Aspire Resources
Research Help for Aspire Students
Directions, Parking, Hours, Address, Phone Number
Contact the library (423) 775-7307
Books (online catalog): Find BooksArticles (by topic): Online ResourcesJournals (by title): Journal Title Finder, Business Journals & MagazinesWebsites: Recommended LinksResearch: Research Help
Contact IT helpdesk at (423) 775-7333 or helpdesk@bryan.edu.
If no answer, leave voicemail to page helpdesk staff.
Select one of the links below to view a video tutorial that will assist you in using the library’s resources.
Research Library Night Presentation (screen shots representing library presentation)
Using the BC Library's Resources Off-Campus (handout used in library presentation)
- Start early. Despite the immediacy of the internet, the bulk of all published information (especially scholarly information) is still available only in print, which means that it may take time to track down the best sources for your paper.
- Have a topic in mind. Your professor is a great resource in helping you select a potential topic.
- Brainstorm different words/ terms to use to describe your topic. Various authors use various words to mean the same thing.
- Begin your search. If you want books, go to the Online Catalog. If you want articles, go to the Online Resources web page. If you’re new to a particular resource, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself by viewing the Online Tutorials!
- Review what you’ve found so far.
- If you didn’t find anything, try broadening your topic.
- If you found too much information, be more specific.
- If the information you found is old, look for other ways or words to describe your topic. Read enough to know why the terminology is out of date.
- If you’ve found some really good, on-topic articles (or even one good article), look at whom the author(s) are citing. This is a great way to find more resources.
- Take advantage of the linked subject headings available in those articles. Some databases even have a “more like this” feature, which enables you to search for articles with similar themes.
- Always write down when and where you found an online article. The Web is an especially ephemeral source of scholarly information, so make it easy for your professor to confirm that you have done your research well by giving him complete citations.
REMEMBER: Research is a reiterative process. That’s why it’s called RE - search!
Do you want personal assistance with your research?
Contact one of our librarians to make an appointment. They can meet with you in-person or over the phone.
From Chattanooga -
Take Hwy 27 NORTH – go 37.9 mi.
Turn Right on Hwy 30 EAST( Traffic Light # 7 ) – go 0.2 mi.
Veer Left up Bryan Dr. – go 0.3 mi.
Arrive at Bryan College
From Cleveland –
Turn Right on Hwy 27 NORTH – go 1.3 mi.
Turn Right on Hwy 30 EAST( Traffic Light # 7 ) – go 0.2 mi.
Veer Left up Bryan Dr. – go 0.3 mi.
Arrive at Bryan College
From Dunlap –
Take ramp (right) unto Hwy 27 NORTH – go 16.6 mi.
Turn Right on Hwy 30 EAST( Traffic Light # 7 ) – go 0.2 mi.
Veer Left up Bryan Dr. – go 0.3 mi.
Arrive at Bryan College
Library Parking Lot
Take the first left after passing the large green directional sign, up a short steep hill and the library is directly in front of you. If no parking is available in the library parking lot, there is additional parking behind Mercer Hall or the Latimar
Below is a list of other libraries that may have materials available for your use. You will need to check with these libraries to see what policies they have for public access to their materials.
University of TN at Chattanooga (open to public, including Bryan students)
Chattanooga State Tech. Community College (open to public; plus Bryan students may apply for library card; show Bryan student identification)
Chattanooga Public Library (open to public; library card is free for Hamilton County residents; $10 for non-residents)
Cleveland State Community College
Worldwide Catalog (Enter your search terms and your zipcode to find libraries nearest you that have the materials you seek.)