Finding History includes practical, step-by-step instructions for discovering historical evidence using library catalogs, databases, and websites. It simplifies and clarifies the research process so that students new to the experience may locate appropriate research material with the same skill as seasoned historians. This book addresses the information literacy skills defined by the American Library Association and the American Historical Association, which include
- recognizing the need for scholarly historical information;
- defining and identifying the need for primary, secondary, and tertiary sources;
- knowing what finding tools are available to help locate historical sources;
- using history research tools efficiently and effectively;
- learning research vocabulary as well as the vocabulary of the historical profession;
- making evaluative judgments about the scholarly value of materials once they are located;
- physically acquiring research materials;
- using research material effectively to support a thesis or argument; and
- using research material ethically and responsibly.
Including search samples and tables, Finding History is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to ensure their research draws from the best available sources and those needing instruction in locating, obtaining, evaluating, and using scholarly sources efficiently, directly, and ethically.