 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
This page will focus on the topic of Immigration to the United States. I will present both strategies and tools for investigating this topic, and these can be applied to other topics. These are not the only strategies and tools that you can use. Get creative, use your critical thinking skills, and explore. Also, check out the links to other libraries' guides on the Home page.
As with any of the information you find, you will need to evaluate it for credibility. Be sure and visit the next page in ths guide, " Read & Evaluate Information," before choosing which sources to use. This is especially important for sources that are available on the open web, but it is still important for the information you find in library databases and the catalog.
These links are just a starting point, there are other resources available through the web. If you come across something that you think should be in this guide, please share it with me! Thanks!
Be sure to watch the video from Portland State University Library on the Information Cycle. News can be in a variety of formats and the ways you access it vary. Here are a few places to look:
If you're not sure where to look, start in Google Scholar or in a multi-disciplinary database:
Latino Studies is a multidisciplinary field, but you may need information from a discipline-specific databases. Below is a list of specialized databases. Hover over the "i" to get more information about each one:
IUCAT is the catalog for the libraries on all IU campuses. Be sure to check out the "Search Tips" on the home page. Note that you can also do a Title, Author, or Subject search using the dropdown option on the basic search screen.
If the book you want is not available in IUCAT, or if it is checked out or missing, try using WorldCat to request it from another library. Search for a title, then look for the "Request this through Interlibrary Loan" button near the "Worldwide libraries that own this item" list. Also, if you find that a book is missing, let a librarian know. We can replace it!
Data can show up in a variety of places and formats. General data about U.S. populations is typically gathered in the 10-year census and other surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau. First, consider what type of data you are looking for. Next, Consider who might be interested in gathering it (The federal government? State or local government? A government agency? A non-profit organization? A think tank?) and consider where it might be published (A website? A data repository? A book? An article?).
You may want to start with University Library's "Finding Data & Statistics" guide:
If you have questions or would like help, please contact a subject librarian.
Primary sources are pieces of information that were created by an eyewitness of an event or are the physical artifacts of a time period. Primary sources can include photographs, personal diaries or letters, tweets, and recordings. It can also include raw data collected directly from sources.
Check out the 'Evaluate Information' page for more on Primary vs. Secondary sources.
I will list here sources that are freely available online by category. My categories might not make sense for your information need. Feel free to contact me if: 1) You can't find what you expect to find, 2) You discover a great resource you think I should add here, or 3) just to say "hi."
See also the other Latino Studies guides on the "Home" page.
