CHABOT LIBRARY
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Resources Available at the Library
http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/handouts/Eng4/Puckett.html

To begin, go to the Library’s web site: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/

    Literature Resource CenterLibrary Catalog  | Ebsco Host  | Other Databases | Emailing Articles
 Finding Texts Similar to A Chosen Text  | What to Do if Text is Checked Out/Not Available
Gale's Literary Criticism Sources  |  Other Reference Resources (Print) | World Wide Web
 Sites That Select Quality Sites   |   Search Engines  | Citing Books, Articles & Websites   | Your Search Strategy

http://proxy.clpccd.cc.ca.us:2048/login?url=http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/
hawy60514?db=LitRC

Literature Resource Center is the first place to go to online to find authoritative biographies and literary criticisms on authors.  Login and then search by author, or select one of the options below to search by title, keyword, time period, or authors by type.
 
To begin, enter the name of your author under "Author Search" and then select The Search button.  Once you reach your results, select a folder tab for the type of resources you want, and then scroll down and make a selection.

Some folder tabs you select will lead you to other selections, listed right below the Folder Tabs.  Make a selection, first, before scrolling down to see your list of citations.
For finding authors similar to your own, you will want to selectthe Other Resources Tab..  Then, select the Themes button.  From there, you will make selections on any number of themes by holding down on the Control key and then with your mouse, clicking on the themes that peak your interest which you have noticed in the work you have read. Author Scope gives you the choice to limit your search to the 2400 most studied or to the over 120,000 authors that are indexed in Literature Resource Center, but do remember you need to still find works by the newly discovered author.  Under Theme Scope, you have the choice of finding authors that match All the themes you have selected, or Any.  If you select a lot of themes, you may run into no results if you select All, so plan your search carefully, or select the clear form button and make your selections of Themes again.
Another method to find authors similar to your own is Authors by Type.  After finding characteristics of your author, click on the Authors by Type button which is located above the folder tabs.  From here, you will be given numerous selections by author's name, dates of birth and death, author's ethnicity and nationality, genre, theme, and literary movement and period.  Make a selection or two, and then click on .

 
After making your selections, you will be brought to a list of authors which you can then browse.  Once you find an author that meets your liking, be sure to look at biographies, work overviews, and some articles, particularly book reviews.  If you ever need to look up terms (such as "local color"), definitions are available from Encyclopedia of Literature, the button of which is listed on the top right. 

 
 

Write three authors and some of their works here (it's good to list more than one as your number one choice may not be readily available).

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The Library Catalog  http://tinyurl.com/8mo5z/

Search the library catalog for books related to your topic. Select a topic and create a search statement. Find a book and then its call number. Remember: Books will have in-depth material.  When searching for a book ABOUT an author, you will select SUBJECT from the catalog.  You search by AUTHOR, only if you are looking for books BY the author.  Whenever searching a person, enter LAST NAME first, then FIRST NAME.
 
Go into the Library Catalog and search by Author or Subject Heading by entering your term and then clicking on The Author Button or the Subject button
Scroll down and click to other pages (if available) to view all the headings related to your search term (see example of such list to the right).  Click on the links to headings that best meet your interest. 
You can also search by very broad terms and make a keyword search, but keep in mind that results will be less relevant.  To do so, enter your search terms with the word "AND" in between your terms and click on .  For more tips on keyword searches, look at Your Search Strategy.
Search Statment stating nineteenth century AND literature AND united states

List a Book You Have Found Here Look at the FULL record and make sure to enter all fields below.
                                                                 Also, Make sure the title is from Chabot:
**Title: **Author:
Place of Publication, Publisher & Year: Call Number:

 
EBSCO HOST PERIODICAL DATABASES http://proxy.clpccd.cc.ca.us:2048/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/userlogin.asp?user=glads&password=gowin&ip=no?
At the first window, click on The Ebsco Host button For login and password, contact the Reference Desk.

In addition to Literature Resource Center, many critical articles are available in our Ebsco Host databases such as the many you may find in our trial to Academic Search Elite or the few you may find in our current subscription to MasterFILE Premier.  We recommend you select the link to the Trials and then enter the login and password.  Our trials are available until May 1.  If after May 1, go to Current Ebsco Host link, listed above.
 

You will need to perform more specific searches here as there will be more material available.  Remember to use the connector,
AND, in between your terms.  For more information, look at Your Search Strategy.  The example below uses "Sex Role AND Work Environment," but the same rules apply if you enter "Chopin Kate AND women."

Enter your search statement here:  __________________________________________________
Ebsco Host search form includes the search strategy Sex role and Work Environment  The full text button is selected as an example of how you can limit a search.  The Expand your search options on the right are pointed out.  The search limitations which are on the lower left include Full Text, Peer-Reviewed, Magazine with a field to enter name of magazine, and Years, which includes a date range that you can enter.
If you get results you do not want, click on the Refine Search button and perform a different search.
You can also search by ONE TERM at a time by clicking on
the Subject Search A-Z button


You can double check your spelling of any words by clicking on

the Dictionary A-Z button
Reading the Results List Screen  Reading the Top of an Article
If you find a really good article and want to find more like it, go to the top of the article (right) and try clicking on links next to Subject(s), Source, or Author(s). 

Example below again relates to search statement "Sex Role AND Work Environment"

Results to evaluated web sites can be found by clicking on the Search Web Links button on the top right of the Result List screen.

Title:  Out of a convention of awakening: Defining a space beyond awareness.
Subject(s):  AWAKENING, The (Book); CHOPIN, Kate -- Criticism & interpretation; BOOKS; CRITICISM
Source:  Feminist Issues, Fall91, Vol. 11 Issue 2, p101, 12p
Author(s):  Patterson, Katherine
Abstract:  Analyzes the women characters of Kate Chopin's `The Awakening.' Novel's ethic of self-discovery; Indications of awakening consciousness in Chopin's text; Text's conventional recipe of happiness; Evolution of an elite social blindness.

Select an article from Ebsco Host and enter relevant information:
Author: Title:
Title of Journal: Volume, year, and page numbers:

 
 

OTHER DATABASES       Go to Complete List of Databases and select a database such as: 
GenderWatch
Our current trial to GenderWatch gives you journal, magazine, and newspaper articles on topics relating to gender, including feminist literary criticisms.  This trial is available until May 1.
URL: http://proxy.clpccd.cc.ca.us:2048/login?url=http://gw.proquest.com/
pass.asp?productid=2&user=chabot&pw=welcome&ip=no
Author: Title:
Title of Source: Volume, Year, and Page Numbers:

EMAILING ARTICLES
 
    IN GENERAL, IF YOU ARE IN THE LIBRARY, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR ARTICLES INSTEAD OF PRINTING.
  1. Make sure you have the article itself on the screen.  Otherwise, you may be emailing yourself a list of citations.
  2. Click on the Email button.  It is available on the top of the screen of each database.  On the right are Email buttons as they appear in our many databases
  3. You may be asked to make certain selections.  If you want full text make sure it is selected and then click on "Submit" or "OK"
  4. Enter Email address and then select "Submit" or "OK"
Ebsco Host
Ebsco Host's Email button
Encyclopedia Britannica No Email function is available.  Print article by first clicking on Encyclopedia Britannica's Format for Print button, then selecting Print from your browser
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe Email button
Literature Resource Center
Literature Resource Center Email button
GenderWatch
GenderWatch Email Icon
If you are at home, or can only print, please click on any "print," "format for printing," or "print-friendly" option from the database, first, then once the screen has been reformatted, select "Print Preview" from the File pull down menu of your browser to make sure you are printing what you are seeing and to select pages to print.   At the Library, Please print as FEW PAGES AS POSSIBLE.

HOW TO FIND WORKS SIMILAR TO YOUR CHOSEN TEXT

1.  Search for your author in resources such as Literature Resource Center or the Gale texts listed below.  For the Gale books, keep in mind that for each volume of Dictionary of Literary Biography, each is dedicated to a particular genre, time period or ethnicity.  Search for criticism about your author also in the Literature themed web sites listed below.  You can also search a book ABOUT your author in the Library Catalog.  Check also the Critical Survey of Poetry, Reference:  PN1111 .C7  or American Women Writers, Reference: PS 147 A4, our sources listed under Other Reference Resources below, or other books listed in the P section of the Reference Shelves

2.  When reading literary criticism of your work or reading an author's biography, look for what writers influenced your author or who your author may have influenced, similar themes expressed in particular works, similar characters, etc.

2a.  You can also try to find a similar work by literary theme, genre, or literary movement.

2b.  There are also a couple of "tricks" you can use in Litearture Resource Center.  One is to select your author, go to Other Resources, select Themes, and then after selecting particular themes, find what authors focus on the same ones (step by step instructions are listed above).   In Literature Resource Center, you could also select Authors by Type (step by step instructions also listed above).

2c.  Use the following print source:
Fiction Catalog                                                     Reference Shelves: Z5916 .W74 1991
Search by a particular theme or concept in the Subject/Title index in the back!

3.  To learn more about what your second book/texts are about once you picked one, look at the following sources (top of next page).
Note: You may want to check to see if your book/text is available, first, before researching the titles below, but look at the next section What to Do if Your Chosen Second Text is Checked Out before automatically giving up!
 
Books in Print Database 
Enter book title or author (last name, first name).  Bottom of full description may contain a synopsis.  Click on Title Reviews or Author Biography for more information (when available)
http://www.booksinprint.comLogin/Password available at reference desk
Literature Resource Center
Look at biographies, work overviews, and articles
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/hawy60514?db=LitRC
Password available at reference desk
Magill on Literature and Magill on Authors in Ebsco Host
Trial lasts until May 1 for both these databases
http://trial.epnet.comLogin: CCL  Password: trial
Magill's Literary Annual Reference Shelves: PN44 M33
Book Review Digest Reference Shelves: Z1219 .C96
Masterplots Reference Shelves: PN44.M3
Masterplots II: American Fiction Reference Shelves: PN846.M37
Masterplots II: Afro-American Authors Reference Shelves: PS153.N5
Masterplots II: American Literature Reference Shelves: PS153.N5 M2645
Masterplots II: Drama Reference Shelves: PN6112.5 .M37 1990
Masterplots II: Womens' Literature Reference Shelves: PN471 .M37 1995
Masterplots II: Short Stories Reference Shelves: PN3326 .M27 1986
Masterplots II: Poetry Reference Shelves: PN1110.5 .M37 1992 
Atlantic Monthly Magazine Search http://www.theatlantic.com/search

What to Do if Your Chosen Second Text is Checked Out/Not Available

1)  Hopefully, you began your research early.  If the text is available at Las Positas Library, come to the circulation desk to ask for us to get that text.  We get texts from Las Positas Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (request your book at least a day in advance for delivery).  If you have already checked out materials at the Library this semester, you can request a hold by clicking on Place Hold.
2)  If checked out, come to the circulation desk and we will place a hold for you, or click on Place Hold.  You often will need to allow at least two weeks, however.
3)  Search the Alameda County Library Catalog and the Hayward Public Library Catalog to see if your title is available, there.  Go to the appropriate branch to find and check out your title with an Alameda County or Hayward City Library Card (if you do not have one, get one!)
4)  Check the Library Catalog at Cal State Hayward, and if the book is there, either obtain a Courtesy Library Card from the Checkout Desk at Chabot College Library and then go to Cal State Hayward Library and check out your book!-- or at Cal State Hayward Library, itself you can purchase your own personal library card for only $25.  For more information, go to CSUH Library Help for Students.
5)  Is your book copyright free (In most cases, published in 1910 and earlier)?  Go to the Online Books Page.  You may find your book available on the Web, full text.
 
Links to Cal State Hayward and Other Libraries http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/abby/links.html
Chabot/Las Positas Library Catalog http://tinyurl.com/8mo5z/
Alameda County Library Catalog http://alam1.aclibrary.org/search
Hayward Public Library Catalog http://library.cityofhayward.com/
Cal State Hayward Library Catalog (HAYSTAC) http://134.154.30.10/
CSUH Library Help for Students http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/csuhayward/
On-line Books Page http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/

Reference Resources

Consider this to be your "short cut." The Library contains many reference books, which are useful for many purposes such as: providing you with biographies and backgrounds of authors, statistics and facts, brief descriptions of particular historical periods and cultures. Many reference books on literature and renowned writers can be found on the reference shelves under call numbers beginning with the letter, P (which stands for "Languages and Literatures"). You can photocopy any pages you want from our reference books. If you have any questions for finding sources beyond what’s listed below, ask a reference librarian.

Many of these reference sources can be looked up in our database, Gale’s Literary Index which will let you know from one screen where you can find information about your author in MOST of our available resources.

Your Perfect Online Resource is the following:

Literature Resource Center http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/hawy60514?db=LitRCPassword available at reference desk

Gale’s Literary Index—How to Use  http://www.galenet.com/servlet/LitIndex

     
  1. Go to "Articles" from the Library Home Page.
  2. Select "Gale’s Literary Index"
  3. Select "Author Search" or "Title Search."
  4. Enter the name of the author or title of the work.
  5. After taking down sources or printing them, look up various titles to see what we have in our collection from our online Library catalog. In almost all cases, sources we have here will be available in the Reference section.
These sources are excellent because they will contain a list of works by the author, a biographical background of the author, literary and historical influences of the author, and excerpts of criticisms on works by the author. Note: All Dictionary of Literary Biography sources are shelved together after Contemporary Authors in the Reference Shelves. Also: Keep in mind we do NOT have every reference resource indexed in Gale’s Literary Criticism, nor does Gale’s Literary Criticism index every reference resource in our collection.

Here are the most commonly used Gale literary reference resources in our collection.
 
Contemporary Literary Criticism (CLC)  Reference Shelves: PN771.C59
Contemporary Authors (CA) Reference Shelves: PS128.C6
Dictionary of Literary Biography (DLB) Reference Shelves: Shelved after Contemporary Authors in Reference Shelves (PS 128.C6)
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism (TCLC) Reference Shelves: PN771.T85
Poetry Criticism  Reference Shelves: PN1010 .P6

 Dictionary of Literary Biography, Contemporary Authors and SOME of Contemporary Literary Criticism, Twentieth Century Literary Criticism and Poetry Criticism are available in Literature Resource Center.  Just search your author(s), theme(s) and title(s) in Literature Resource Center.

Other Reference Resources

Browse the P shelves in the Reference area for other resources on authors and literature for resources not indexed in Gale’s Literary Index. Below are some other biographical and history resources that may assist you with your project.
 
Current Biography Yearbook Reference Shelves: CT100.C8 1940
American Decades  Reference Shelves: E 169.12 A4196 1996
Critical Survey of Poetry Reference Shelves:  PN1111 .C7
American Women Writers Reference: PS 147 A4

 
 
 

World Wide Web

Face it. The World Wide Web can contain good resources for library research, but trying to find them is a chore! There is just too much junk and misinformation or web pages that have information without having their facts verified. Take caution and evaluate each web site you come across carefully.

Reference Resources

Some reference resources are also available on the web.

Online Reference Shelf—Biographical Works http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/onlineref/Biography.html

Librarians’ Index to the Internetwww.lii.org

Online Reference Shelf—Citation Guides/Style Manuals  http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/onlineref/citation.html

Online Books

On-Line Books Page http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/
(Mostly pre-twentieth century material, and non-copyrighted, full text books with sometimes, original illustrations!)

Sites that Select and Evaluate Quality Web Sites:

Encyclopedia Britannicahttp://search.eb.com/
(On Campus Only.  Select "Britannica Internet Guide" from the options below)

Internet Public Library's Literary Criticism Collection  http://www.ipl.org/ref/litcrit/

Academic Info: American Literature  http://www.academicinfo.us/amlit.html
Links are available on the right to English Literature and Comparative Literature

Voice of the Shuttle: English Literature http://vos.ucsb.edu/shuttle/english.html

U.C. Berkeley and Internet Resources—Humanities http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Collections/acadtarg.html/#huma

Scout Report Archives http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/archives/

Select Search Engines that will More Likely Lead you to Academic Web Sites

Web Guides and Search Engines http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/onlineref/websearch.html

The left side leads you to portals and other search tools that more likely will lead you to selected web sites.  For more comprehensive searches, use Google or SearchEDU, but be prepared to evaluate the quality of a website.

Citing an Article, Book, or Website

Take a look at the MLA Citation Handout.  Take note that when citing an article from a Library Subscription Database such as the ones listed above, you need to follow special instructions.

MLA Citation Handout http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/onlineref/cited.html

Article From a Library Subscription Database  http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/onlineref/cited.html#database

This handout is also available at the following address: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Library/handouts/Eng4/Puckett.html


Handouts Home Page

Library Home Page

Chabot Home Page



This web site was last updated on April 8, 2002.
 If you have any questions or want to suggest any additions, please contact
Norman Buchwald, Information Literacy and Technology Librarian.
 ©2001, 2002, Chabot College