The document discusses evaluating and using Wikipedia as a source for research. It notes that Wikipedia articles may lack authoritative authors and references can be unclear or broken. Wikipedia can be a starting point but the actual cited sources should be followed. Not all Wikipedia articles are of high quality so it's important to evaluate accuracy. Research libraries have more authoritative sources than Wikipedia. The document provides guidance on finding background information and searching the library catalog and databases for reliable sources.

3. Wikipedia?
• Maybe, but…
• Who authored that article (who is the authority standing behind the
article)?
• Is it an article in “good standing?”
• Are the references truly useful, or are they unclear and filled with
broken links?
• Can you cite it as a source? What if the content changes? (What does
that do to the quality of your citation)?

4. Use with caution (or use something better)
• Wikipedia can sometimes be a good place to start, but you should
follow the references to the actual, cite-able source of the
information.
• Some Wikipedia articles aren’t very good. How will you know?
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_disability
• Research libraries have better, more authoritative sources!

5. Step 1. Find Background Information
?

6. Don’t enter your search here!
Instead, search within this book

7. Open PDF to read chapter

8. From the entry on “epilepsy” in the Cambridge World History of Human Disease.
This book – On the Sacred Disease– might be a great primary source on the
understanding of epilepsy in antiquity! Does the Cornell Library own it?

9. Step 2: Search the Library Catalog
• Try the exact title – On the Sacred Disease
• If this doesn’t work, open the Guided Keyword Search and search for
some of the key words, e.g. sacred disease

10. Could this be it?

11. To see a title’s contents, open the Long View

12. You can also search by Subject Heading

14. Step 3: Search Databases
• Search discipline-specific databases to find articles
• Database: History of Science, Technology and Medicine
• Please “Pause” and view this Screencast

15. Other valuable databases!
• Proquest Historical Newspapers – Hit “Pause” and watch this
Screencast
• Proquest American Periodicals
• North American Women's Letters & Diaries -- Colonial to 1950
• Everyday Life & Women in American: 1800 - 1920
• And many more!

16. Need Help? Ask a Librarian!