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Paths to Ultimate Scholarship

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Legal AI Tools Provided by UChicago Law

Evaluating Resources

Evaluating sources in both your academic and personal lives is very practical skill. With practice, you can learn to critically evaluate every source and website you come across quickly and efficiently. There are many different methods that can be used to help evaluate information, and some will apply better than others, depending on the information.

Read closely. Question sources that contain:

  • Claims that cannot be verified through other means
  • Biased or inflammatory language
  • Dead or self-referential links
  • No information about the author, especially if the corporate author is unknown or untrustworthy

https://repository.ifla.org/bitstream/123456789/167/1/How_to_Spot_Fake_News-Full-resolution.jpgFrom: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Before You Visit

Before you visit any library, museum, or research center, you should first:

  1.  Check their website to see what their visitor policy is;
    (Can you visit? When can you visit? Do you need an appointment?)
     
  2. Check their collections (use their catalog) to see if they have what you need;
     
  3. Check their policies on how you may engage with collections
    (Are there limits to what you can view? Can you take photographs or make scans? Is there an access fee?)

Advice & Tips For Your Visit

Research libraries can differ greatly around the world. Here are some things to consider:

Physical Space Access

  • Many academic libraries are decentralized, with specific libraries for departments or residential colleges;
  • Many libraries have "closed stacks", meaning that you will need to request an item to be paged in order to view it;

Materials Access

  • Materials may be organized in different ways (e.g. different classification systems);
  • Libraries may not have online catalogs or reference services;
  • There may be fees for services or access;
  • It is unlikely you will be able to check out materials;
  • Many libraries do not allow wireless or computer access for visitors; 
  • Not every database to which a library subscribes will be available to visitors;
  • Most materials will not be online (this is also true in the U.S.).

Things to Bring

Identification

  • UChicago ID card;
  • “Government-sponsored” ID
    Passport, Driver’s License, etc.;
  • Check the library's visitor guidelines to see if they require other forms of ID before you go.

Proof of Need

Before you visit, check the library's requirements for visiting. The following items are commonly requested:

  • A letter of affiliation. If another library requires a letter or other documentation from the University of Chicago Library, you may request such documentation from the ID & Privileges Office;
  • A letter from the program coordinator, thesis advisor, or program sponsor (on University or organizational letterhead);
  • A research statement or proposal. Some collections and libraries will require a prepared statement about your research that outlines your proposed project, the collections you intend to look at, and your intended timeline. 

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