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You want to make your case with the best evidence. The library purchases access to indexing databases which help you to identify articles on specific topics. Most databases are not freely available to the public and are only licensed to OSU Libraries for the OSU community of users. They are independent of the holdings of any one library.
To begin using these databases and locating articles in peer reviewed journals and other reliable resources, start on the OSU Libraries home page:
The Valley Library subscribes to several databases which index peer-reviewed scientific journal articles relevant to natural resource issues and topics. The process of "peer-review" (sometimes called "refereeing") is discipline and journal specific. It is intended to assure that the articles in that journal represent good scientific methodology and are regarded as a contribution to the literature of that field of study. If in doubt about whether a journal contains peer reviewed articles, ask.
Most databases noted in this guide will index a high percentage of "refereed" journals and therefore contain very high percentage of peer reviewed articles. They may also include first hand reporting of research findings or state-of-the-art reviews from other reporting sources such as federal agency reports, dissertations, conference proceedings, professional journals, etc. All of these may prove useful resources for framing and addressing your research question.
When considering a database, it is important to be aware of its content including:
Try these databases to search for articles relevant to ecological restoration. Once you have done a search in one or all of these databases you should have a list of articles which are potentially relevant to your selected site and the issues that need to be considered in its restoration.
Keyword searching:
Controlled Vocabulary
Combine terms using the Boolean Operators AND/OR /NOT:
Truncation and Wildcards:
Listed below are websites that you may find useful in providing references for your paper and for acquiring background information. Consider each as only one of many tools.
For more information on maps resources use the library Maps research guide.
For access to Forest Geodata use the Forest Service Geodata Clearinghouse
For a link to people consider use the Society for Ecological Restoration International
For a link to a digital document collection of interest at Northern Arizona University use the Ecological Restoration Institute Library
For Natural Heritage data and information use the NatureServe website
Oregon Municipal and County Planning Documents have been digitized by the University of Oregon's ScholarsBank -- use "" around your search terms like "balch creek" or "forest park"
For Natural Resources information on Oregon try the OregonExplorer
When you are not sure which federal agency may have done current research on a topic Science.gov will be a good search service to try. It serves as a "gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results."
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Corvallis OR 97331–4501
Phone: 541-737-3331