Getting Started in the LibraryThis library guide points you in the direction of some basic library resources for completing library assignments and writing research papers in this course. Many of these resources are available from the library's homepage at http://www.lib.ipfw.edu/, so you may want to bookmark both the homepage and this guide.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Gaining an OverviewTo develop and refine your search, it often helps to consult a specialized dictionary, encyclopedia, handbook, textbook, guide, or bibliography. These tools are designed to offer an overview of your topic or research problem written by an expert. They may provide an historical perspective, a chronology of events, definitions of terms or concepts, or bibliographic references leading to the literature in a particular field of study. Many useful reference works are now available online. These handy e-reference collections are accessible via Find Resources By... Subject, Title, or Type on the library's homepage.
Selected Reference Works for this CourseAtlases and MapsAtlas of Africa (Atlas Stand Reference G2445 .F72 1973)
Atlas of African Affairs (Reference G2445 .G7 1984)
Historical Atlas of Africa (Reference G2446.S1 H5 1985)
Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection
BibliographiesApartheid: A Selective Annotated Bibliography, 1979-1987 (Reference DT763 1989) includes monographs, articles, U.S. and UN documents in English.
South Africa Under Apartheid: A Select and Annotated Bibliography (Reference DT763 .K34 1989B) provides a representative selection of literature on all aspects of the South African issue.
Biographical DictionariesAfrican Biographical Dictionary (Reference DT8 .B76 1994) emphasizes postcolonial contemporary period and features political leaders.
Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and HandbooksAfrica: An Encyclopedia for Students This work presents Africa, from Egypt to Cape Town and from prehistoric times to the present day. This set spans many disciplines, covering animals, foods, holidays and festivals, tribal groups, ecology, music and art, trade and economy, geography, religion, folklore, and fossil and skeletal discoveries.
Africa and the West: A Documentary History from the Slave Trade to Independence (Reference DT353.5.E9 A34 2001) contains primary source documents that tell the history of the colonial encounter between Africa and the West from 1400 to the end of the twentieth century.
African States and Rulers (Reference DT31 .S7859 1999) lists modern countries with their historical constituents and colonial powers' holdings.
African Studies Companion: A Resource Guide and Directory (Reference DT19.8 .Z45 1997)
Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience (Reference DT14.A37435 1999) includes scholarly articles covering the history of Africa and the African diaspora.
Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments is the CIA's weekly list of government officials for most countries of the world
Country Studies (Library of Congress) presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors.
Countries and Their Cultures, 4 vols. (Reference GN307 .C68 2001) includes lengthy articles describing the history, social life and customs of each country and provides detailed list of resources for further reading.
Countries of the World and their Leaders Yearbook Covering nearly 200 countries, this yearbook is filled with reports from the U.S. Department of State. Entries typically cover politicians, geography, defense, agriculture and trade. Includes information on passport applications, regulations and duties, international health and disease, national holidays and more.
Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Southern Africa (Reference JQ2720.A127 W951989)
Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara, 4 vols. (Reference DT351 .E53 1997) provides scholarly articles with bibliographies.
Encyclopedia of African History, 3 vols. (Reference DT20 .E53 2005) Provides significant scholarly articles and titles for further reading.
Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa Covers the modern history of the Middle East and North Africa, with major sections on Colonialism and Imperialism, the World Wars, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the United Nations' involvement in the region. Each country in the region is reviewed, detailing its population, economy, and government.
Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History (Reference DT29 .E53 2003) provides brief articles and lists of further reading.
Europa World The online Europa World provides economic, political, geographic, and recent historical background information and statistical data by country, for 250 countries and territories of the world. It allows creation of comparative statistics tables that can be downloaded in tab-separated values, comma-separated values (csv) or HTML format. This resource also includes extensive list of governmental and non-governmental organizations by name and type. Entries can be e-mailed and citing information is provided.
Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia Entries describe the physical geography of every nation and dependency on Earth. Physical features, climate, and vegetation are discussed in detail using a consistent set of rubrics. Every entry features a physical relief map designed to illuminate the text of the entry. A World Rankings appendix includes dozens of tables ranking major features of the Earth, such as largest river by length and volume, tallest mountains by continent, and deepest oceans. Includes a glossary of geographical and geological terms.
Historical Dictionary of Angola (Reference DT1264 .J36 2004) includes an excellent bibliography of resources about Angola.
Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia (Reference DT381 .S55 2004) includes an excellent bibliography of resources about Ethiopia.
Historical Dictionary of Somalia (Reference DT401.2 M85 2003) includes an excellent bibliography of resources about Somalia.
Historical Dictionary of Zimbabwe (Reference DT2925 .R83 2001) includes an excellent bibliography of resources about Zimbabwe.
Political Handbook of the World 2007 (Reference JF37 .P6 2007) provides comprehensive coverage of politics and government.
Sources and Methods in African History: Spoken, Written, Unearthed (Reference DT19.S68 2003) essays on scholarly resources for researching African history.
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations Presents easy-to-understand information on 200 countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics. Also includes biographical essays on national leaders.
Yearbook of the United Nations (Reference JX1977 .A37 2003) the library owns this yearly summary of UN activities from 1951 to the present. Earlier volumes are in the stacks.
StatisticsDemographic Yearbook (United Nations) (Reference HA17 .D45 2002) includes population, mortality, marriage, and divorce statistics.
Foreign Governments Statistics (University of Michigan) provides an extensive list of links to online statistical resources by subject and regions of the world.
International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania, 1750-1993 (Reference HA4675 .M552 1998) provides statistics on population, labor, agriculture, industry, trade, transportation, finance, and education.
Resources of the Third World (Reference HC59.7 .A833358 1997) provides for each country statistics and assessment of the country's natural and political resources.
Statistical Yearbook (United Nations) (Reference HA12.5 .U63 2004) includes population, education and literacy, health and nutrition, and economic statistics.
Statistical Yearbook (UNESCO) (Reference AZ362 .U45 1998) includes statistics on education, culture and communication, and research in science and technology.
Statistical Handbook on Poverty in the Developing World (Reference HC59.72.P6 S73 1999)
World Factbook provides current information from the CIA concerning the geography, people, government, economy, and military of each nation.
Searching IUCAT for Books and PeriodicalsSearch IUCAT Catalog (Indiana University's online library catalog), to find books and periodicals (scholarly journals, popular magazines, newspapers, and other serials), or library materials such as music CDs, electronic resources, and videos. Materials at the Fort Wayne Helmke Library are designated by the library location FORTWAYNE.
IUCAT searches from on-campus computers will show only materials held by the IPFW Fort Wayne Helmke Library. To search all IU libraries, choose ALL from the Select Library pull-down menu on the search screen.
Sometimes IUCAT will lead you to articles in periodicals, but the most efficient way to locate articles is to use a periodical database or index to search many periodicals simultaneously.
Learning about IUCATSave time in the long run by investing a half-hour with our interactive Searching IUCAT Tutorial. It is an easy way to grasp fundamental search techniques and try your hand at practice searches designed to reinforce your knowledge. Also check our other IUCAT Guides for help in using IUCAT to your best advantage.
Choosing the Type of SearchUse the default Basic Search search option to find important keywords or phrases in an IUCAT record, in any order. Choose this search when you are unsure of the exact author or title of works on your topic.
Choose the Begins With (Browse) option from the box labeled More IUCAT Searches to find words or phrases exactly as typed, letter-for-letter, searching from left to right. Choose this search to find known authors or titles. Step 1. Enter term(s) in Title, Author, or Keywords Anywhere search boxes.
Step 2. Under Library, leave Fort Wayne Helmke Library as default, or change to ALL.
Step 3. Click the Search button.
Keyword Search ExamplesKeywords Anywhere will search for words anywhere in a record. This search is the default when the Enter key is used instead of clicking the button.
Example: (Zaire or democratic republic congo) and (politic$ or government$)
Author will search for first or last names in any order in the author fields of a record. Included are personal names, organizations, agencies, corporations, conferences, etc.
Example: ogbaa kalu [finds works by Kalu Ogbaa]
Title will search for important words in the title. Do not use initial articles: a, the, la, das, etc.
Example: cry beloved country [finds Cry the Beloved Country]
Subject will search for important words in the official Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH).
Example: (south adj Africa) and education
Finding Periodicals in IUCATStep 1. Choose Periodical Title Search from the box labeled More IUCAT Searches.
Step 2. Enter the periodical title. Choose Keyword or Exact depending on the search you need.
Step 3. Select the correct record from the Search Results screen.
Step 4. In the IUCAT record look for the URL (for Electronic Resources available Online) or Holdings (for printed periodicals) to find what specific years and volumes are available at IUCAT's FORTWAYNE location.
Step 5. When the library owns the printed volumes you need, write down the call number and location. The call number and IUCAT Shelving Locations will help you determine where an item will be shelved in the library. Or if the resource is available online, follow the URL link to the full-text content.
Locating Books and Periodicals in the LibraryBooks, printed periodicals, and other library materials are shelved in Library of Congress Classification (LC) call number order. The call number and IUCAT Shelving Locations will help you determine on which floor of the library an item will be shelved.
Searching for Periodical ArticlesThe most efficient way of finding a high-quality periodical article , is to search a periodical database or index that provides descriptive abstracts, subject indexing, and often, the full-text content of articles. Check out the interactive Finding Articles Tutorial to learn the basics of choosing and searching the Academic Search Premier database. Below is a selection of databases useful for your course. For a complete list, see the library's Find Resources By... page. Select a resource by Subject, Title, or Type (choose Abstracts & Indexes).
Databases for this Course
Academic Search Premier -       |
Coverage: Indexing coverage varies, with full-text content for some titles beginning 1975 or earlier, and most titles indexed from the 1990s. |
Brief Description: Provides abstracts and indexing of articles in more than 8,000 popular magazines, scholarly journals, and major newspapers in all fields of study, with nearly 4,000 titles available full text. |
Tools Available: A complete list of titles covered is available. |
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Historical New York Times - |
Call Number: Microfilm AP2 .N55 |
Coverage: From 1857 to two years ago [Historical New York Times] |
Brief Description: Provides full-text PDF page images of the New York Daily Times from 1851-1857 and New York Times from 1857 to two years ago. |
Other IPFW Formats: IPFW library owns the New York Times (Microfilm 1890 to present), in the microfilm cabinets. |
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LexisNexis Academic - |
Coverage: Indexing coverage varies for the 6,000 information resources included, with full-text content for some titles beginning 1980 or earlier; most titles indexed from the 1990s |
Brief Description: LexisNexis Academic provides full-text access to nearly 6,000 information resources including newspapers, news magazines, wire services, and transcripts of major radio and TV broadcasts. |
Tools Available: Help with searching and finding sources is available. |
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National Newspapers - |
Coverage: Indexing coverage varies, with some titles beginning 1990 or earlier, and most titles indexed from the 1990s |
Brief Description: Provides access to full-text articles in the Christian Science Monitor (1990 to present), Los Angeles Times (1985 to present), New York Times (Late ed. East Coast 1980 to present), New York Times Book Review (1997 to present), New York Times Magazine (1997 to present), Wall Street Journal (Eastern ed.) (1984 to present), and Washington Post (1996 to present). |
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Newspaper Source - |
Coverage: Mid 1990's to present |
Brief Description: Provides abstracts and indexing of national newspapers, updated daily, including the New York Times (Late and National editions), Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition), Washington Post, and USA Today. Provides full-text access to nearly 250 U.S., regional, and international newspapers and newswire services, including the Christian Science Monitor. |
Other IPFW Formats: The IPFW library receives the New York Times National edition in paper and Late edition in microfilm, and the Wall Street Journal Midwest edition in paper and Eastern edition in microfilm. |
Tools Available: An online list of newspapers indexed is available. |
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Worldwide Political Science Abstracts - |
Coverage: 1975 to present |
Brief Description: The database provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of books, dissertations, films, software and international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, labor relations, and public administration/policy. |
Tools Available: An online list of journals indexed is available. An online database guide is also available. |
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Is Your Article Scholarly or Popular?University instructors often ask students to use articles from scholarly journals rather than from popular magazines for their research assignments. The following Is Your Journal Scholarly? (PDF) summarizes major differences between scholarly journals and popular magazines. Which type of source have you located?
What about Full Text?Full text means that the text of the article is available in PDF or HTML digital format. Graphics and tables are not automatically included unless the database producer has rights to publish them. Many of the library's licensed databases offer the full-text content of periodical articles. IPFW students, faculty, and staff now have access to more than 20,000 full-text journals. Find them in E-Journal Finder.
When an article you need is not available full text in the database you are using, choose  to see all of your delivery options. You may be able to access the full-text content in another database, request the article from another library through Document Delivery Services, or make a photocopy of the article if the printed periodical is owned by Helmke Library.
When a Resource is Not Available in the LibraryRequest Delivery is an IUCAT feature that allows IPFW faculty, students, and staff to request materials held by other Indiana University Libraries and to have them delivered to Helmke Library (see the IUCAT Request Delivery Fact Sheet).
You may also request any item that is not available at Helmke Library through Document Delivery Services (DDS). DDS borrows books and provides photocopies of periodical articles from other library collections. The service is free for IPFW faculty, staff, and students.
Using Government InformationThe U.S. government is an excellent source for primary research materials. Helmke Library has been a selective federal depository for U.S. government publications since 1965, receiving items in the categories of business, the census, commerce, defense history, education, health, justice, foreign affairs, presidential and congressional materials. Many federal government publications are freely available in digital format, and these resources can be accessed using IUCAT Catalog. The library's Public Information Reference Service (PIRS) provides research assistance as well as access to the wealth of local, state, federal, and international government information on the Web. The Allen County Public Library is also a federal depository library.
Searching the InternetFor some information needs, the Internet may supplement library resources. To begin an Internet search, try one of the many search engines on our Internet Search site. One that works well is Google, which ranks results by number of links leading to a site. The section on Subject-Oriented Tools includes directories that have evaluated and selected sites for specific subject areas, such as the Librarians' Index to the Internet.
Because the World Wide Web is a massive, tangled directory of knowledge producers, research, facts, and entertaining tidbits of information, you must be critical about the material you find there. Quality and validity are not assured when anyone can publish anything, anytime, without the benefit of scholarly peer review. There are many useful guides and tutorials to help you understand how to navigate and evaluate Web sites, including Is Your Web Site Credible?
Finding Internet Sites for this CourseThe Internet has become a useful place to locate primary and secondary source material. However, each Web site needs to be evaluated for its quality. The library's Judging Sources: Is your Web site Credible? Provides a checklist for determining the validity of a Web site for your research needs. Africa South of the Sahara is an annotated guide to Africa related internet resources for students, faculty, librarians, teachers, journalists, business people and others.
African Studies Center: Africa Country Pages links to a selected list of online resources for a study of individual countries.
African Studies Center: Africa Web Links: an Annotated Resource List is created and maintained by the University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center.
African Union is the official Web site of the Organization of African Union (OAU).
Afrika.no the Index on Africa is supported by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.
allAfrica.com aggregates, produces, and distributes news from across Africa posting over 700 stories daily in English and French and offering a diversity of multi-lingual streaming programming as well as a 400,000-article searchable archive (which includes the archive of Africa News Service dating from 1997).
BBC News - Africa provides the latest news from Africa as reported from the BBS, including country profiles.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries whose mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity.
Inside Africa provides news from CNN's weekly program.
International Government (IPFW) links to official foreign government and international governmental organizations sites.
NewsLink: African Newspapers links to newspapers issued by African countries.
Southern Africa Development Community news and reports from the SADC which consists of 12 members states covering the southern tip of Africa.
United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa highlights the UN's support for peace and African development. Includes research reports, country profiles, UN news on Africa, and links to other information on Africa.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. This site is searchable by country. See also its section devoted to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Western Sahara Online provides a history of the people, the current conflict and reports and documents concerning the region.
Style Guides and Useful Tools for WritingA variety of style guides are on reserve at the Service Desk on the first floor. These tools help you organize and write your paper, and format in-text references and bibliography lists. For more information, also see our Style Guides and Writing Guides subject pathfinders.
And Finally, Ask a LibrarianLibrarians and skilled information assistants are always available to assist you. Visit the Service Desk to meet an information assistant who will help you get started. You are welcome to make an appointment with Your Subject Librarian if you need more in-depth assistance.
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truesdel@ipfw.edu
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
260-481-6514
Fax: 260-481-6509
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Cheryl Truesdell M.L.S.
Dean
Helmke Library, LB 142 |
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| Created by: |
C. Truesdell |
| Date created: |
2003-01-28 |
| Date revised: |
2008-02-12, 2007-02-08, 2006-03-03, 2004-01-16 |
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