Fall 2025
Access Research Tools & Support
As you begin a new school year, be sure to add these items to your to-do list:
- Reach out to your Liaison Librarian to schedule research and information literacy instruction to prepare your students for success. Instruction can be in-person or online, synchronous or asynchronous.
- Check out ready-made research support tools such as the Fundamentals of Research self-paced, interactive modules introducing students to core concepts and skills related to research, plagiarism, and information literacy; research tutorials on a wide variety of topics; and discipline-specific research guides.
- Encourage students to connect with the library for research support and to attend upcoming research webinars.
- Support Open Access initiatives by exploring no-fee open-access publishing opportunities; planning to apply for an upcoming grant to fund the adoption, adaption, or creation of course content that can be made available to students for no or little cost; and identifying open textbooks that you can adopt for your classes.
Contact us at research@liberty.edu if you have any questions or need additional information.
Plan for Research Week
Research Week 2026 is scheduled for April 20-23. We hope you plan to sponsor students and encourage them to submit Research Week proposals. Residential and online graduate and undergraduate students can submit proposals in several categories.
Please note these important dates:.
Dec. 5 Submission Portal Opens
March 6 Submission Portal Closes
March 27 Final Projects Due
April 20 Research Week Begins
April 23 Research Week Ends
May 6 Research Week Awards Ceremony
Please share the Research Week archive on Scholars Crossing with your students so that they can see the types of projects that have been successfully presented at previous Research Week events.
Contact researchweek@liberty.edu if you have any questions.
Mark Your Calendar
The JFL is hosting a number of webinars this semester, including a new Apple for Research Webinar series. These are live-streamed and recorded.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, 1 p.m. EST
Welcome to the JFL: How to Locate and Access Resources Through the Library Website!
Join us for a live webinar and Q&A session demonstrating how to navigate the Jerry Falwell Library website and search the vast array of resources available to support you in your assignments.
Tuesday, Sept. 09, 2025, 7:30 p.m. EST
Research in Church History: Tools and Primary Texts
Join us to learn about the major textbooks and reference materials needed for anyone studying Church History. This webinar will also demonstrate how to locate and read the most significant primary texts.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, 7:30 p.m. EST
Conducting Interdisciplinary Research: Bridging Gaps Between Subjects
Looking for tips on how to research across various disciplines? Attend this session to learn the best resources and strategies for crafting a multidisciplinary topic and search strategy.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, 7:30 p.m. EST
Researching Contemporary Issues
Researching current topics can be challenging. This webinar focuses on databases that showcase contrasting viewpoints on contemporary topics, including the Issues & Controversies (Facts on File) and CQ Researcher databases.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, 7:30 p.m. EST
No Longer a CHEMystery: How to Find and Use Chemistry Resources
In this webinar, you will be introduced to library databases related to chemistry and additional free chemistry resources to help you grow in your research and understanding of chemistry principles.
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2025, Noon-12:30 p.m.
Join us for our first Apple for Research webinar and discover ways to enhance your use of the Safari web browser for information discovery, focus, and organization across academic tasks.
Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2025, 7:30 p.m. EST
Finding Peer-Reviewed and Other Scholarly Sources on Any Topic
Most literature review assignments and dissertations require recent peer-reviewed or other scholarly sources. This session will show you where and how to look for these sources in our databases and subject-specific Research Guides.
Wednesday, Oct. 08, 2025, Noon-12:30 p.m.
Apple for Research Webinar Series: Develop Practical Skills for Managing Digital Research Materials
In this second webinar in the Apple for Research series, you will learn how to leverage Apple iOS features to create a streamlined and accessible personal research environment.
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, Noon-12:30 p.m.
This third Apple for Research webinar will help you develop skills to master Apple Notes to capture, organize, and revisit insights throughout the research process!
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, Noon-12:30 p.m.
Apple for Research Webinar Series: Foster Creative Thinking and Collaborative Research Planning
The final Apple for Research webinar of the semester will demonstrate how you can apply the dynamic applications of Freeform for brainstorming, mapping ideas, and visually organizing content.
Also, plan to stop by the Jerry Falwell Museum Open House on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. to enjoy refreshments and explore exhibits that tell the story of Liberty’s founder and history.
Contact us at research@liberty.edu if you have any questions or need additional information.
Explore New Resources
We have added several new databases over the summer:
- APA Style Manual: Official source for APA citation and formatting guidelines, including in-text citations, references, and paper structure for the social and behavioral sciences
- Dynamic Health CDS+Skills: Evidence-based clinical summaries, disease overviews, step-by-step nursing skills procedures, and more
- Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive (EBSCO): Full-text peer-reviewed articles on a variety of nursing topics such as dental hygiene, dietetics, geriatrics, orthopedics, physical therapy, radiology, rehabilitation, and more
- ProQuest One Anthropology: Videos and archived texts covering a variety of topics in anthropology
- ProQuest One Black Studies: Full-text peer-reviewed articles and historical Black newspapers covering topics such as Black history, civil rights, and more
- ProQuest One Entertainment & Popular Culture: Full-text peer-reviewed articles covering a wide variety of topics in film and entertainment
- ProQuest One Global Studies & International Relations: Full-text peer-reviewed articles covering a wide variety of topics in politics, international relations, and more
- ProQuest One History: Full-text peer-reviewed articles covering a wide variety of topics in history, such as American history, British history, military history, and more
- ProQuest One Literature: Full-text peer-reviewed articles and primary texts from notable authors covering a variety of topics in literature
- ProQuest One Performing Arts: Videos of dances, music scores, images of theater art, and more
- ProQuest One Visual Arts & Design: Full-text peer-reviewed articles covering a wide variety of topics in art, architecture, fashion, and more
- ProQuest One Women’s Studies: Full-text peer-reviewed articles covering a wide variety of topics in women’s studies
Contact us at research@liberty.edu if you have any questions or need assistance.
Make Note of Resource Updates
Several library resources have been updated over the summer.
- A new and improved app for reading Ebook Central (ProQuest) titles is now available! Click here to download the app for Windows, MacOS, iOS, or Android.
- EBSCO databases launched a new user interface. Please see this FAQ for the steps necessary to access your saved items from the previous interface.
- Emerald Insights also refreshed its interface.
- There is now a special curated collection for Beyond Books materials to support you with your instruction, presentations, curriculum development, and campus activities.
- The Archives Digital Collections portal has a new user-friendly interface to make the discovery of archival and special collection materials easier.
Contact us at research@liberty.edu if you have any questions or need additional information.
Stop by the JFL!
Over the summer, the library has been busy making additional enhancements to the facilities. These include:
- Remodeling the Terrace Conference Room and adding Microsoft Teams units for remote viewing and recording of events in that space.
- Adding three treadmill desks to provide students and faculty with opportunities for active study.
- Moving the bike desks to the second floor in the Gallagher Learning Commons to assist with maintaining a quiet atmosphere in the Terrace Learning Commons.
- Replacing outdoor furniture at the main entrance, lakeside terrace, and Sunken Garden.
- Updating the Scholars Lounge space with new flooring and furnishings.
If you have a suggestion for a facility or other improvement, email JFLfeedback@liberty.edu.
