Search Techniques
Find Books
Watch the video below to learn more about searching in ASA: the online library catalog.
- Cambridge Companions Online This link opens in a new windowSeries of authoritative guides, written by leading experts in the field and used by students, scholars and non-specialists. Covers literature, philosophy, religion, classics, cultural studies, and music.
- Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new windowOxford Reference includes dictionaries, including authoritative dictionaries for many languages, encyclopedias, and companions, featuring more in-depth but still brief entries, e.g. Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization.
- SAGE Knowledge Books and Reference This link opens in a new windowOnline books, reference works, handbooks, series, and professional development titles across the social and hard sciences.
Find Articles
Characteristics:
- Cover numerous topics
- May contain multiple types of sources (e.g. popular, trade, scholarly)
- Audience = educated readership
Examples:
- Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new windowIndexes, abstracts and provides selective full-text for a broad spectrum of magazines, journals and newspapers.
- ProQuest Central This link opens in a new windowThe largest single periodical resource available, bringing together complete databases across all major subject areas, including Business, Health and Medical, Social Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, and Humanities. Search across more than 30 databases at one time. Full-text available. Includes newspapers, journals, popular magazines, trade publications and more.
- Research Library This link opens in a new windowIndexes, abstracts and provides selective full-text for a broad spectrum of magazines, journals and newspapers.
View the video below for tips on searching for articles.
Characteristics:
- Pertain to a particular discipline
- Often contain scholarly sources, known as peer-reviewed articles
- Articles are written and reviewed by experts in the field
- Academic audience
- Showcase original research
Examples:
- America: History and Life with Full Text This link opens in a new windowHistorical research about the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.
Characteristics:
- Written by columnists
- Audience = general public
- Full of images
Examples:
- Sports Illustrated
- Vogue
Characteristics:
- Written by columnists, journalists, and/or reporters
- Coverage = current events
- Articles written at 8th grade reading level
Examples:
- New York Times and Games Add-on (Mobile Apps and Site Access) This link opens in a new windowLink to instructions for registering for access. Users can also register for both the New York Times and Games mobile apps, the latter of which includes the full NYT Crossword, Spelling Bee, and more. On campus or VPN-connected Lehigh users can access the website without registering.