Frequently Asked Questions

What is plagiarism?

“To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source.”
plagiarism. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved August 10, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism

Ignorance does not excuse plagiarim. Learn some of the myths of plagiarism.

Types of plagiarism

Blending

· Mixing words or ideas from an unacknowledged source in with your own words or ideas.

· Mixing together uncited words and ideas from several sources into a single work.

· Mixing together properly cited uses of a source with uncited uses.

Direct Plagiarism

· A phrase or passage that is copied word for word, but not quoted.

Paraphrasing

· Rephrasing another person’s work and inserting into your own work without acknowledging the original source.

Insufficient Acknowledgement

· Half crediting source; whereby you acknowledge the author’s work the first time, but continue to use the author’s words without giving additional attribution.

Check out our Copyright & Fair Use Library Guide for more information.

Food is not permitted in the library. Drinks with a secure lid are acceptable. 

According to the American Library Association information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."  Basically, it is five steps:

1. Knowing you need information
2. Accessing the information
3. Evaluating the information found
4. Using the information
5. Ethical/legal treatment of the information

The Student Handbook can be found at http://www.gmc.cc.ga.us/current-students/student-handbook.cms

Primary sources are original resources from the topic, such as newspapers, letter, diaries, speeches, government documents, etc.  While secondary sources are resources that analyze, evaluate, and interpret the topic using primary sources.  Examples of secondary sources are articles and books created after the subject.  Check out our Types of Sources Library Guide for more information.

Example:The Diary of Anne Frank is a primary source, while Anne Frank: The Biography by Melissa Muller published in 1998 is a secondary source.

Databases contain information that has been approved for use in academics, while anyone can post to the internet which means the information may or may not be accurate.  Using databases for research means getting good information that is accurate and up to date.

The current catalog can be found here. 

GMC Library has a couple of databases that all ow you to browse ideas for research papers.  You need the library password to access these databases.

1. Opposing Viewpoints in Context
   
2. Issues & Controversies
3. ProQuest
   

These databases also give you an overview of the topic or issue as a starting point to learn more about the topic and to begin your research.

Yes, but the are required to be on silent.  Students are not to speak on phone within the library, but texting is welcomed.

You can search our databases for printed resources.  The electronic articles are also printed resources from journals.  The best place to start is our general databases such as GALILEO, Academic Search Complete, ProQuest, or JSTOR.

An eBook is an electronic copy of a book, usually as a PDF file.  The content in eBooks are the same as the print versions.  We have three eBook sources.

1. EBSCO eBook Collection
2. Project Gutenberg
3. ebrary eBooks (these can only be accessed through the GMC Library box inside Moodle)

There are two really great websites to use for MLA.

1. OWL Purdue
2. Diana Hacker

You can also check out our Citation Management Library Guide for additional help and step-by-step pictures of how to format your paper before you write.

Wikipedia has user-supplied content, which means it may not be accurately researched or sourced. 

In a Chronicle of Higher Education article, Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales, states that he constantly gets emails from college students complaining they have failed their papers because the information they found in Wikipedia was inaccurate. Wales says that he has no sympathy, “For God sake, you’re in college; don’t cite the encyclopedia.”

Nearly all of the textbooks are available as eBooks.  Students must purchase the access through the GMC Online Bookstore. 

Because of the level of authority and credibility evident in scholarly sources they contribute a great deal to the overall quality of your papers. Use of scholarly sources is an expected attribute of academic course work.       

In all disciplines, knowledge is built by responding to the ideas and discoveries of those who came before us. Scholarly journal articles are unique in that they require authors to document and make verifiable the sources of the facts, ideas, and methods they used to arrive at their insights and conclusions. Scholarly articles also strive to identify and discuss the merits of alternative explanations and viewpoints for the positions they espouse. This makes it easier to assess the truth, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, of the claims made in a paper. This is the case for those with knowledge of a subject (for example, your professor), as well as for those just beginning to learn about a subject (for example, you).

As you know, anyone can say just about anything in articles posted on the web. While you might agree with the conclusions of a paper found on the web, you are often not given the chain of evidence you need to assess the truth of those conclusions. Likewise, articles published in popular magazines, while they provide information and opinions, are not required to document evidence that either supports or negates their conclusions. Scholarly journal articles, unlike web-based or popular magazine articles, are designed and structured to provide the elements necessary to most thoroughly evaluate the validity and truth of an author's position.

-Eastern Michigan University

Please take a look at our Types of Sources Library Guide for more information.

There are multiple different citation styles, so without knowing which one you need it is hard to answer.  Always check with your professor and assignment instructions to know which type you need to use.  Check out our Citation Management Library Guide for help. 

Below is a comprehensive website dedicated to helping students with the three most common citation styles in the U.S.: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

OWL Purdue

 

With so many databases out there, it's easy not to know which one is the right one.  Here are a few suggestions.

Good to Use for Anything
Academic Search Complete
GALILEO
ProQuest

Pro/Con or Ethical Issues
Opposing Viewpoint in Context
Issues & Controversies (Facts on File)

English/Literature
Literature Resource Center
Literary Reference Center

Remember you can always check the Library Guides for your subject to see what it suggests.  Plus, you can ask a librarian to put you on the right course.  Use our real-time chat to get a suggestion or send an email. 

There are multiple libraries for Georgia Military College.  The hours are listed below.  If you need anymore information about a library visit our Library Guide Homepage, then select the campus you belong to from the tabs at the top to see your library's hours.

Please check the Campus tab from the Library Guide Homepage to see any adjusted hours.

 Milledgeville

Hours	Classes in Session	Classes Not in Session
Monday	7:45am to 9:30pm	7:45am to 5:00pm
Tuesday	7:45am to 9:30pm	7:45am to 5:00pm
Wednesday	7:45am to 9:30pm	7:45am to 5:00pm
Thursday	7:45am to 9:30pm	7:45am to 5:00pm
Friday	7:45am to 4:00pm*	7:45am to 4:00pm*
Saturday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Sunday	6:00pm to 9:30pm	CLOSED

 

*When the Prep School is closed the library closes at noon on Fridays.
 

Augusta
 Columbus

Hours	Classes in Session	Classes Not in Session
Monday	9:00am to 7:00pm	9:00am to 6:00pm
Tuesday	9:00am to 7:00pm	9:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday	9:00am to 7:00pm	9:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday	9:00am to 7:00pm	9:00am to 6:00pm
Friday	9:00am to 1:00pm	8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED

Fairburn

Hours	Classes in Session	Classes Not in Session
Monday	8:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Tuesday	8:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Wednesday	8:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Thursday	8:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Friday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Saturday	CLOSED	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED

**Current session dates are posted outside the library door.

Valdosta
 

Hours	Classes in Session	Classes Not in Session
Monday	8:00am to 9:30pm	8:00am to 5:00pm
Tuesday	8:00am to 9:30pm	8:00am to 5:00pm
Wednesday	8:00am to 9:30pm	8:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday	8:00am to 9:30pm	8:00am to 5:00pm
Friday	8:00am to Noon	8:00am to Noon
Saturday	8:00am to Noon	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED

 
Warner Robins

Hours	Classes in Session	Classes Not in Session
Monday	9:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Tuesday	9:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Wednesday	9:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Thursday	9:00am to 9:00pm	CLOSED
Friday	9:00am to Noon	CLOSED
Saturday	9:00am to Noon	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED	CLOSED

 

You should be prompted to log in to the databases with your GMC student credentials (the same thing you use to log in to Moodle). If you are asked for a single GMC library password, please let Ryan Taylor (rtaylor@gmc.edu) and/or your instructor know as these links are outdated and should be replaced. 
 
 

When researching articles, the best places to look are our library databases.  We have several general databases (Academic Search Complete, ProQuest, GALILEO) that have articles for any subject you are looking for.  These have a General Reference Library Guide (http://gmcga.libguides.com/generalreference) that you can look through for help on how to use the databases.

If you are doing research in a specific subject, then there are a variety of databases to choose from depending on your subject.  To find out what databases work for certain subjects, check out our Databases by Subject List (http://www.gmc.cc.ga.us/sscenter/elibrary/dsub.html) or go to our Library Guide Homepage (http://gmcga.libguides.com/index.php) and find your subject guide.

Once is a database, make sure your search using keywords and not sentences.  Unlike Google or other search engines, databases work off of keyword searches.  Such as, instead of asking "What were the major events of World War II?" do a keyword search for "World War II."