HIS 130 - Introduction to History

This course guide has been specifically created for this class.

Here you will identify resources to search, learn about primary & secondary sources and where to find them, and discover quick ways to get the best results. 

Call numbers will indicate where an item is in the Library based on its collection. 

Main Collection

• Items in the Main Collection are materials that you can check out.  This Collection is also located on the Upper level of the Library.

Reference Collection

• Reference materials are typically those you use for a short section, such as Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and sometimes Handbooks. These items must be used in the Library building and cannot be checked out. The Reference Collection is located on the Library's Upper level, immediately to the right as you walk through the double doors. 

Other Collections

• You may note that DVDs, CDs, CS Lewis and Friends materials and curriculum have separate call numbers. The locations of these items may be found on the Zondervan Library map located on the ZL main page.

Databases to which the Zondervan Library subscribes have distinctive differences from free search engines such as Google or Google Scholar. A database, generally, is a collection of information organized to provide efficient retrieval of subject matter, specifically scholarly subject matter. They tend to be narrower in scope than Google or Google Scholar. 

Prominent features of such databases generally include:

• Cover specific discipline area/s.

• Include academic (peer-reviewed) articles from journals or magazines, eBooks, newspapers, images, and research-related resources.

• Provide citation information or full text to what may be included in the text of the article (a works cited or bibliography.)

• Are subscriptions for which Zondervan Library pays. Whereas Google is free, most databases cost thousands of dollars per year.

Zondervan Library subscribes to over 75 research databases that contain journal, magazine, and newspaper articles on both general and specific disciplines. There are pros and cons for each option. Awareness of the content, organization, and precision of search capabilities can save you time and yield the most appropriate and relevant results.

For more information see What is a library database? (Western Oregon University) http://www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/tutorials/lib_database.htm

What do Librarians have to do with it? 

Librarians are available for assistance with:                                            

• one-on-one research consultation
• formulation of research questions              
• search strategies
• identifying appropriate databases
• advanced information seeking (beyond Zondervan)
• help with citations (Zotero); interlibrary loan (ILLiad)
• other ideas regarding literature reviews and research