those items may be of interest to you as well.