Getting Started
Use the main search box right at the top of the library homepage to get started with your research. This will search OSU library databases, catalogs and other resources. You can use it to find books, articles, government documents and more.
Reference materials
-
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Provides access to assorted reference resources.
Coverage Dates: - -
Oxford Music Online
Oxford Music Online (formerly Grove Music Online) is a gateway that offers users the ability to access and cross-search the vast resources of Oxford's music reference in one location, including the full-text of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians; second edition; the New Grove Dictionary of Opera; The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, second edition); The Oxford Companion to Music; and The Oxford Dictionary of Music, second edition, revised.
Coverage Dates: - - - -
Oxford Art Online
Oxford Art Online (formerly Grove Art Online) provides Web access to the entire text of The Dictionary of Art (1996, 34 vols.) with annual additions of new material and updates to the text, plus extensive image links and all the sophisticated search advantages possible with an online reference source.
Coverage Dates: - - -
Current Issues - Primary Sources
Primary sources -- the eyewitness accounts, key documents, original legislation -- related to current events can be excellent sources to help you demonstrate your expertise about your topic to your audience. These tools pull together important primary sources on a variety of topics of current interest, and can be an easy way to add primary sources to your research process:
Social Issues Primary Sources Collections
Government Politics and Protest
Immigration and Multiculturalism
Social Media and Opinion Sources
The participatory web is a great way to browse current issues. These sources are not intended to be objective, or to provide neutral coverage. In these sources, you will find people with agendas, articulating specific points of view.
Social Media
This is a short list of just a few of the social news media sites available. Most of these include blogs, comments, pointers to news articles and analysis. In other words, they provide a combination of opinion writing and more traditional journalism:
Note: the comment threads on these posts are user-generated. The quality of the comments range from inane to insightful. Language, etc. is usually not moderated.
Opinion Pieces
Politics Line Opinion columns from major columnists.
Fact Checking and Media Watchdog Sites
Summon Overview
Current Issues - Background
Use the following sources to get useful background information on topics of current interest. These sources are intended to provide context, and an overview of common viewpoints on an issue.
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center Pro & con viewpoints; includes articles, primary sources, statistical tables and charts.
Ready Reference Opposing Viewpoints Compiled by Louisiana State University Libraries.
PBS NewsHour Background information for reports on PBS News Houir
Ethics Updates Links to sources on hot button issues (abortion, gay marriage, etc.) Includes court decisions, panel discussions, and more
Current Issues - Article Databases
OSU Libraries subscribes to dozens of article databases like this. These are some of the databases particularly useful for current events research, but if you don't see anything here that looks relevant to your topic - ask a librarian! We have more.
-
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier provides full text for nearly 4,600 scholarly publications. Coverage spans virtually every area of academic study and offers information dating as far back as 1975. This database is updated daily on EBSCOhost.
Coverage Dates: 1975 - present -
GreenFILE
A freely accessible research database focusing on the relationship between human beings and the environment, with well-researched but accessible information on topics ranging from global warming to recycling to alternate fuel sources and beyond. Comprised of scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports.
Coverage Dates: mid-1960's - present -
Health Source
Health Source has two editions: Health Source: Nursing Academic Edition and Health Source: Consumer Edition
Coverage Dates: 1975 - present -
Health & Wellness Resource Center
The Health & Wellness Resource Center delivers magazines, journals, and newsletters; Newspapers; Pamphlets; and Reference. Also includes an Alternative Health Module.
Coverage Dates: - present -
Military and Government Collection
Designed to offer current news pertaining to all branches of the military and government, this database offers a thorough collection of periodicals, academic journals, and other content pertinent to the increasing needs of those sites.
Coverage Dates: - present -
Environmental Studies and Policy Collection
Answers environmentally-related inquiries with coverage of more than 3.3 million articles from more than 700 journals and reference content from Delmar, Cengage Learning.
Coverage Dates: 1980 - present
News and Current Media
Newspapers and magazines are, of course, important sources for current events research. These tools allow you to concurrently search thousands of news sources. These tools let you take advantage of OSU Libaries subscriptions, so you won't be asked to pay for articles you find. You will also be sure to get all of the information you need to cite the sources, and you don't have to worry about articles disappearing after a week.
-
LexisNexis Academic
This should be your first stop for news informationComprehensive resource to find newspaper and magazine articles, radio and TV news program transcripts, legal material and other reference sources. All full-text and updated daily.
Coverage Dates: - Varies by title -
Newspaper Source
Newspaper Source provides selected full text for 143 U.S. and international newspapers. This collection offers full text from major U.S. newspapers including: The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and The San Jose Mercury News. International coverage includes The News (Mexico), and The Hong Kong Standard, and much more. This database is updated daily on EBSCOhost.
Concurrent Users: unlimited
Coverage Dates: 1984 - present -
InfoTrac Newsstand
With InfoTrac Newsstand, you can easily search a collection of more than 1,000 newspapers, translate articles into 11 different languages, create email alerts, and customize your search options and results format.
Coverage Dates: 1980 - present -
Wall Street Journal
Full-text of the Wall Street Journal from 1986.
Coverage Dates: 1986 - present
Finding Books in the Library Catalog
OSU Catalog
The OSU catalog lists all the books held in the Valley Library or storage.
Summit
The Summit catalog lists books at other regional libraries that can be retrieved for you and delivered within 3-5 business days.
WorldCat
WorldCat lists books that are available at other libraries in the United States, and sometimes in other countries. If you find a book you want, fill out a form through interlibrary loan. This service usually takes 2-3 weeks for delivery.
