Research presentation for HS5314 in Spring 2018

1. Research Tools &
Techniques:
HS5314 Research Paper
Necia Wolff
Librarian & Professor
Blume Library

2. Who am I?
 History Librarian
 Available to provide you source
ideas for your research project
 Click on the Book Now button
under my profile to make an
appointment or at
http://lib.stmarytx.edu/NeciaWolff/
appointments

3. Today’s
Objectives
Discuss HS5314 class research guide; how to find and useDiscuss
Demo and search Discover to secondary and primary sourcesDemo, Practice
Demo and search Worldcat for secondary and primary sources, in books, available via ILLDemo, Practice
Examine online primary sources on guide or using Google Advanced SearchEvaluate
Examine linked Online Primary Sources, how to choose, Search Google Advanced Search for
online primary sources
Discuss, Demo,
Practice
Discuss your research with a librarian in class and elsewhereTake Action

4. HS5314
Contemporary
Europe guide
Includes links to databases
& sources we will discuss
today
Serves as a long-term
resource for you to find
sources
Quick overview of pages in this
class, explore more outside of
class
http://lib.stmarytx.edu/hs5314

5. Encyclopedias
 Use Discover or other databases to locate encyclopedia
articles
 Benefits of research encyclopedias
 Know the names of the people involved, the major
events, and when things happened (timeline)
 Often lists of major secondary sources and, sometimes,
major primary source collections
 Saves you time by getting quick content. Really
recommended!

6. Discover
Main database for secondary articles, books, etc. and also
may find primary material reprinted in book or articles
from the period you are studying
Portal academic articles, magazine and newspaper
articles, books and eBooks, videos, government
documents, and more
Many disciplines so have to limit your results or develop
more precise keywords

7. Discover
Search Tips
 Keyword
 Look at subject terms for better ideas
 Search all text if your keyword is uniquely descriptive
 Limits
 Date
 Monograph – for books and eBooks
 Source Type – academic journals, newspapers, etc.
 Discipline – choose on Advanced Search page; warning: just
useful for academic journal articles
Demo: Discover and effective use of keywords and limits

8. Activity 1:
Discover
Find
Journal
Articles
1. Search for your topic in Discover.
• How many results did you find? Note the number.
2. Limit your search to Academic Journals
3. Examine the Subject category on the left side, note
keywords for later searches
• Are any of the subject useful? If so, limit your search by
this subject.
4. Skim the list of results.
5. Find one or more articles that looks useful and Save for later
review.
6. Unexpected results. What are these unexpected articles?
Note for discussion. Share questions you have to find
solutions together.

9. WorldCat
 Worldcat is a shared catalog among libraries worldwide
 Search for primary source collections, republished in book
form, by search Worldcat.lorg
 Ex: ”Falklands War” as keyword “sources” as subject
 Worldcat.org to find out which libraries have books
 Local can visit with Texshare
 Can request via Interlibrary Loan
 Demo: Worldcat

10. Activity 2:
Use Worldcat to find
primary sources
1. Search for your topic
• Be specific, look for a person, specific
event, etc.
• Combine with a primary source search
term
2. Pick an interesting book
• Limit to books if needed
3. Note: who owns the book?
• Does the Blume Library have a copy?
• Will you need to ask for it by ILL, get a
TexShare card, or visit the San Antonio
Public Library?

11. Online
Primary
Sources
 HS5314 Contemporary Europe guide includes a list of
frequently used primary source collections with a focus
European countries, International/Multinational collections,
and United States collections that may shed light on how the
US responded to European events
 Google Advanced Search, along with tips in the guide,
suggest ways to search for online digital collections that may
not appear in the guide’s Online Primary Source list
Discussion and Demo: Online Primary Sources page and
Google Advanced Search

12. Activity 3: Explore a primary source
Option 1
1. Explore a primary source on the Online
Primary Source page
2. Make note of one primary source item
that you think may be useful to you.
1. Determine what type of primary source it
is? When was it created? By whom?
3. Issues – what challenges, if any, did you
have interpreting this source?
Option 2
1. Search Google Advanced search with
 Your subject or any other relevant key
person, event, place
 Combine with terms suggested in the
Google Advanced Search box
2. Find one or more source that looks useful
and bookmark for later review.
3. Unexpected results. What are these
unexpected results? Note for discussion.
Share questions you have to find
solutions together.

13. Thank you! It is my pleasure to work with you.
Get in touch if you have questions.