Library | Merritt
Library
Spring 2026 Update: We are currently out of Chromebooks and are only able to distribute more as they are returned. Before coming into the library to get a Chromebook, please call the Circulation Desk at 510-436-2555 to see if any are available.
Library
Ask a Librarian
Library FAQ
Library Catalog
Databases & eBooks
Research Guides
Research Basics
Citation Styles
For Faculty
Library Orientation Request Form
Documents
Our Mission
The mission of the Merritt College Library is to support the institutional goals and objectives of the College by providing access to relevant information resources and technologies, as well as information literacy instruction, to the diverse college community.
Contact
ask@merritt.libanswers.com
Phone: (510) 436-2557
Location
L Building, 2nd & 3rd Floors
12500 Campus Drive
Oakland, CA  94619
Hours of Operation
Fall and Spring Semesters
Mon – Thu: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri – Sun: CLOSED
Library Department Chair
Adoria R. Williams MA, JD, MLIS
Room L-207
arwilliams@peralta.edu
(510) 436-2464
Research Basics
Define Your Topic
If given the choice, select a topic of interest to you that fulfills both the scope and requirements of the assignment. Express your topic as a statement or a question (for example,
the effect of alcohol on the health of college students
).
Gather Background Information
Consult general reference books to get an overview of your chosen topic and to find background information.
Dictionaries and thesauruses
define unfamiliar words and suggest related terms.
Encyclopedias
provide basic introductions to a variety of topics.
Britannica Academic
is an authoritative encyclopedia available online.
Credo Reference
is a database offering information in context from multiple reference sources.
To keep your research manageable, as well as to avoid information overload, refine your topic by focusing on a specific aspect (for example,
the effect of binge drinking on the health of college athletes
). Consult specialized reference books to find more detailed information about your selected topic.
Subject encyclopedias, handbooks, and manuals
can help you to narrow a particular topic.
Gale eBooks
is an online collection of specialized reference books.
Locate Your Sources
Make a list of keywords to use as search terms when researching your topic in depth (for example,
binge drinking, health, college athletes
). These keywords may need to be revised as you search for information, depending on the terminology employed in the different resources. If your keywords don’t work, look for related search terms or subject headings in the relevant results that you do find.
Search the following online resources:
EBSCO eBooks
The
EBSCO eBook Collection
contains over 79,000 electronic books on many different academic topics.
Databases
The library subscribes to over 70 databases, covering a wide range of subjects. The following major databases, accessible on the library website, are good places to start your online research:
EBSCO Academic Search Complete
Gale Academic OneFile
Gale Opposing Viewpoints
Nexis Uni
ProQuest Research Library
Evaluate Your Sources
Before deciding to use any information source, remember to apply the
CRAAP
test to ensure that it is appropriate for academic research. You want to evaluate potential information sources for the following characteristics:
This is particularly essential for resources found on the Web, as almost anyone can publish information online with relative ease.
Cite Your Sources
Finally, but most importantly, remember to cite all the sources that you use in your research paper. Any ideas or words that are not your own that you quote, or paraphrase must be cited in the body of the paper, as well as in the bibliography or works cited list at the end of the paper. Citations must be formatted in an appropriate academic style. The most commonly used citation styles are American Psychological Association (APA) for the behavioral and social sciences, Modern Language Association (MLA) for the humanities, and University of Chicago/Turabian for either the humanities or sciences.
Library E-Readers
As part of the Title III funding project, the Library’s Reference Department has purchased six Nook e-readers for student use.
These can be checked out by any
Merritt
student for *in-house* use for two hours, with the option to renew, if no other students are waiting.
Students may use either the library’s NookBook purchases or have the option to log in to their Barnes Noble accounts to read their respective individual ebook purchases.
Please contact
ask@merritt.libanswers.com
for hours that Nook readers are checked (436-2557).
Citation Styles / How to
Citation FAQ
What is a citation?
A citation is a brief reference to a specific information source such as a book, a journal article, or a website, which acknowledges an original idea expressed therein and provides a means of locating the original source. In general, a citation includes both a notation in the body of a text and an entry in a list of sources following the text.
What is a citation style?
A citation style is a set of guidelines for formatting and organizing citations. Although there exist many different citation styles to suit different purposes, most academic research papers adhere to one of three major styles: American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago/Turabian, or Modern Language Association (MLA).
Which citation style should you use?
Use the style recommended or required by your instructor. If your instructor does not specify a style, choose one based on the discipline or field about which you are writing:
APA Style
for behavioral and social sciences, especially psychology
Chicago/Turabian Style
for either humanities or sciences
MLA Style
for humanities, especially language and literature
Citation Tools
These free automated citation tools can help you to format your citations in various styles, but remember to check the results, as they are not always correctly generated.
BibMe
EasyBib
(MLA Style only)
NoodleBib Express
RefMe
APA Style Guide
APA Style Website
Merritt College APA Style LibGuide
Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide
Purdue OWL APA Sample Paper
Chicago / Turabian Style Guide
Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide
Turabian Quick Guide
Sample Chicago Style Paper
Chicago Citation Basics (16th Edition)
MLA Style Guide
MLA Style Resources
MLA 9th Ed. Citations
EasyBib Complete Guide to MLA 9th Edition
Merritt College MLA Style LibGuide
Purdue OWL MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Purdue OWL MLA Sample Paper
APA Style
APA Style
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(7th ed.). (2020). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Available at the Merritt College Library Ready Reference, call number BF76.7 .P83 2020 (located behind the Reference Desk)
APA Style Resources
Merritt College APA Handout
APA Style Website
Merritt College APA Style LibGuide
Purdue OWL APA Formatting and Style Guide
Purdue OWL APA Sample Paper
Chicago/Turabian Style
Chicago/Turabian Style
The Chicago Manual of Style
. 16th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.
Turabian, Kate L.
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
. 7th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Chicago/Turabian Style Resources
Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide
Turabian Quick Guide
Sample Chicago Style Paper
Chicago Citation Basics (16th Edition)
MLA Style
MLA Style
MLA Handbook.
9th ed. Modern Language Association, 2021.
MLA Style Resources
MLA 9th Ed. Citations
EasyBib Complete Guide to MLA 9th Edition
Merritt College MLA Style LibGuide
Purdue OWL MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Purdue OWL MLA Sample Paper