COLWRIT R4B: (The Idea of) Prison

Choosing the "right" resource means choosing a database that finds you the kind of materials you need.

Encyclopedias: Brief background information on your topic.

Books & articles: You're likely to need the UCB Library catalog (OskiCat) and an article database for your assignment. Which one you use, depends on what you already know and the kind of materials sought.

• If you already have a citation for an item or you want to find books on your topic, you can start with the catalog
• If you want to isolate articles or essays on a topic, you'll need to use an "article" database
• Catalogs|article databases and locating results (detail)

Catalogs list library collections, item locations, and availability.  OskiCat is the UCB libraries' catalog.

• find books, journals, films, etc.
• sample catalog record
• link to via catalogs tab on library website
  

• available via the electronic resources link on the library website
• 

• view for specific subject or view general (interdisciplinary) category
  • Recommended = central resource, typically helpful
  • sidebar menu (links to other types of resources in selected subject)
    
• view alphabetically by type (news databases, encyclopedias, etc.)
• database descriptions = subject(s), type of materials, dates of publication, if full text available

Encyclopedias are often a good place to begin when you don't know much about a topic. They provide basic background information, the knowledge of which helps when searching for other materials: identify people, events, issues, etc. Entries may also have an associated bibliography that identifies other materials related to a topic.

Online Access...see electronic resources section above

• link to Subject > then use left sidebar menu to link to encyclopedias (subject specific)
• link by Type >  Encyclopedias and almanacs (all of them)

Print Encyclopedias... use OskiCat