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STEM Summer Bridge

This guide introduces STEM Summer Bridge students to the SLCC Library.

Libraries & Academic Success

Academic success isn't just about reading your class textbook and taking notes in your classes. It also involves developing your ability to find information from your field of study and develop conclusions about important issues based upon that information. Our library collections connect you to the information sources that your professors would recommend you use (FOR FREE) via databases.

FYI: a database is simply a collection of files that you can search.

Summon: SLCC's Largest Database

Summon searches over 130 databases at once, successfully connecting articles, videos, and books from different disciplines into one set of search results. This means that once you master Summon, you will be able to use it for all of your classes. Our top tips are:

  1. Enter your search terms into the search box
  2. Use the filters on the left side of the page to reduce your search results to specific source types (like scholarly articles)
    1. This works the same way that Amazon search filters work
  3. Use the Quick Look button to read summaries of the source
  4. Use the Access Online Now or PDF buttons to read a specific source online
  5. Use the Citation button to get citation formatting recommendations

SLCC Catalog Search Box

Search the SLCC Catalog

SLCC Library Search
SLCC Library Search

A-Z Databases

While we do really like Summon, you may find that you don't like it. Perhaps Summon gives you too many search results. Maybe you don't like the types of sources you find in Summon. Maybe it gives you confusing results. All of these reasons are good ones to consider using our A-Z Databases list to find a database that will work better for YOU.

The A-Z Databases List is organized alphabetically and also has filters at the top of the page that will help you find sources from specific disciplines or even find databases that only contain specific types of sources (ex: videos).

SIRS Researcher

SIRS is one of the databases on the A-Z Database List that we recommend you consider using. This database contains current events topic summaries, timelines, critical thinking questions, and further reading lists. It is a great tool to use when you start researching a topic you aren't very familiar with.

While you could use the A-Z Database List to find SIRS, we'll link it right here: