Your Research Edge: ISUFST Library & ProQuest Orientation for Graduate Studies

Orientation to Academic Success: Your Essential Guide to the ISUFST Library Website and ProQuest for Graduate Studies

Embarking on graduate studies is an exciting, yet often demanding, journey. At ISUFST - Main Campus - Poblacion Site, we understand that access to robust research tools and resources is paramount to your academic success. That's why we're here to guide you through two indispensable assets: the ISUFST University Library Poblacion Site Official Website and the powerful ProQuest database.

This post serves as a comprehensive recap and extension of the recent Orientation of the Library Website and ProQuest for Graduate Studies Students, expertly conducted by our very own OIC Librarian of Poblacion Site, Dr. Flocerpeda H. Bela-ong. Consider this your essential guide to unlocking a world of scholarly information and streamlining your research process.

Your Gateway to Knowledge: The ISUFST University Library Poblacion Site Official Website

As highlighted by Dr. Bela-ong during the orientation, the ISUFST University Library Poblacion Site's official website (isufstpoblib.com) is far more than just a digital catalog; it's your central hub for all things related to library services and resources. For graduate students, in particular, mastering its navigation is a game-changer.

Key Features to Revisit and Explore:

• E-Library & E-Resources/Digital Library: This is where the digital magic happens! As Dr. Bela-ong emphasized, here you'll find direct links and information about the library's subscribed electronic resources, including, crucially, ProQuest. You'll also discover a wealth of open-access resources that can supplement your research.

• Services and Utilization: Familiarize yourself with the various services offered. This section often details how to access specific resources, borrowing policies, interlibrary loan options (if available), and even how to get personalized assistance from a librarian.

• Theses and Dissertations: For graduate students, reviewing past theses and dissertations from ISUFST can be invaluable. It provides insights into research methodologies, formatting, and the scope of work expected within your field.

• Library Hours and Location: While you'll be doing a lot of digital research, knowing the physical library's hours and location is still important for quiet study spaces, printing, or in-person consultations.

• Ask the Librarian: As Dr. Bela-ong surely encouraged, don't hesitate to utilize this service! Librarians are your research allies, ready to provide professional assistance with navigating databases, finding specific materials, and even refining your research questions.

Pro-Tip: Take some time to simply browse through the website. Click on different sections, explore the menus, and get a feel for its layout. The more familiar you are, the more efficient your research will become.

Diving Deep: Mastering ProQuest for Comprehensive Research

ProQuest, as demonstrated in the orientation, is a world-renowned database that the ISUFST Library subscribes to, offering an incredibly vast collection of scholarly content. For graduate students undertaking advanced research, dissertations, or theses, ProQuest is an indispensable tool.

Why ProQuest is a Graduate Student's Best Friend:

• Comprehensive Coverage: ProQuest provides access to a multidisciplinary array of academic journals, books, dissertations and theses (including ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global), news, trade publications, and more. This means you can find highly specialized research relevant to your field, as well as broader contextual information.

• Dissertations & Theses Global: This particular segment of ProQuest is a goldmine for graduate students. It allows you to search and access millions of dissertations and theses from universities worldwide. This can help you identify gaps in existing research, explore different approaches to your topic, and even connect with scholars in your area of study.

• Advanced Search Capabilities: ProQuest offers sophisticated search filters that allow you to narrow down your results by publication type, date, subject, author, language, and more. Learning to use these effectively will save you immense time and lead to more precise results.

• Citation Tools: Many articles and documents within ProQuest come with built-in citation tools, allowing you to easily generate citations in various academic styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). While you should always double-check these, they are a great starting point for building your bibliography.

• Full-Text Access: A significant portion of the content on ProQuest is available in full text, meaning you can read entire articles and documents directly without having to track them down elsewhere.

Tips for Effective ProQuest Usage (As discussed by Dr. Bela-ong):

1. Accessing ProQuest: Ensure you know how to log in to ProQuest through the ISUFST Library website. Often, this requires your student ID or specific university credentials. (The E-Library section of the ISUFST Library website explicitly mentions ProQuest as a subscribed resource.)

2. Start Broad, Then Refine: Begin with broader keywords related to your topic, then use the advanced search filters to narrow down your results as needed.

3. Utilize Boolean Operators: Employ "AND," "OR," and "NOT" to combine or exclude terms for more precise searches (e.g., "fisheries AND sustainable OR aquaculture").

4. Explore Subject Headings: When you find a highly relevant article, check its subject headings. These can lead you to other valuable resources indexed under the same scholarly classifications.

5. Save and Organize: ProQuest allows you to create an account to save your searches, articles, and create alerts for new publications on your topic. This is crucial for managing your research effectively.

6. Seek Librarian Assistance: If you're struggling to find what you need, or if you want to maximize your ProQuest experience, reach out to Dr. Bela-ong or any of the ISUFST librarians. They are experts in database searching and can provide personalized guidance.

Your Journey to Scholarly Excellence Starts Here

As graduate students at ISUFST - Main Campus - Poblacion Site, you are now equipped with the knowledge to begin your deep dive into academic resources. The recent orientation by Dr. Flocerpeda H. Bela-ong provided an invaluable foundation, and now it's time to apply that knowledge. The ISUFST University Library website and ProQuest are not just tools; they are powerful partners in your scholarly endeavors. By dedicating time to understand and effectively utilize these resources, you will undoubtedly enhance your research, enrich your studies, and ultimately achieve your academic goals.

Happy researching!