HEA 301: The Mental Health System  

Most health-related books are classified in the R's
R-   General medicine and history of medicine
RA - Public health, hospitals
RC - Internal medicine 
and can be found on the lower level  of the barn, and in the Oversize and Reference Collections on the library's main level.

Books on psychology and mental health may also be found in the BFs on the 5th level, top floor of the library. 

Try using "Subject Browse" from the drop-down menu with one of the following search terms:

• allied health personnel
• health care reform
• health promotion
• medical ethics
• medical policy
• mental health
• mental illness
• public health

To get access to library resources when you are off campus, sign in here.

Start here for background research about your topic.  Inform yourself before you enter the "conversation among experts" in scholarly journals.  Remember, encyclopedias are only the beginning of the research process.  Start here but don't stop here!

Find these encyclopedias in the library . . . they are in the Reference collection on the main floor and cannot be checked out, so you'll have to do your research during library hours.  Remember, these encyclopedias are a good place to start your research, but don't stop with the information you find here, use it to guide your search for articles on your topic.

What are you looking for in a source?

C=Currency.  When was the article, book, or website published?  Is it up to date?  Does it matter for your topic?  Why?

R=Relevance. How close does this material come to discussing your actual topic?  Does it present a broad overview? Does it zero in on a very specific topic?  Is the book/article exclusively about your topic or were only parts of it relevant for you?

A=Authority. Who is the author or editor of the book/journal/website? What are his/her Institutional affiliations and/or job title? Educational background or experience? 

A=Accuracy. Can you verify the facts that you find in this source? Have they backed themselves up with convincing evidence?  Can you confirm the information in another source?  Are sources for facts cited?

P=Purpose.  Why was this book/article written, or this web site created?  Is it giving information, selling a product, or persuading you to agree with an opinion?  Is the author’s point of view objective and impartial?  Is emotional language used?

Reference Desk Hours: 

Mon - Thurs 9am - 9pm

Friday          9am - 6pm 

Saturday      noon - 5pm  

Sunday        1pm - 9pm

Reference Desk Phone:  526-3687

Reference Email: reference@colby-sawyer.edu

Reference Staff:

Landon Hall

Beth Krajewski

Carrie Thomas (College Librarian)

Sondra VanderPloeg

Kelli Bogan (College Archivist)