A Place of Your Own/English Composition 289

Search tools

Note: Many resources found with library search tools require off-campus access login.

Electronic reference guides

Start off the e-reference page to find links to almanacs and factbooks, encyclopedias, and other useful sources.

Library catalog

Use the library catalog to  find books (print and electronic), government documents, maps, microforms, video- and sound recordings, etc.

Do a SUBJECT search for your topic.

In the results list note links to related subjects and specific subject headings following the main subject headings.

Results for the subject search

Tips

  • Some words or phrases you type may not be used as subject headings. You may get a cross-reference (for example, if you type "gas stations" you will be redirected to "service stations." You may also try synonyms, for example, try "automobiles" instead of "cars."
  • For some subjects it is useful to try both the singular and plural forms, for example, "college" and "colleges", "high school" and "high schools."

Langsam Library call number locator (PDF.)

Subject guides

Subject guides are lists of resources and links put together by experts in various subject areas. BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES: A One-Stop Guide will be useful for many topics in this project, such as "Cities - United States," "Cities - world," "Countries of the world," etc

Indexes and databases

These tools allow you to find information published in newspapers, magazines, and journals. Start at the "Find articles and journals" page.

Find articles page

Images and media databases

On the A-Z List of Databases page click "See Images and Media."

Databases list - selection by type

Diverse perspectives

The library Web page "Globalization and Diversity: Information Sources for Teaching and Learning" lists resources that help you to learn about various countries and cultures, including international radio and television broadcasts available via the Web.

Tips on finding international newspapers and magazines

  • Do a catalog subject search for the name of the country followed by "periodicals," for example, France periodicals.
  • Many foreign language newspapers are available through library databases. To see the list of titles go to Full-Text Journals (Electronic Journal Finder). From the drop-down menu select "Title contains all words" and enter the language, for example, "German language." (See the results for "German language.")

searching for full-text journals in a foreign language

 

Citing Sources

In many databases citations formatted in MLA and/or APA style will appear at the bottom of the article.

Some databases have built-in citation formatters.

Note: Please use database-provides citations and citation formatters with caution. Be sure to check the results for formatting, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and the required elements for the citation style you are using. Check our Need help citing sources? page.

Citing images

Citing multimedia sources - see  Documenting Sources: A Hacker Handbooks Supplement ( updated MLA style guide for 2008/2009) (PDF.) Go to "Multimedia sources (including online versions)."

Citing online/electronic sources - see Documenting Sources: A Hacker Handbooks Supplement ( updated MLA style guide for 2008/2009) (PDF.) Go to "Electronic sources."

 

Please send your questions, comments, and suggestions related to this guide to Olga Hart.