We hope the new quarter finds you recharged from the holiday and motivated to begin this next set of classes. The work load might seem light at the beginning, but a little extra work now can pay off later. Here are a few tips to help you succeed academically:

1) Review your syllabi early and make sure you have access to the books on your reading list. Visit the library catalog to see if the books you need for your classes are available at the SPU Library or through Summit Borrowing.

2) Choose research topics early and begin building your works cited or bibliography lists now. It can take time to find, read and synthesize the research on your subject.

3) Store your resource information online using RefWorks by clicking on the Cite/Export link in the item’s record. From there, you can also generate your bibliography using the full list of items you have stored or a selection from that list.

4) Stumped on ideas for research papers? Visit the library’s reference desk early in the quarter and ask to speak with the liaison librarian responsible for your discipline. While all reference librarians are trained to help you find the resources you need, you can receive invaluable assistance from the librarian who supports your subject area.

Best of luck to you as you navigate through the high waters of academia! Also, if you are a Twitter user, don’t forget to keep up-to-date on snow closures and holiday hours by following us @TheSPULibrary – where you may see a new side of the library.