Libraries
History 495: Senior Seminar
Searching and browsing for primary and secondary resources
(1) Locating books and other materials at Mercy and in other libraries and
repositories
Books and Media Catalog: includes Mercy’s reference and circulating books, LAC
(Library of American Civilization, 1600s -1914) ultra-fiche documents, government
documents, non-book media (videos, DVDs, etc.)
--use the catalog to search for materials by keywords, subjects, authors, or titles.
To identify subject headings to use in searching and/or to browse the library collections
by subject headings, use subject heading keyword or subject heading browse in “Basic
Search” in the catalog. Also check the subject headings for each relevant item found in a
search and use these headings in further searches
--to search the catalog for primary source materials, add terms (to an” Advanced Search”
keyword or subject search) such as sources, memoirs, letters, documents, diaries,
correspondence, personal narratives, interviews or search by author to find materials
written by the person you are researching
--most of the materials in the catalog are arranged on the shelves and located by call
numbers that follow the Library of Congress Classification System. (The LC
classification outline is at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html.) If you wish to
browse a certain subject area, you can do so once you know the appropriate call numbers.
Call numbers can also be browsed in the catalog by selecting call number in “Basic
Search” and entering the beginning letter(s) and number(s) of a call number of interest
WorldCat (listed in “Other Libraries”)—search for books and other materials in
libraries worldwide, using the same terms and strategies that were successful in the
Mercy College libraries’ catalog. You can display the location of materials in area
libraries (and can also get most of these materials through the Mercy libraries’
Interlibrary Loan service)
“Other Libraries” on library web page—links to area libraries and other resources
Print directories of additional libraries/repositories to consider: American Library
Directory, Metro Library Directory, Official Museum Directory
“Repositories of Primary Sources”:
http://www.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html
Notes on how to get needed materials:
System Loans for books and documents at the other Mercy campus libraries (request
forms are available at Circulation and Reference Desks)
Interlibrary Loans for books and articles not in the Mercy College libraries system
(request forms are at the Reference Desk and on the library web page)
Mercy student ID card needed for access to WALDO libraries (but there are no on-site
borrowing privileges at most of these libraries)
MetroCard (available at Reference Desk) for pre-arranged access to specific area Metro
member libraries (no on-site borrowing privileges)
Check individual library/repository websites for online and on-site access policies and
hours; call ahead
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(2) Book Review sources
Print (located in Reference Index area)
Book Review Digest
Book Review Index
Online:
Book Index with Reviews
Book reviews are also included in many of the journals indexed in print and online
periodical databases (can limit to document type “book review”)
(3) Topical Indexes to Journals, Magazines, Newspapers and other materials (not a
comprehensive list—ask at Reference for additional suggestions)
Print:
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, 1900New York Times Index, 1851- and newspaper on microfilm
International Index, 1907-1965 continued by Social Sciences and Humanities Index
Humanities Index
Online:
Wilson OmniFile Full Text, Mega edition; Humanities Abstracts
ProQuest—General (all collections) and Research Library
MasterFILE Select
Facts on File World News Digest (covers 1940- present)
New York Times (current)
Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated
Librarian-mediated searches: Historical Abstracts, America: History and Life
Notes on how to get needed materials:
Check the Periodicals List to see which magazines, journals, newspapers the Mercy
libraries carry in paper, microfilm, and/or online formats
WorldCat--check for periodical holdings of other libraries (for on-site visits)
Interlibrary Loan—order photocopies of articles not available in the Mercy libraries
(takes 10 days or so; free service)
(4) Internet resources (a sampling)
“Using Primary Sources on the Web”-http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/History/RUSA
The History Highway 3.0: A Guide to Internet Resources (Dobbs Ferry Reserve
D 16.117.H57 2002)
“Internet History Sourcebooks Project” (Halsall)--public domain and copy-permitted
historical texts
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/
“UNESCO Archives Portal: Primary Sources Online”
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_archives/pages/Resources/Primary_Sources_Onl
ine/index.shtml
“Digitized Primary American History Sources”
http://www.library.uni.edu/instruction/digitalhistory.shtml
“American Memory Project” (Library of Congress)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/
“American Women’s History: A Research Guide”
http://www.mtsu.edu/~kmiddlet/history/women.html
Search or browse Internet Subject Directories (for examples check “Internet Guides and
Tools” on the library web page)
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(5) Research Assistance:
In person (appointments recommended and encouraged!)
Ask-a-Librarian (email reference service)
Phone (Dobbs Ferry campus reference desk: 674-7257; circulation desk: 674-7256)
1/06; revised 2/07kw