History Research HIST 390 Fall 2009 Julie Poole Coordinator of Center Library Services

HIST 390

Fall 2009

Julie Poole

Coordinator of Center Library Services

Research Plan Be prepared. Know your assignment. Find background information Identify search terms Find books Find articles Find websites Cite your sources

Be prepared. Know your assignment.

Find background information

Identify search terms

Find books

Find articles

Find websites

Cite your sources

Background Reading & Brainstorming Textbooks Encyclopedias Internet Search Professors

Topics Keywords/Subjects List possible search terms Keywords (include related terms) Names of countries/cultures Names of organizations Names of people Think of synonyms and alternative ways of expressing each concept.

List possible search terms

Keywords (include related terms)

Names of countries/cultures

Names of organizations

Names of people

Think of synonyms and alternative ways of expressing each concept.

Let’s Find Books Use the library catalog to find books about history topics. This is the Regional Academic Center Libraries’ website!

This is the library catalog! You might start with a KEYWORD search for this assignment. Sometimes you might search by TITLE or AUTHOR or SUBJECT

Here are our search terms This indicates an ebook you can read online

Is there a copy of the book available? Click here to request the book This is a call number **Click on any book title to get to this screen**

Let’s find articles A database is a searchable collection of articles, reports, and/or documents. Most databases allow you to limit to full text, peer reviewed/scholarly, specific years, and more. Scholarly journals usually present analysis - journal articles are “secondary resources.”

A database is a searchable collection of articles, reports, and/or documents.

Most databases allow you to limit to full text, peer reviewed/scholarly, specific years, and more.

Scholarly journals usually present analysis - journal articles are “secondary resources.”

Primary vs. Secondary Primary Document Original, first-hand account of an event or time period Usually written or made during or close to the event or time period Original, creative writing or works of art Factual, not interpretive Secondary Document Analyzes and interprets primary sources Second-hand account of an historical event Interprets creative work For more information, visit: http://lib1.bmcc.cuny.edu/help/sources.html

Primary Document

Original, first-hand account of an event or time period

Usually written or made during or close to the event or time period

Original, creative writing or works of art

Factual, not interpretive

Secondary Document

Analyzes and interprets primary sources

Second-hand account of an historical event

Interprets creative work

For more information, visit:

http://lib1.bmcc.cuny.edu/help/sources.html

What is JSTOR and how do I use it?? JSTOR stands for J ournal STOR age project JSTOR provides electronic access to over 1,000 archival journals Since JSTOR is an archive, that means it does NOT have the most current articles on any given subject. It is especially helpful for projects where you want historical information. You will use JSTOR by accessing it via the RAC Libraries databases page. If you visit JSTOR’s website online and not from our website, you will not have access to full text journal articles.

JSTOR stands for J ournal STOR age project

JSTOR provides electronic access to over 1,000 archival journals

Since JSTOR is an archive, that means it does NOT have the most current articles on any given subject.

It is especially helpful for projects where you want historical information.

How do I access a database? The Regional Centers’ libraries provide a Databases list on our website. Let’s find out more Regional Academic Centers Library Website

The Regional Centers’ libraries provide a Databases list on our website.

This is the Regional Academic Centers’ Library Website! To find articles choose a database

Use the drop down menu to find history databases Find a database - Regional Centers’ Library You can also click on “J” for JSTOR

Getting to JSTOR Click here for access to JSTOR - you will need your Mercer ID number from off campus If you have access problems, please call us contact information is on the last slide

Click here for access to JSTOR - you will need your Mercer ID number from off campus

JSTOR home page

Searching JSTOR Basic search box: You can enter keywords (a couple of unique words that describe your topic - remember to brainstorm) here Advanced search: Click here for more searching options

JSTOR Tutorial Watch this excellent 2 minute step-by-step tutorial for a quick and easy introduction to JSTOR (remember to turn on your speakers). Click here for tutorial

Watch this excellent 2 minute step-by-step tutorial for a quick and easy introduction to JSTOR (remember to turn on your speakers).

Click here for tutorial

JSTOR is for scholarly journal articles, but you might also want to find information on websites. Here are some suggested websites... Primary Source Guide ( http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cf m ) This guide shows have to evaluate primary sources on the web along with providing several more links to primary source archives online. Library of Congress American Memory Project ( http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html ) Contains written and spoken word along with maps, images, sheet music and more. Historical Text Archive ( http://historicaltextarchive.com/ ) Historical essays, books, photographs, etc. Repositories of Primary Sources ( http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html ) Links to thousands of primary source repositories for historical documents from around the world.

Primary Source Guide ( http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cf m ) This guide shows have to evaluate primary sources on the web along with providing several more links to primary source archives online.

Library of Congress American Memory Project ( http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html ) Contains written and spoken word along with maps, images, sheet music and more.

Historical Text Archive ( http://historicaltextarchive.com/ ) Historical essays, books, photographs, etc.

Repositories of Primary Sources ( http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html ) Links to thousands of primary source repositories for historical documents from around the world.

Passwords From off campus you will need your Mercer ID number or GALILEO password to get into our library resources. Go to the Mercer RAC Libraries home page and click on “your library account”

From off campus you will need your Mercer ID number or GALILEO password to get into our library resources.

Go to the Mercer RAC Libraries home page and click on “your library account”

Enter your Name and Mercer University ID number here The GALILEO password will be here

Librarians love questions! If you have any, please ASK US! Julie Poole: 678-547-6379 or [email_address] Tarver Library Reference Desk: 478-301-2055 Swilley Library Reference Desk: 678-547-6282 http://tarver.mercer.edu/assist/askUs.php We even have an online chat service where you can chat with a librarian - click on the photo below to ASK JACK!