To find an overview of the issues involved with your topic, to find a list of other sources applicable to your topic and to find the names of experts writing about your topic, consult:

Encyclopedias and Handbooks

When you have a topic in mind, the easiest way to find reference books on your topic is to ask a reference librarian (at the desk 9-noon, 1-4:45, 6:30-10pm most days). Some examples include:

Families
International Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family [R.R. HQ9.E52 2003]
Lesbian Histories and Cultures [R.R. HQ75.5.L4395 2000]
Encyclopedia of Family Life [R.R.HQ534.E53 1999]
The Family in America [R.R. HQ536.H365 2001]
Families in America [R.R.HQ536.T798 2002]

Parenting
Parenthood in America [R.R. HQ755.8.P3783 2000]
Single Parents [R.R. HQ759.915.K56 1999]

Child Development
Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science [R.R. HQ767.84.E52 2005]
Child Development [R.R. HQ772.C436 2002]

Children and Adolescents
Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media [R.R. HQ784.M3 E53 2007]
International encyclopedia of adolescence [R.R. HQ796 .I58 2007] 
Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence [R.R. HQ772.G27 1998]
Infancy in America [R.R. HQ774.I528 2001]
Boyhood in America [R.R. HQ775.B635 2001]
Girlhood in America [R.R. HQ775.G5745 2001]
Adolescence in America [R.R. HQ796.A33247 2001]
The Millennials [R.R. HQ796.M4797 2004]

Special Topics
Handbook of Children and the Media R.R. HQ784.T4H36 2001
Dating and Sexuality in America [R.R.HQ801.A3T87 2003]
Working Americans, 1880-2005 [R.R. HD8066.D47 2000]; vol. 6: Women at Work; vol. 4: Children
Drugs, Alcohol and Addictive Behavior R.R. HV5804.E53 2001
Drug Use R.R. HV5825.H435 2005

Opinions and Attitudes
The Gallup Poll [R.R. HN90.P8G3 1935-]
Polling America [R.R. HN90.P8P645 2005]
American Attitudes [R.R. HN90.A527 2005]
LexisNexis Academic From Quick Info, choose Reference, then Polls and Surveys

Popular Culture
Greenwood Guide to American Popular Culture R.R. E169.1.G7555 2002
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture R.R. E 169.1.S764 2000
Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Culture R.R. E169.12.E49 2001

Statistics
Statistical Handbook on the World's Children [R.R. HQ767.9.K38 2002]
FED-STATS -- easiest entry is by the Topics List

Using the Online Library Catalog:

The Bridge: The combined catalog of St. Olaf and Carleton

Bridge offers subject access to individual materials on your topic held at both St. Olaf and Carleton -- items like books, journals (as a whole, not at the article level which is discussed below), musical scores, DVDs and videos, and government documents.

A good way to start is with a Keyword search -- trying general words for your topic to see what success you have. When you find a good match, immediately look at the record for the linked Library of Congress Subject Headings. Librarians have looked at this item and linked it to others on the same topic. Search by LCSH to correct for the hit or miss nature of keyword searching. These topic labels are used by most libraries across the United States (and often abroad) to describe your subject. In print, the collection of topics is lovingly referred to as the "big red books;" they are found in the reference area of each library on campus.

For instance, these subject headings may be of interest to you:

To request a Carleton title, click on the Request button at the top of the screen.

Using Magazine and Scholarly Journal Articles:

T here are many indexes and databases which provide subject access and sometimes full-text of the actual articles. Before you plunge in, think about the search you wish to construct -- your keywords and synonyms and the ways in which you connect those ideas.

Academic Search Premier

Specialized Indexes and Databases:
These indexes are more narrowly focused but go into greater depth and are scholarly.

Sociological Abstracts

EconLit -- Economics

PsychINFO -- Psychology

PAIS: Public Affairs Information Service -- Public Affairs

Social Work Abstracts Plus

ERIC (education)

Women's Studies International

America: History and Life -- US and Canadian history

Historical Abstracts -- the rest of the world, covering historical topics 1450 to date

Finding Journal Articles:

Click on the "Find It" button. It will tell you if the article is available full text. If not, check under Bridge. If it's at St. Olaf's Rolvaag Library, you'll find journals on levels 3 1/2 and 4, shelved alphabetically by title. Science library journals are on level 2 of the Science Library, alphabetical by title. Music journals are on the south end of the Music Library collection. Print journals from Carleton can be requested from Bridge with the red Request button. Electronic journals from Carleton or journals which are not owned by St. Olaf or Carleton have to be ordered through Interlibrary Loan. Usually articles come in 3-5 days but you should allow up to two weeks to receive interlibrary loan materials. Be sure that you allow enough time.

Using Newspaper Indexes:

Note that newspaper articles are not the same as scholarly articles. You will have to evaluate even more carefully. Use either of the following:

LexisNexis Academic Go to the Guided Search, choose general or world news, and then major papers or the region, respectively. All newspapers are in English and full text.

New York Times (1851-2003)

Citation Sources

KnightCite
Online citation generator from Calvin College

Assembling a List of Works Cited in Your Paper
Multiple examples of citations in all style formats.



Got Questions?

Consult a reference librarian at any point during your research process. We are here to answer your questions and teach you how to do research successfully!!!

Contact Ben Bruton at: bruton@stolaf.edu