Use this guide to understand the services and support available to you from Marshall University Libraries.
At college, you'll be asked to read a wide variety of sources that you're not used to encountering. Use the information below to understand the nuances of the different types of materials you can encounter in the library.
| "Regular" Books | Academic / Scholarly Books or Textbooks | Newspapers and Magazine Articles | Scholarly Articles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intended Audience | Anyone | Students & academics | Anyone | Students & academics |
| Purpose / Focus | General interest, entertainment |
1) Define and discuss a general topic, theory, or practice. And,or 2) Provide overview of a topic. |
General or local interest, entertainment, sales | Focus detailed information on one theory, practice, or sub-aspect of a specific topic. |
| Author | Anyone | Academics and subject experts | Anyone, ranging from individuals (journalists, editors, writers) to groups (news corporations, universities, government entities, non-profit organizations) | Academics and qualified researchers or field professionals |
| Quality Control | Copyeditors- check grammar | Editors- check facts | Editors - should be checking grammar AND facts. | Editors and/or peer-reviewers: checking grammar, facts, citations, data, and organization. |
| Language | Simple, plain, native language of intended audience | Often assume a level of understanding from audience in order to use complex language | Simple, plain, native language of intended audience | Definitely assume a level of understanding from audience, using jargon and scientific language |
| References (citations) | Rarely, if ever, included | Always included, either within the chapters, at the end of the book, or both | Not usually included, but can be. | Definitely included, both in-text and an end-list |
| Appearance | Eye-catching covers | Covers could be eye-catching or plain | Attention-grabbing: headlines plus images. Often includes advertisements from paying sponsors. | Mostly text, some charts or diagrams, occasional information images. |
“Guides: What Are Credible Sources?: Books vs Scholarly Books.” Books vs Scholarly Books - What Are Credible Sources? - Guides at University of the Sunshine Coast, University of the Sunshine Coast Australia, 16 Aug. 2024, https://libguides.usc.edu.au/credible/books
“Libguides: Infoskills for Humanities and Digital Sciences: Scholarly Books vs. Scholarly Articles.” Scholarly Books vs. Scholarly Articles - InfoSkills for Humanities and Digital Sciences - LibGuides at Tilburg University, Tilburg University, 23 Sept. 2024, libguides.uvt.nl/humanities/books-vs-articles
