HIST 121: Introduction to U.S. History to 1865: 1. Getting Background Information- Reference Sources

Steps for finding items listed in bibliographies

1. Locate a bibliographic citation. Look at the list of sources in subject encyclopedias and bibliographies.
    
2. Determine if the source is a book or an article in a journal. Some clues
   Does it have volume and/or issue numbers? Does the date include a month? Then it's most likely from a journal.
   Is a publisher and/or place of publication included in the citation? Then it is probably from a book.
3. Check to see if we have local access to the item or can obtain through interlibrary loan.
   • Book: Search the Library Catalog -- It will tell you if Earlham or any other libraries own the item.
   • Journals: Search "Find It @ Earlham Libraries"  .   It can determine if we have access to a journal. 
4. What if we don't own it?  Request it from another through interlibrary loan. Log into Tipasa to create the request or use the Interlibrary Loan links in WorldCat and article databases. Interlibrary Loan is free for students!