Although our Discovery Search, the default search on our website, finds items from most of our research databases, the number of results might be overwhelming for beginning researchers. Start your research with the basic databases and the classic catalog. This page outlines the resources that you can start with.

Online Subject Encyclopedias & Reference Books

For all of these e-book databases, you can simply search the name of your historical figure. Look for suggestions of search terms as you type. There are other ways to find your information discussed below.

• ABC-CLIO
  • Find all the Global Studies Handbooks (search Global Studies under title to find a list of all the books).
• Gale
  • Go to Topic Finder and search for a name or country. The visualization below will divide the results for you.
• eBook Central
  • Browse by subject. A subject such as history can be subdivided even more by using the subject filters on the left of your screen.

Subject Specific Databases 

Below are databases for history topics alone where you can search specific names of your historical figures.

• Modern World History Online
  • Modern World History includes biographical information, encyclopedia articles, audiovisual material, maps, and timelines about world history from the mid-15th century to the present.
• World History: The Modern Era 
  • World History: The Modern Era covers world history from 1500 to the present. It contains articles on different eras and includes speeches, photographs, historical maps, videos, book articles, and interviews.

Academic Databases

JSTOR is recommended for History of Asia students. When you want to dig deeper into a topic, there are other academic journal article databases to explore.

• JSTOR
  • JSTOR contains full-text journal articles, e-books, and historical texts (primary sources) ranging in date from the 16th century to 2019. This online resource covers topics in sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Use advanced search and narrow your research by date as well as material type. Make sure you are searching only Content I Can Access from the drop-down menu in advanced search. 

New York Times 

The New York Times is a wonderful resource for many topics. While many historical events and people happened before NYT started, often, there are articles about historical figures and events in the newspaper.

• New York Times
  • Search the New York Times back to 1851. Each year you will need to renew your pass through our website to access.

1. Select Classic Search from our drop down menu next to the search box. When you find your book, write down its call number. If the book is in the bookroom, follow the instructions for requesting an item from the bookroom. If you are in the library, you may request the item and then let the staff know in case there is time to get the book while you are still in the library.

2. Search the default search on our website by putting your search term in the search box and hitting enter.     Under Refine Results, limit your search to USIC Catalog Only.

Record your sources as you find them. You will format your bibliography or list of sources according to the Chicago Manual of Style 17th ed. Notes and Bibliography method. Read the Rules for Citation Success and consult the USIC CMS 17th ed. page.

Searching for books and e-books

Search our library catalog Destiny or use the Classic Search dropdown in the search box on the USIC home page. 

Here is a link to the print books on these topics as well as some links to eBooks.

Note: Print books for this research cannot be checked out as other students might need them. If you feel that your book is unique to your topic, and other students will not need your book, you may ask your teacher whether or not you can check it out.

A brief explanation of the Dewey Decimal System:

Subjects all have corresponding Dewey numbers and ranges of numbers.

History (900s), France (944), French Revolution (944.04),

Philosophy (100s), Philosophers (180-190)

Biography (920s) or within a related country, event, etc.

Print Sources:  Subjects & Call Numbers 

Guide Subjects: European History 

You need to use Chicago style to format your bibliography.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias and reference books are books that you read factual chapters or articles from rather than read in their entirity. Encyclopedias are a good starting point for background information, and one page or one detailed entry is ideal for begining your research. Some encyclopedias will also cite other sources on your topic at the end of the article. You may use subject encyclopedias, but not general encyclopedias including Encyclopedia Britannica.

Useful Subject Encyclopedias and other Reference Works

• Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (REF 103 CON) 
• Encyclopedia of the Scientific revolution: from Copernicus to Newton (REF 509.4 ENC)
• Literature and Its Times: Ancient Times....French Revolutions (REF 809.93358 LIT)
• The Wilson Chronology of Ideas (REF 909 OCH)
• Chronology of the Expanding World 1492-1762 (REF 909 WIL);
• Chronology of the Modern World1763-1992 (REF 909 WIL)
• Encyclopedia of World Biography (REF 920 ENC)
• Women in World History (REF 920 WOM)
• Encyclopedia of Eastern Europe : from the Congress of Vienna to the Fall of Communism (REF 947 ENC)
• American Revolution (REF 973.3 AME)

Useful e-reference tools 

• Modern World History Online
  • Modern World History includes biographical information, encyclopedia articles, audiovisual material, maps, and timelines about world history from the mid-15th century to the present.
• World Geography
• World History Modern Online
  • World History: The Modern Era covers world history from 1500 to the present. It contains articles on different eras and includes speeches, photographs, historical maps, videos, book articles, and interviews.
• Oxford Quick Reference (Note: Look for the green, open lock for immediate access or request access if you see a red, closed lock.)

e-Resources/Databases

For all of these databases, you can begin a search with some keywords including names of historical figures, places or events. Then use various filters to limit your topics. Remember that the more keywords you search, the fewer results returned. Look for suggestions of search terms as you type. 

• Gale
  • Hint: Use Topic Finder and search for a name, event or country. The visualization below will divide the results for you.
• eBook Central
  • Browse by subject. A subject such as history can be subdivided even more by using the subject filters on the left of your screen. On the left of your screen, make sure that the box below BOOK STATUS Owned and subscribed to by my library so that you will filter out all books that we do not own.

Academic Journals

Serious research includes finding and using journal articles.  The three recommended databases for finding journal articles are:

• EBSCO database collection: Academic Search Complete, AP Source, MAS-Ultra, MIddle Search Plus. 
• Project Muse has e-books and articles from across disciplines including social sciences and history.  Under Access on the left-hand side select Only content I have access to in order to avoid getting results for items we do not subscribe to. Use the facets or filters on the left-hand side to limit your searches.
• JSTOR, similar to Project Muse in content type, has a wealth of academic articles about history, and historical texts (primary sources) ranging in date from the 16th century to 2019. JSTOR is searchable only by keyword or by browsing topics. Once you execute a search there are filters on the left to narrow your results, or you can use Advanced Search which allows you to limit your keywords to certain formats or topics. Make sure you are searching only Content I Can Access from the drop-down menu in advanced search or at the bottom of the page in regular search. 

Questions about finding or using resources?

Ask Ms. Wile or Ms. Lee. Make an appointment, email or stop by our offices.

Some Suggested Primary Source Resources

• SweetSearch History - try searching keywords about your topic and “primary source” - or think about what you might find on your topic and use more specific keywords like letters, diaries, laws/legislation, etc.
• YouTube - for film footage from the time period you're studying, if available, including footage from the scene or interviews with eyewitnesses can be primary sources.
• University LibGuide on Primary Sources
• Internet History Sourcebooks
• Medieval Sourcebook
• Modern History Sourcebook

Archives, museums, and national libraries often have items digitized online, so it's worth checking Library of Congress for topics that inolve the United States (WW II), or archives and museums of the country you are studying. You can search many US sites like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for European Fashion, etc.

Our e-Resources:

• Kanopy - for film footage from the time period you're studying if available
• Modern World History Online - makes it really clear which source is a primary source
• NY Times archive - 1851 - present -  a newspaper article from the time period you are studying might be considered a primary source if they include participants' versions or eyewitness accounts of events. You can access all these articles through our website link as well, New York Times, as it includes all Times content back to 1851.

What historical policies/laws/beliefs led to where we are today? How was / is oppression experienced?  Who had power and who didn’t? How have people/organizations/movements been able to affect change?

• Wikipedia social movements
• Britannica Online
• Modern World History Online
• Source Reference (Infobase)
• Find a book/ebook from our collection: Choose “Classic Search” from the dropdown menu in the search box on our website or go straight to the catalog here
• Find an ebook in eBook Central if we don’t have anything

Who is calling for change on this issue and why? Who is maintaining the status quo and why?

• Try our Discovery Search box to search all our resources at once, but fair warning that it can be overwhelming! Sometimes it’s better to dig into relevant databases/eresources individually. See below for examples:
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context (Gale) - presents an overview of an issue and different points of view on that issue
• AllSides - Presents news on issues and categorizes them by Left, Right, or Center
• Newspapers
  • All our Newspaper sources are listed here under eResources tab
  • NYTimes (sign up for free annual subscription here)
  • These sources include Taiwan-specific news:
    • Press Reader - searches large collection of magazines and newspapers
    • Access World News (News Bank) - Searches hundreds of newspapers including Taipei Times, Taiwan News, and South China Morning Post
    • The Diplomat - when off-campus log in with email: usicpublic@tas.tw and password: usicpublic2022
• Scholarly journal articles
  • Find Taiwan-specific research resources here
    • Recommend National Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations in Taiwan and National Central Library Taiwan Periodical Literature
  • Search our Academic Journal Articles
    • Recommend JSTOR

Look for compelling statistics/infographics/stories that emphasize why this issue needs our attention. What might move someone to action?

Logos - Statistics/Infographics

• Statista
• Pew Research Center
• Sweetsearch.com - use keywords like data, statistics, evidence, infographics

Pathos - Stories/Anecdotes/Calls to action
Find compelling stories/anecdotes to put a human face on the issue. Let people know what can actually be done to make change (don’t leave them hopeless, find calls to action that they could actually participate in

• Check this resources doc for organizations that work on certain topics to see what they are asking for and why
  • Please add your topics and resources as you find them to grow our knowledge base!
  • Find books/articles about folks who are working on these issues
    • Books we have on social issues and activism/activist
    • See Newspaper sources in the other box on this page and add keywords to your search terms like “activists” or “people impacted by (your issue)” or “interviews”

Evaluate your sources critically

• Practice lateral reading (Crash Course on Lateral Reading)
• Check your source  for authority/bias by going to other sites to see:
  • Who is behind the information?
  • What is the evidence to support their claims?
  • What do other sources say about the organization and its claims?

Remember you must give credit for your sources by citing them! Keep track of where you found information as you gather it!

• See Purdue’s  MLA Citation Guide for the proper format for your sources.
• Use Zotero (Zbib.org) to create citations and check against the guide.

I. NCL’s Digital Resources for Taiwan Studies

• 國家圖書館 (National Central Library) 

           https://www.ncl.edu.tw/ ; NCL English homepage (http://enwww.ncl.edu.tw/) > Resources

• NDLTD-Taiwan: National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan

           https://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/ ; English homepage (https://etds.ncl.edu.tw/)

• PerioPath: Index to Taiwan Periodical Literature System

           https://tpl.ncl.edu.tw/NclService/

• National Central Library Gazette Online

           https://gaz.ncl.edu.tw/

• Taiwan Memory

           https://memory.ncl.edu.tw/index

• Taiwan eBook

           https://taiwanebook.ncl.edu.tw/en

• DAVA: Digital Audio Visual Archive System

           http://dava.ncl.edu.tw
 
II. Resources from Other Institutions

• 國立臺灣圖書館 (National Taiwan Library)

           https://www.ntl.edu.tw/mp.asp?mp=1 

• Taiwan Study Research Center (臺灣學研究中心)

           https://wwwacc.ntl.edu.tw/mp.asp?mp=6  > 臺灣學電子資源整合查詢系統

• 國立公共資訊圖書館 (National Library of Public Information) 

           http://www.nlpi.edu.tw/ 

• 數位典藏服務網

           https://das.nlpi.edu.tw/

• 國史館 (Academia Historica)

           http://www.drnh.gov.tw/  學術資源檢索 >「國史館檔案史料文物查詢系統」 Collections > Collections Online System

• 國史館臺灣文獻館 (Taiwan Historica)

           https://www.th.gov.tw/new_site/ > 館藏檔案文物 > 檔案查詢系統 > 「文獻檔案查詢系統」

• 國家發展委員會 檔案管理局 (The National Archives Administration)

           https://www.archives.gov.tw/ > 國家檔案資訊網 (Archives Access Service) / 檔案資源整合查詢平台 (Archives Cross boundaries) / 國家檔案閱覽中心 (Archives Access Center) Access to Archives 

• 中央研究院臺灣史研究所檔案館 (The Archives of Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica)

           https://archives.ith.sinica.edu.tw/ > Collections

• 中央研究院近代史研究所檔案館 (Archives, Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica) 

           https://archives.sinica.edu.tw/ 
           Collections > Diplomatic Archives & Economic Archives 
           Database > Archives, Institute of Modern History Online Database (近史所檔案館館藏檢索)

• 國立臺灣大學 圖書館 (National Taiwan University Library)

           http://www.lib.ntu.edu.tw/en > Search & Find > Special Collections > Taiwan Studies Collection

• 臺灣大學數位人文研究中心 (Research Center for Digital Humanities, NTU)

           http://www.digital.ntu.edu.tw/en/

• 國家文化資料庫 (National Repository of Cultural Heritage) 

           http://newnrch.digital.ntu.edu.tw 

• 國立臺灣歷史博物館 (National Museum of Taiwan History)

           https://www.nmth.gov.tw/

• 臺北市立文獻館 (Taipei City Archives)

           https://www.chr.gov.taipei/ > 臺北市立文獻館典藏文物查詢系統

• 吳三連臺灣史料基金會：臺灣史料中心 (Wu San-Lien Foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials)

           http://www.twcenter.org.tw/ 

1. Search with Classic Search selected from our drop down menu in the search box above to search Destiny to find only print and e-books. Write down the call number of the book you want and look for it on the shelf or cart. If the book is in the bookroom, you may ask for it at the front desk during your library orientation. When not at the library during a class, please follow the instructions for requesting an item from the bookroom. 

2. Search the default search on our website by putting your search term in the search box and hitting enter. Under Refine Results, limit your search to USIC Catalog Only.

3. Using the call numbers from below, you can also browse either the reference or the regular non-fiction shelves for books on your topic.

Useful Dewey Numbers 

Starting Your Research

Google can be a great place to find out names and keywords that you'll want to use in your searches on USIC search. You can search our databases below via the search box on our website (Discovery), or you can search them individually. Please explore the resources on our databases page as below is a small selection of many resources that might be of use to you.

• US History in Context - articles and books on US history specifically
• New York Times - Search the New York Times back to 1851. Each year you will need to renew your pass through our website to access.

More Advanced Research

• JSTOR
  • JSTOR contains full-text journal articles, e-books, and historical texts (primary sources) ranging in date from the 16th century to 2019. This online resource covers topics in sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Use advanced search and narrow your research by date as well as material type. Make sure you are searching only Content I Can Access from the drop-down menu in advanced search. 

Your teacher might require you to use NoodleTools. For information on how to use NoodleTools Notecards, please see NoodleTools Help.

Popular magazines

If you are looking for a current science topic, you can start searching topics in non-academic publications including Wired, Popular Science (Sora) and Scientific American (in Flipster). The resources below have popular magazines.

• Sora
• Flipster
• PressReader (search hundreds of magazines and newspapers for science topics and limit by date)
• Access World News (look at STEM category near bottom of homepage)
• New York Times (renew yearly and search for science topics)

IB and Research students should review the below resources for academic papers.
Can't find the entire (full-text) of an article? Request the article under our Services tab or here.

WOS - Web of Science (Clarivate)
Examine research trends in science by looking at citations. Research  both the authors and their topics through citations. Includes links to free full-text articles (i.e. not just descriptions of the article).

PLOS
Articles by scientists and researchers.

Science Reference Center
Hundreds of full text science magazines, journals, and reference books. Also includes Science experiments, curriculum-aligned lesson plans, videos and a vast image collection. 

Biological Sciences Review Hodder - How to find articles:

1. Search Google Scholar https://scholar.google.com/ and put "Biological Sciences Review" in quotes and then add your keyword. e.g.  "Biological Sciences Review" protein
2. Note the year and volume/issue number.
3. Return to our site and look for the year/vol/issue.

Academic Search Complete
1000s open access academic journals, reports, and conference proceedings from most disciplines including science.

Advanced Placement Source
Includes STEM subjects and is designed for AP or IB programs. 

JSTOR
Scholarly full-text journal articles, e-books, and primary sources/historical texts, from the 16^th century to 2019 including science. Click here to see general sicence publications in JSTOR. Note: Select Content I Can Access (it will NOT be underlined if selected).

Not sure if we have an article or journal?

Check our Journal Finder to find out what journals and years we have. Also under our menu eResources -> Journal Finder.  

Zotero is a powerful and user-friendly tool for storing your citation information as well as for citing in Word. If you are using Google Docs, download them into word to start using Zotero for your intext citations and your bibliography.

To use Zotero, download:

1. Download Zotero
2. Zotero Connector for your browser

Besides Zotero help, this Youtube Intro to Zotero video will get you started.