Archive for the 'Social Sciences' Category

The Primary Source Hunt: OAIster

Lura Sanborn May 20th, 2010

Are you too looking for primary sources? Most Humanities V teachers are requiring at least two for completion of a successful research paper.  If you’ve looked in all the usual places (such as those listed here in our primary source round-up), yet still aren’t finding quite what you want, consider OAIster.

What is it? OAIster is an online catalog of digitized sources.  It is made available by OCLC, a company that provides many library-related services.

It might help to compare this to Ohrstrom Library’s catalog.  The Ohrstrom Library catalog searches through the records of our 70,000 print titles.  OAIster searches through the records of 23 Million digitized sources from over 1,000 contributors.

What might you find?

Is it hard to use? The search function is very straightforward, offering a basic search or advanced search.  As always, if you would like a little help using this resource please be in touch!

New Reference Book: European Immigration

Lura Sanborn May 11th, 2010

European Immigration edited by Anna Triandafyllidou and Ruby Gropas, Ashgate, 2007.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 305.7 T73E

A presentation of immigration patterns as related to the 25 European Union member states.  Immigration policy(s), impact, history and related statistical data for each member state is included.

A sampling of included nations: Austria, Denmark, France, Latvia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

Helpful for: Humanities V, Global Studies, Statistics, European Studies

New Reference Book: Consider the Source

Lura Sanborn May 4th, 2010

Consider the Source: A Critical Guide to 100 Prominent News and Information Sites on the Web by James F. Broderick & Darren W. Miller, Information Today, 2007.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 070.579 B78C

Using news or newspapers in your research?  Not sure of the quality, the bias or the history of the source?  Consider consulting this volume.

Focusing on 100 news and newspaper sites this book provides an overview, type of coverage, leaning and the authors’ personal rating of each site discussed.

Examples include: Asia Times Online, BBC, Congressional Quarterly, Times of India, Rotten Tomatoes.

Helpful for: Humanities IV, Humanities V,  Media Watchers, Journalism, Those conducting news and newspaper related research

New Reference Book: Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles & Forms of Address

Lura Sanborn April 20th, 2010

Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles & Forms of Address by Robert Hickey, The Protocol School of Washington, 2008.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 395.4 H52H

A handy guide, useful when introducing an individual, addressing a letter or referring to another person in a conversation.  Focus is on U.S. terms and usage although end chapters include country names and corresponding officials.

Discover:
•    DV – is an acronym for distinguished visitor
•    Elector – is a person who is eligible to vote in an election
•    Envoy – is any senior diplomat
•    Rector – is an administrator at an academic or religious institution
•    RHIP – is an acronym for Rank Has Its Privileges
•    Prior – is a religious rank directly beneath abbot

Helpful for:  Letter writing, Chapel speeches, Formal Dinner Parties, Introductions

New Reference Book: Berkshire Encyclopedia of China

Lura Sanborn April 12th, 2010

Berkshire Encyclopedia of China edited by Linsun Cheng, Berkshire, 2009.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 951 B45

Just in time for writing your Ma Prize essay, Ohrstrom Library has acquired this five-volume set with 800+ articles about historical and modern day China. Includes articles that focus on: art, philosophy, economics & development, people, social & cultural history, the natural world and international relationships.

Examples include
:  Bamboo; Clothing, Traditional – Hong Kong; Dragon Boat Festival; Energy, Renewable; Ming Dynasty; and Yungang Caves

Helpful for
:  Asian Studies, Global Studies, Ma Essay Prize, Humanities V

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