Once you have a good understanding of your topic and have selected a few keywords, LibrarySearch is a great place to start your research! LibrarySearch is a convenient way to search almost all of the library’s resources using a single search box. You can find academic journal articles, patents, and trade journals in LibrarySearch, among many other things.
Below are just a few of our databases useful for technology research. For more databases with technology content, check out our Databases A-Z page and select "Technology" from the drop-down.
You can search for books in our library and other libraries using the links below. If you're not sure how to find what you're looking for, ask us!
Google is actually a great way to find white papers, if you use a few specialized search operators.
White papers are frequently available as PDFs, so a google search for [your topic] filetype:pdf can give you some good results:
Also government agencies frequently put out white papers, so you can also search for [your topic] site:gov
You can even combine these operators and search [your topic] filetype:pdf site:gov
You will also find white papers on individual company websites. If there are a few companies that specialize in your topic area, you can browse or search their websites. Just make sure to determine whether that white paper is actually informative or just a cleverly disguised ad for their product or service.
There are many ways you can get research materials from other libraries. In the vast majority of cases, there is no charge to you for this service!
Note:Until further notice all requests will be handled via Interlibrary Loan
Example:
URSUS is the combined library catalog for the entire University of Maine system. You can search the entire system, or select University of Southern Maine Libraries in the drop-down.
Other helpful tips:
Most databases, as well as URSUS and MaineCat, assign subjects to books and articles. A subject is a designated word or phrase that describes an idea or concept and groups all articles or books about that concept together.