Library Resources for Class 8 History

Sub-Saharan Africa Project

  Research Strategies and Getting Started
  • Take the time to think about your topic, identify the key ideas and the KEYWORDS.
  • Use keywords and combinations of keywords -- not phrases -- to search the Online Catalog, databases, and even reference books. Try synonyms or more general subject terms if the first keywords don't yield results.
  • The Online Catalog is not Google: it can't tell you what's inside a book. Get the book & use the index to see the topics covered.
  • Bibliography First - Write the bibliographical information down BEFORE you take notes or photocopy, not after.
  • Ask questions if you can't find what you want! Stop by the library or email lutz@chapin.edu
Use subject reference books to find key names, terms, facts, and dates and useful information on your topic:
  • REF 306.3 FIN   Macmillan Encyclopedia of World Slavery
  • REF 320.96 POL   Political Handbook of Africa 2007
  • REF 392.096 BEC   African Ceremonies
  • REF 909.84 APP   Africana
  • REF 920 BYE   Encyclopedia of World Biography
  • REF 960  AFR   Africa: an encyclopedia for students
  • REF 960 NEW   New Encyclopedia of Africa (2008)
  • REF 960 PEO   Peoples and Cultures of Africa (3 v.)
  • REF 960 ENC   Encyclopedia of African History & Culture
Use the Online Catalog to find books, CDs, and videos:
  • Search the online catalog at home or at school ; go to Current Students > Library > Online Catalog.
  • The most important KEYWORDS for finding a book on an historical event or time period:  [Name of country]; Africa; History
  • Useful GENERAL keywords:  Exploration; Colonization; Civilization; Art; Dance; Religion; Africa; African
  • Remember spelling variations when searching: voudou/voodoo; Masai/Maasai; Rwanda/Ruanda
  • Don't forget to check the book's index to verify that the book has information pertinent to your topic.
Chapin Databases (Current Students page > Library > Online Resources) provide articles on current events topics.
  • History Resource Center - World includes reference and magazine articles on Africa.
  • Proquest - Search under specific keywords for recent articles from both magazines and newspapers.
Selected Web Sites:
 Bibliography Help:
  • For bibliography format and examples, check your copy of A Pocket Style Manual or the Library web page, Quick Guide to Bibliographies.
  • OR, use NoodleBib to help format your bibliography info in your own folder on the Web. NoodleBib can be used to save notecards online too! See the Library Web page, Introduction to NoodleTools, for details.

Last updated by Ms. Lutz, 7 April 2008