Honors History Research Seminar: Research Tips

Here is a video that shows you how to use the Putnam Library catalog! 

Make the video full screen to see it better!

We are able to borrow books and articles from other libraries. If you are looking for a book or article that we do not have, follow these steps:

For books:

1. Try searching the Minuteman Network Library Catalog. 
2. If you are able to find the book that you are looking for in that catalog, let a librarian know. We will borrow it, pick it up, and get it to you.
3. If you are not able to find the book you are looking for, please see a librarian - we will look in other interlibrary loan networks.

For articles:

1. Let a librarian know as much information about the article as possible (title, author, journal, and publication date if possible). We will search for it, borrow it, and get it to you.

Once you find a book you think might be helpful, in order to find the specific information you need, you will need to use tools in the books the same way you would follow links online.

• Use the table of contents (front of book) and index (back of book) to locate information.
  • ​A table of contents (TOC) is arranged according to the order of chapters and information a good research title will list chapter titles and subtitles.
  • An index is arranged alphabetically. An index is usually more specific than a TOC, and there might be more than one keyword in an index that will help you find the information you need.
    • Bold text in an index usually indicates a page range (and a longer, more in-depth article).
• Take advantage of the further reading/suggested reading lists that many sources provide.
  • ​You can search our library catalog for books, or our databases for articles, or we can borrow materials for you from other libraries.

It is crucial that you evaluate any resources before you include them in your paper. This means that you are considering both a source's accuracy and reliability, as well how helpful it will be for the argument or counterargument that you are trying to make.

Overall, some things to take into consideration:

• Authority: Who wrote the source? What are their credentials? Do they have a social/cultural bias?
• Currency: How recently was the source written? Is the argument/data still current and accepted, or is their more recent scholarship that either agrees with or refutes this source?
• Accuracy: Can the information/argument in a source be found and verified elsewhere? Is it supported by evidence?
• Purpose: What is the purpose of a source/publication? Fact or opinion? Does it display any social/cultural bias?

More specific strategies for types of sources:

• For books: 
  • Read the author's biography and credentials -- consider an independent fact-check.
  • Check the publication date.
  • Read the introduction/conclusion to evaluate for bias.
• For journal articles:
  • Read the author's biography and credentials.
  • Use the links provided with most articles to read the mission statement of the journal that published the article.
  • Check the publication date -- as the same author written anything on this topic more recently?
• For primary sources:
  • Remember that primary sources are first-hand accounts created at the time of the event you are studying.
  • Investigate the author (if possible) -- where does/did the author live? What are their credentials or professions? Do they have a social/cultural bias?
  • What is the purpose of the source you are consulting? Fact or opinion? Does it display any bias?

Searching Our Library Catalog?

• Use keywords to search.
• It is better to use broader search terms and then narrow them down.
• Spelling is important!
• Click on a record for a summary or to see the table of contents.
• The location on the shelf is listed on the results page.
• You can narrow by collection (Reference, Non-Fiction) or type (Books, Videos), which can be helpful.

Searching Databases?

• Use the Advanced Search option to get better results -- this will allow you combine multiple search ideas at the same time.
• Use words like "and", "or", and "not" to separate search terms. For example, "Cold War" AND "Space Program".
• Use "quotation marks" to search for a whole phrase together.
• Use an asterisk (*) to search for related terms. For example, searching for "librar*" could return results about a library, libraries, a librarian, or librarians.