The purpose of this course research guide is to acquaint you with some of the resources in the University Library and on the World Wide Web useful for locating 8-10 sources for your annotated bibliography. Should you have questions, stop by the Reference Desk on the first floor. You may also call the Reference Desk at (334) 229-4110 during the hours the Library is open.

Reference Sources

Sources in the Library's Reference Collection and similar sources online can help you find brief factual information quickly. Be sure to browse the shelves near the sources listed below to find others.

Reference Books

• History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia
  Main Reference: P 92 .U5 H55 1998
• Violence and the Media: A Reference Handbook
  (available online through netLibrary (ASU) )
• Encyclopedia of Television
  Main Reference: PN 1992.18 .E53 1997
  

CQ Researcher

Each CQ Researcher (ASU) report focuses on a single topic related to social, economic, political, health, or environmental issues. They provide a chronological overview and detail recent developments and opposing viewpoints. Each includes a bibliography that can lead you to other sources of information on your topic.

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Journal, Magazine, & Newspaper Articles

The best method for finding articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers is to use one of the Library's online article databases. For additional information on the databases listed below and for others, explore our list of databases. Our databases are easily accessible off campus by clicking on the database name and typing in the information requested. If you need additional assistance with accessing the databases, contact Cedric Davis (334 229-6998).

• Academic Search Premier (ASU)
• Expanded Academic ASAP (ASU)
• InfoTrac OneFile (ASU)
• Lexis-Nexis' Academic Universe (ASU)
• Newsbank NewsFile Collection (ASU)
• Newspaper Source (ASU)
• ProQuest Newspapers (ASU)

Not all of our databases provide access to the entire text of articles. If the text of an article is not available in a database, consult these:

• Serials Solutions (ASU) - to determine if the article is available in another online database.
• HORNetCat - for journals to which the Library subscribes. These are housed in the Serials Department on the third floor.
• Interlibrary Loan - to order those articles not available in the Library or via a full-text database.

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Books

Because of their length, books provide a more in-depth look at topics. Those books not located in the Library can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

• HORNetCat - the Library's online catalog
• netLibrary (ASU) - e-books (full-text books online)

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World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is an outstanding but often bewildering source of information. Not everything you find will be authoritative, accurate, and valid. Try searching one of these databases to find more reliable Web sites.

• INFOMINE Scholarly Internet Resource Collections
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
• Scout Report Archives

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Citing Your Sources

You'll find the major style guides, including the Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association at the Main Reference Desk on the first floor of the Library.

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Your Comments

Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think about this guide. Has it helped with your research? Do you have any suggestions for improving the guide? You may e-mail Marsha Taylor (mvtaylor@alasu.edu) or call her at (334) 229-6839 with your comments and suggestions.

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