Ohrstrom Blog » Social Sciences

The Primary Source Hunt: OAIster

Lura Sanborn — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

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?

A copy of Redon’s journal, contributed by the Bibliotheque Nationale de France.
Correspondence from Sigmund Freud to Albert Einstein regarding war contributed by I-Revues.
Sanitary Statistics of Native Colonial Schools and Hospitals by Florence Nightingale contributed by University of California Libraries.
An image of an Alice in Wonderland Float, from Mardi Gra 1938 contributed by the Indiana University Digital Library Program (see image above).
An abstract of a report from the National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams regarding the St. Pauls School Dam contributed by the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Repository.

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 — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:06 +0000

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 — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:50 +0000

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 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:53 +0000

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 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:06:42 +0000

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

New Reference Book: International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities

Lura Sanborn — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:00:21 +0000

International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities edited by Michael Flood, Routledge, 2007.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 305.31 F651

A one-volume guide devoted to the study of global masculinity. Articles are arranged alphabetically and range in length from half a page to several pages.

Examples include: Diasporic and Migrant Masculinities, Friendship, Gangs, Masculinity Politics, Police

Helpful for: Gender Studies, International Studies, Humanities IV, Humanities V, Social History

New Reference Book: Encyclopedia of Modern Ethnic Conflicts

Lura Sanborn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:28:36 +0000

Encyclopedia of Modern Ethnic Conflicts edited by Joseph R. Rudolph, Jr., Greenwood, 2003.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 305.8 R83

A one-volume guide concerning the study of global ethnic conflict during the 20th Century. Each of the thirty-eight individual entries discusses the historical background of a particular ethnic conflict, how the conflict was managed, and the impact of the conflict.

Examples include:

Canada: The Nationalist Movement in Quebec
China: Ethnic Conflict and the International System
France: The “Foreigner” Issue
Middle East: The Arab-Jewish Struggle for Palestine to 1948
Rwanda: Hutu-Tutsi Conflict and Genocide in Central Africa
United States: The United States – Puerto Rico Relationship

Helpful for: Literature of Witness, Middle Eastern Voices, Gender Studies, International Studies, Social History, World Politics, Humanities

New Reference Book: Encyclopedia of Gender and Society

Lura Sanborn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:56 +0000

Encyclopedia of Gender and Society edited by Jodi O’Brien, Sage Publications, 2009.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 306.7 Ob6G

A 2-volume set focusing on gender scholarship. Articles cover many categories including: art, popular culture, sports, body image and health, economics, politics, race and ethnicity, relationships, religion, science and sexuality.

Examples: Bachelors and Spinsters, Body Hair, GI Joe, Nuns, “Personal is Political,” Sports and Homosexuality, Tomboy/Sissy

Helpful for: Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, Humanities, Social History, U.S. History, Science

New Reference Book: The Measure of America

Lura Sanborn — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:45 +0000

The Measure of America written and edited by Sarah Burd-Sharps, Kristen Lewis and Eduardo Borges Martins, Columbia U. Press, 2008.

Find it in Ohrstrom: REF 317 B89M

A collection of data, statistics and interpretive text that reflects upon and measures the well-being of Americans. The report focuses, using a variety of different measurements, on three main areas: health, education & standard of living.

Chapter/Essay Titles Include: The Essential Conditions for Good Health, Health Insurance: The Policy That Unlocks Many Doors, Access to Knowledge: How We Fare Internationally, Factors That Fuel Growth in Earnings InEquality.

Helpful for: Humanities IV, American History, Social History, Statistics, Gender Studies

New Reference Book: The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television

Lura Sanborn — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:30 +0000

The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television by John Kenneth Muir, McFarland, 2008.

Find it in Ohrstrom at: REF 791.43 M91S

A one-volume guide discussing superheroes from American film and television. Each article focuses on a particular superhero, their history, creation and appearance in TV and/or film(s). When applicable, a complete TV episode-by-episode synopsis follows each entry.

Examples include:

The Amazing Spider-Man
The Ambiguously Gay Duo
The Bionic Woman
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Doctor Strange
Swamp Thing

Helpful for: Humanities IV, Art, Gender Studies, Social History, Pop Culture, Superhero Fans