This guide suggests resources and strategies for research on (your subject here).

Background Information  |  Facts & Figures  |  Find Articles  |  Find Books  |  Criticism & Reviews  |  Primary Sources  |  People  |  Organizations  |  Web Resources  |  Additional Resources 

Background Information (Overview Sources)

Encyclopedias and other reference works are an excellent place to start a research project or simply learn more about a particular topic.  They provide topic summaries, context, and bibliographies for further reading.

Use dictionaries, statistical works, atlases, handbooks and similar works to find and check facts about topics, people, or events.

 

Search indexes, abstracts, and databases to find journal, magazine, and newspaper articles.  For a complete list of Kent Library's online indexes and databases, see the Find: articles page (http://library.semo.edu/find/articles.asp).

To find historical/source materials, use the following print sources:

To find recent articles and scholarly/peer-reviewed articles use the following online databases:

 

Use the Kent Library Catalog (http://library.semo.edu/find/books.shtml) to find books, periodicals (journals, magazines, & newspapers), videos, government documents and other materials.

Keyword searches allow you to use your own words as search terms.
Subject heading searches use Library of Congress subject headings. Printed volumes of these headings are located near the Reference Desk on the main floor.

Browse the shelves by call number.  Use the Dewey Decimal chart (http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/fi_books_dd_list.htm) to get you in the right subject areas or try the following:

List call# areas here.
 

List resources here.

List resources here.

Learn about important people, such as authors, researchers & historical figures related to this topic or field.

List resources here.
 

Professional organizations and/or societies often provide very useful topic related information.

List resources here.
 

For a list of Web searching tools, see the Find: web resources page (http://library.semo.edu/find/webpages.shtml).

List resources here.