Research Guide: Pasadena City College Library

This PCC Library Research Guide is your guide to using the resources of the PCC Library. The navigation links on this site will take you to the following sections of this guide:

1. Home: the current page; basic library information and guide overview.
2. Beginning Your Research: How to locate background information and topic overviews.
3. Finding Books: Catalog search tool for finding books and ebooks available from the PCC Library.
4. Finding Articles: A selection of databases for finding scholarly and non-scholarly articles in the library collection.
5. Evaluating Sources: Tips and tools for finding sources appropriate for your research.
6. Research Strategies: Tips for coming up with search terms and how to create an effective search in library databases.
7. Citation Style: Why and how to cite your sources.
8. Get Help: Help chat box and contact information for further assistance.

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Information Competency is the ability to use research and technical skills effectively and ethically to achieve an objective. It is one of the guiding General Education Outcomes at Pasadena City College.

The three elements of Information Competency (GEO #3):

3.1 Information Literacy: Locate, retrieve, and evaluate information using appropriate research tools.

3.2 Research Proficiency: Conduct research and present findings effectively and ethically including the use of correct source citations.

3.3 Technological Literacy: Apply technology effectively to locate, evaluate, interpret, organize, and present information using appropriate research tools.

The PCC Library is dedicated to helping students develop these competencies through the resources and instruction we provide, and to helping faculty incorporate support for these outcomes into their curricula.