Welcome!
Unmanned Aerial Systems is rapidly-growing industry, so you may not find all the information you need in the traditional library databases or by using print books. To help you find the information you need, the library provides access to e-books, industry databases, and other resources to help bridge the gap.
We also provide a FREE service called Interlibrary Loan, which you can use to order books and articles from other libraries--printed materials can take up to a week to arrive, so please plan accordingly.
This site contains everything you need to successfully complete your research, but remember, if at any point you're not sure what to do or where to go next, you can always reach out to your librarian for assistance.
All links open in a new tab when clicked.
Developing Your Research Topic
Whether you've selected your own research topic or your instructor has provided you with one, you will likely find yourself modifying it as you write and gather information.
Most of the time, we hear great topics from students. Sometimes these topics are so unique and brilliant that data has not yet been compiled and published about them, or the information that exists is difficult to find. If you are searching and searching and can’t find the data you need, be sure to ask a librarian before you decide the data doesn't exist. If this is the case, be flexible. Take a look at what you are finding and be ready to tweak your topic accordingly.
(And, save that initial topic! When you start doing your own original research down the line, you’ll already have a great research question ready to go.) See the video below for more.
Keywords
Good keywords are essential to good research. It is a good idea to come up with a list of keywords before you even start researching.
Two simple questions can get you started:
1. What do I know about my topic?
2. What do I want to know about my topic?
List out the answers to those questions using single words or simple phrases. These will become your keywords. Using synonyms and related terms/phrases is also an important element of this process. See the video below for more.
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Contact Your Librarian
Your librarian can help you with every step of the research process including developing your topic and keywords, finding and evaluating your resources, and citing your resources--(you should also contact the Writing Center for assistance with citations and writing your papers and reports).
Your librarian is here and happy to to help! Katherine will respond to e-mails within 24 hours. Her office is located in the library in the Student Success Center, located in the Technology Center building--no appointment is required.
Katherine Jones
Library Director