Finding Primary Sources in the Library
Find primary sources in the library catalog or WorldCat.
- Using an advanced search, change the field to subject and enter "sources" as pictured below.
- You can also search for particular kinds of sources, including: correspondence, diaries, early works to 1800, interviews, pamphlets, periodicals, personal narratives, and speeches.
Remember to scan the bibliographies of secondary sources! Follow the paper trail to primary sources on your topics.
Finding Books
Books can provide a comprehensive overview of your topic by pointing you toward key ideas, arguments, and thinkers. Scan the index or the table of contents to find the most relevant chapter. Use the bibliography for leads.
- Library CatalogYou know it, you love it: the good ol' Coates catalog. Be sure to check the whole entry for additional searching help in the form of subject keywords, Google Books previews, tables of contents, etc.
- WorldCatWorldCat is a catalog of library holdings worldwide. When Trinity doesn't have a book you need, you can send an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request straight from WorldCat.
- Google BooksGoogle Books is not as precise for local holdings as our own library catalog, but it indexes many items not held at Trinity, and it often gives excerpts using your search words. Click on "Get this book in print" to search WorldCat locations.