The purpose of this course research guide is to acquaint you with some of the resources in the University Library and on the Web useful for finding information on your topic. 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 Main Reference Collection (first floor) and Special Collections Reference (first floor) along with similar sources online can help you find brief factual information on the woman you have chosen to research. Be sure to browse the shelves near the sources listed below to find others. You can also search HORNetCat, the Library's online catalog, for additional Reference books by limiting the location to Reference and typing in words that describe your topic.

Biographical encyclopedias and dictionaries often focus on a particular area like science, politics, literature, or history. A number of these sources are located either in the Main Reference Collection or online. Those about African Americans will be located in Special Collections Reference. Some examples are listed below. Ask at the Main Reference Desk or the Special Collections Desk for assistance with finding other biographical encyclopedias and dictionaries.

• Encyclopedia of Women's History in America
  Main Reference: HQ 1410 .C85 2000
• Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary
  Main Reference: CT3260 .N57
• Notable American Women, The Modern Period: A Biographical Dictionary
  Main Reference: CT3260 .N573
• Galenet Contemporary Authors (ASU)
• Galenet Literature Resource Center (ASU)
• From Suffrage to the Senate: An Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics
  Main Reference: HQ 1236.5 .U6 S32 1999
• Access Science (ASU)
• American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological and Related Sciences
  Main Reference: Q141 .A473
• Encyclopedia of Women and Sport in America
  Main Reference: GV 709 .E53 1998
• African-American Biographical Database (ASU)
• African-American History & Culture (ASU)
• African American Women: A Biographical Dictionary
  Special Collections Reference: E 185.96 .A45 1993
• Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia
  Special Collections Reference: E 185.86 .B543 1993
• Facts on File Encyclopedia of Black Women in America
  Special Collections Reference: E 185.96 .F2 1996
• Notable Black American Women
  Special Collections Reference: E 185.96 .N68 1996

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Journal & Magazine Articles

The best method for finding journal articles 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 now 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 Randy Curtis (334 229-6968) or Cedric Davis (334 229-6998).

Some of the databases provide access to the entire text of articles. If the text of an article is not available in a database, check for the journal or magazine title in Serials Solutions (ASU) to determine if the article is available in another online database. Also check HORNetCat, our online catalog, for availability of journals in the Serials Department on the third floor. You may order those not available in the Library or via a full-text database through Interlibrary Loan.

• General/Multi-Disciplinary databases especially:
• Academic Search Premier (ASU)
• Expanded Academic ASAP (ASU)
• Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (ASU) - click on Reference: Biographical Information
• African American/Black Studies databases especially:
• International Index to Black Periodicals (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• Education databases especially:
• ERIC (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• Wilson Education Full-text (ASU)
• Government/History/Political Science databases especially:
• America: History and Life (ASU)
• Historical Abstracts (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• Oxford Journals Online (ASU)
• Health Sciences databases especially:
• CINAHL (ASU)
• Health Source: Nursing Academic (ASU)
• Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (ASU) - click on Medical
• Oxford Journals Online (ASU)
• PsycINFO (ASU) - psychology
• Literature/Humanities databases especially:
  • Galenet Literature Resource Center (ASU)
  • JSTOR (ASU)
  • Oxford Journals Online (ASU)
• Math/Science/Technology databases especially:
• BioOne (ASU)
• Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (ASU)
• JSTOR (ASU)
• MathSciNet (ASU)
• Oxford Journals Online (ASU)

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Books

Books from the Library's Main Stax (third and fourth floors) can also be helpful for finding information on your topic.

Searching for Books

• HORNetCat (online catalog for finding books located in the Library)
• NetLibrary (ASU)
• Galenet Scribner Writers Series (ASU)
• Galenet Twayne's Authors Series (ASU)

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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 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 use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to cite your sources. A copy of the Manual is available at the Reference Desk on the first floor of the Library. Additional assistance with citing electronic publications is available from the APA online site.

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