Ohrstrom Blog

Lisa Laughy May 14th, 2009

Lura Sanborn – Reference Librarian

The World Digital Library is a partnership between UNESCO and the U.S. Library of Congress.  The site aims to provide free access to digitized treasures currently housed in libraries, museums & other institutions around the world.

Search by keyword or browse using different methods including: place, time or topic.

Europeana is collaboration between dozens of European institutions including: museums, libraries, archives and galleries.  Currently housing 4 million items, the project aims to have 10 million items online in 2010.

Search for James Bond, Descartes, hippos or Alice in Wonderland.  Searches may be further narrowed by item type including: texts, images, videos and sounds.

Helpful for:  Humanities III, Humanities IV, Humanities V, Religious Studies, Art, Science, books, Primary Sources

Tags: Art, books, Humanities III, Humanities IV, Humanities V, primary sources, Religious Studies, Science

• Fine Arts , History , Humanities , Research , Technology , Web Resources
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Lisa Laughy May 12th, 2009

Lura Sanborn – Reference Librarian

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History edited by Bonnie G. Smith, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 305.4 Ox25W

Browse through this new 4-volume set with 1250 entries focused on women’s issues.  The encyclopedia looks at the lives of individual women worldwide from the perspective of culture, work, politics, religion, health, achievements and activity.

A sampling of topics include: Capitalism, Explorers and Exploration, Food Riots, International Lesbian and Gay Association, Islamic Empires.

Individual biographical entries include: Queen of Zaria Aminatu, Empress Wu Zetian, and Big Mama Thornton.

Helpful for: Humanities V, Humanities IV, Women’s Studies, World History, Global Studies

Tags: Global Studies, Humanities IV, Humanities V, New Reference Book, reference, Research, Women's History, Women’s Studies, World History

• History , Humanities , Literature , Research , Social Sciences
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Lura Sanborn May 8th, 2009

Lura Sanborn - Reference Librarian

Gathering primary sources for your Fifth Form paper?  Ohrstrom Library offers the following sources and suggestions:

Online Databases:
These databases, available through the Library’s website, are those most commonly used by Fifth Formers looking for primary source periodical material.

• London Times – Provides the full-text of this newspaper from 1785-1985.

• Historical Newspaper Collection – Provides the full-text of 6 major U.S. newspapers from 1851 through the early 2000s.

• JSTOR – features a collection of 750+ journals, most dating from at least the 1800s forward.  (Note, be sure to watch the date.  A recent article on your topic represents current research, not a likely primary source.)

Books – More Primary Source Potential:
You can locate primary sources published in book form by using the following terms as subject searches in the Library’s Online Catalog.  Or, conduct a keyword search using one term below combined with your topic (i.e. Correspondence, Darwin; or Sources, Inquisition).

• Correspondence
• Diaries
• Interviews
• Personal narratives
• Speeches
• Sources

Frequently, primary sources are embedded within books considered secondary sources.  For example, a book about the Cold War may contain the text of a relevant speech, letter and/or legal document.

Venturing Online – Visit the Library @ Delicious:
The Library has begun collecting high quality websites in its own Delicious account.  Click on the “Primary Sources” tag to generate a list of websites housing exceptional collections of primary sources.  Top picks are also listed in the Fifth Form paper research guide.

Google Advanced Search Techniques:
As a final online tip, try searching your subject in Google, but first, limit the domain to .edu and add the word archives to your search string.  If a University or College library has digitized a special collection in your area of research, this search could help you find it.

Tags: Databases, Delicious, Google, primary sources, WebCat

• Databases , History , Humanities , Periodicals , Research , Web Resources
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Lisa Laughy May 7th, 2009

Lura Sanborn – Reference Librarian

The Oxford Companion to the Year by Bonnie Blackburn & Leofranc Holford-Strevens, Oxford, 2003.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 529.3 B560

The first half of this volume offers a day-by-day listing of associated events and people.  The focus is on British and U.S. events with some non-western celebrations included.

The second half of the volume describes the history of the Christian calendar and major non-Christian calendars.

Helpful for: Celebrations, Browsing, History of the Calendar

Photo credit:

Tags: calendar, calendrics, Gregorian calendar, holidays, holy days, Humanities, Humanities IV, Humanities V, Julian calendar, lunar calendar, New Reference Book, reference, Research, solar calendar

• History , Humanities , Mathematics , Natural Sciences , Religion , Research , Social Sciences
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Lura Sanborn May 5th, 2009

Lura Sanborn – Reference Librarian

Handbook to Life in the Medieval World by Madeleine Pelner Cosman and Linda Gale Jones, Facts On File, 2008.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 909.07 F11H

Divided into twelve topics, this reference set presents daily life during medieval times.  Topics are presented from the viewpoint of medieval Christians, Jews and Muslims.
A sampling of topics include: Warfare & Weapons (including an entry on Women’s Arms), Mysticism & Magic (including an entry on Alchemy), and Clothing, Costume & Textiles (including an entry on Fashionable Hats and Headgear).

Helpful for: Humanities, History, Religious & Social Studies.

Tags: Alchemy, History, Humanities, Medieval Christianity, Medieval Clothing, Medieval Judiasm, Medieval Muslims, Medieval Warfare, Medieval Weapons, Religious Studies, Social Studies

• History , Humanities , Research , Social Sciences
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