MC Carlson Library
419.530.2325
HSC Mulford Library
419.383.4225
Relevant books are best identified using library catalogs, below find several catalogs that are commonly used at UT, each covers a different library or group of libraries.
I need help using UTMOST!
What is UTMOST? UTMOST is the Libraries' catalog for all materials available through the University of Toledo Libraries. Materials are available in various formats, and all university libraries are represented.
Try our user-friendly Tutorial.
Library Guides are available to answer many of your questions. (Such as how to use UTMOST!)
How do I get a book I found in the Libraries' catalog?
If you find a book you wish to borrow you may come to the UT campus libraries to borrow the book in person. If you live too far away from the UT campus, borrow the book using Interlibrary Loan
WARNING! OhioLINK will only deliver items to affiliated libraries. For a list of participating institutions go to MEMBER LIBRARIES.*
(E-books) and MORE Electronic books available from Mulford Library
Questions? Ask a Librarian!
To identify relevant articles for course projects and papers, the best thing to do is pick an appropriate research database to search. Each database covers a different subject area and includes references from different journals, so picking an appropriate database can make your search more effective, saving you time.
Sometimes, professors require the use of scholarly journals and prohibit the use of magazines. Here is information that will help you determine which is which:
To access databases off-campus, you must first authenticate that you are a UT student. You may be prompted to authenticate as you access certain resources OR go to this link
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If you do not have access to The University of Toledo’s Campus - GO TO |
Our most commonly used database at UT is Academic Search Complete, which is interdisciplinary and includes references in a wide range of subjects; many students start their searches with this database.
Select a database by name (if you know what database you need) or by subject. Use links listed below-although you will need to be authenticated to see ALL databases to which you have access.
Search by:
I know what articles I need; now what?
When you know what articles you need, there are three strategies:
1) If you are in the database, look for a link for the full-text article. If you have a choice, select the PDF Full-Text option father than the HTML full-text option.
2) If you are in the database, look for a button that reads “Find It” or “OLinks”.
3) You can always use the Libraries' catalog to see if we have access to the journal online:
i. Do a title search for the journal title (be careful not to search for the article title!)
ii. Click on the link in the middle of the page to access the online journal.
iii. If you have a full citation, search the appropriate issue.
Questions? Ask a Librarian!
What if I can’t find my article online?
If the article you are searching for is not available electronically in full text and you do not have access to The University of Toledo’s print journals, you may request articles through UT’s Interlibrary Loan Department and click on “photocopy requests.” Fill out as much information as possible to help us locate the article. If you are a student enrolled in a program on the Health Science Campus, complete the Mulford Health Science Library article request form.
WHY NOT GOOGLE?
Google finds vast amount of web information for free in a second. But much of the information on the web lacks well-structured organization and rigorous quality control. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate web information before using it for research purposes. You need to evaluate the web sites in terms of the Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Coverage and Currency.
Here are some resources help you evaluate information from the web:
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (New Mexico State University)
Web Site Evaluation Tutorial (Purdue University)
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask (Berkeley)
HINT! Try Google Scholar to access better information on the Internet. Some results can be accessed in full text by clicking on the “OhioLINK O-Links” link available at the end of the citation.
Please note that some professors prohibit use of web sites; if there is any question about whether you can use a web site for a project, contact your professor.
Questions? Ask a Librarian!
Depending on your course assignments, you may need to use resources beyond books and articles. Some of these other resources might include primary sources (reproductions of original historical records, memoirs, etc.), government documents (materials published by governments), and theses/dissertations. If you need help finding these or any other types of resources, contact a reference librarian.
A primary source is a record of an event from a direct witness or participant or from one who received their information from the original source. Examples include newspaper accounts, letter, diaries, letters and interviews.
ONLINE
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
EuroDocs: Primary Historical Documents From Western Europe
Annals of American History (UT students only)
Gerritsen Collection: Women's History Online, 1543-1945 (UT students only)
Historical New York Times, 1851-2001 (UT students only)
Historical Wall Street Journal, 1889-1987 (UT students only)
HarpWeek (UT students only)
Guide to the Manuscripts Collection at The Ward M. Canaday Center*
*Also access Canaday Center holdings by searching the Libraries' catalog Advanced Search and limit LOCATION to “Canaday Center.”
Humanities Research Collections
Guide to History-Related Microform Holdings at The University of Toledo
Research Collections in Microform: Bowling Green State University Libraries and The University of Toledo Libraries
Government documents (also known as "gov docs") are documents (books, reports, maps, statistics, etc.) produced and published by governmental agencies, usually at the federal and state levels. For more information about finding gov docs, contact the Libraries' Government Documents department.
ONLINE
Online Ready Reference Shelf: Government links
Gongwer News Service (UT students only)
LexisNexis Congressional (UT students only)
GPO Monthly Catalog (UT students only)
In order to graduate, most graduate students need to submit written reports of research projects. Theses (master's degree projects) and dissertations (doctoral degree projects) can be great sources of research material that may not be published in journals or books yet. For theses and dissertations that are not in the University Libraries' collections, submit an interlibrary loan request form.
Libraries' catalog by limiting to Material Type: "THESIS/DISS"
Questions? Ask a Librarian!