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Social Work: A Search for Sources

Search Terms

 The Library of Congress sections for social work topics are:

HV SOCIAL WORK 

  • 11  Social work schools, education, research methods
  • 40-45 General work, group work, case work
  • 91-95.1.1 US social welfare history, policy
  • 640-645.1.1  Refugee problems
  • 687  Social work in health care
  • 689-699.1.1  Social work with families
  • 700-713.1 Child abuse
  • 741 Child welfare, general
  • 875-883 Adoption, foster care
  • 1442-1448 Women and social work
  • 1449 Gays & lesbians
  • 1450-1493 Social work and the elderly
  • 1551-3024 Disability and social work
  • 3176 Multicultural issues, cultural competence
  • 4045 Poverty
  • 4505 Homelessness and homeless persons
  • 4998-5825 Drug abuse, alcoholism, substance abuse
  • 6545 Suicide
  • 6885-6626 Rape, violence against women, domestic violence
  • 9000 Criminology, gangs, juvenile delinquency, prisons

 

Terms can be checked within dictionaries, encyclopedias, and subject-specific indexes (Social Work Abstracts).

Subject and Keyword Strategies

Once you know your topic, when choosing keywords it's always a good idea to start broad and pare down. An excellent strategy for this is to take the exact words directly out of the table of contents. As an example, try cutting and pasting these keyword/keyword combinations into JETfind or a subject specific database.

  • family violence
  • substance abuse
  • suicide

TIP #1: once you have your results, sometimes it is helpful to set the SORT BY dropdown to Date (Newest First)

TIP #2: changing the format on the left hand side to ALL FORMATS will bring up available articles within the same subject area

What if we don't have it?

There are several ways to obtain material that Molloy does not have:

Illustration of earth with three books images and title "Interlibrary loan" in the middleInterlibrary Loan (ILL) : When available, the requested material will be sent from another library - which usually takes 5-10 days. To go directly to ILLiad, use the following link: https://molloy.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/logon.html 


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Research Loan Program (RLP)*: RLP allows the student to borrow books from participating local institutions. View a list of Long Island Libraries participating in the RLP program. Ask a librarian for details if you are considering this service.


AcademicSHARE

AcademicSHARE*: Empire State AcademicSHARE (similar to RIP) allows the student to borrow books from participating institutions. View a list of Libraries participating in the AcademicSHARE program. Ask a librarian for details if you are considering this service.

 

*For both RLP and AcademicSHARE, a librarian should be consulted prior to determine if attaining the material from another institution is the only option. Valid I.D. card required for both.


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 A WorldCat zip code proximity search will show both public and academic institutions that have the  material and are the closest in distance to your location.


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  Did you know that any person who lives, works, attends school or pays property taxes in New York State is eligible to receive a New York Public Library card free of charge? See if you qualify, or apply now.


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The New York Online Virtual Electronic Library offers a wide array of access to newspapers, databases and reference resources. Most schools, colleges and universities already provide access to NOVELNY, however, any New York resident can also log in with their NY State Driver's license number.