Research Databases
⍟ = Librarian Recommended Resource!
⍟ NOVELNY : A collection of databases, free to all New Yorkers.
⍟ Brooklyn Public Library Free Databases : Databases available without login from Brooklyn Public Library.
⍟ Digital Schomburg: Relying on the expertise of distinguished curators and scholars, Digital Schomburg provides access to trusted information, interpretation, and scholarship on the global black experience 24/7. Users worldwide can find, in this virtual Schomburg Center, exhibitions, books, articles, photographs, prints, audio and video streams, and selected external links for research in the history and cultures of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.
⍟ NYPL Digital Collections: This site is a living database with new materials added every day, featuring prints, photographs, maps, manuscripts, streaming video, and more.
⍟ NOVELNY : A collection of databases, free to all New Yorkers.
⍟ Brooklyn Public Library Free Databases : Databases available without login from Brooklyn Public Library.
⍟ Digital Schomburg: Relying on the expertise of distinguished curators and scholars, Digital Schomburg provides access to trusted information, interpretation, and scholarship on the global black experience 24/7. Users worldwide can find, in this virtual Schomburg Center, exhibitions, books, articles, photographs, prints, audio and video streams, and selected external links for research in the history and cultures of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.
⍟ NYPL Digital Collections: This site is a living database with new materials added every day, featuring prints, photographs, maps, manuscripts, streaming video, and more.
6 C’s for Evaluating Internet Resources
1. Content:
What is the intent of the content? Are the title and author identified? Is the content "juried?" Is the content "popular" or "scholarly", satiric or serious? What is the date of the document or article? Is the "edition" current? Do you have the latest version? (Is this important?) How do you know?
2. Credibility:
Is the author identifiable and reliable? Is the content credible? Authoritative? Should it be? What is the purpose of the information, that is, is it serious, satiric, or humorous? Is the URL extension .edu, .com, .gov or .org? What does this tell you about the "publisher"?
3. Critical Thinking:
How can you apply critical thinking skills, including previous knowledge and experience, to evaluate Internet resources? Can you identify the author, publisher, edition, etc. as you would with a "traditionally" published resource? What criteria do you use to evaluate Internet resources?
4. Copyright:
Even if the copyright notice does not appear prominently, someone wrote or is responsible for, the creation of a document, graphic, sound, or image, and the material falls under the copyright conventions. "Fair use" applies to short, cited excerpts, usually as an example for commentary or research. Materials are in the "public domain" if this is explicitly stated. Internet users, as users of print media, must respect copyright.
5. Citation:
Internet resources should be cited to identify sources used, both to give credit to the author and to provide the reader with avenues for further research. Standard style manuals (print and online) provide some examples of how to cite Internet documents, although standards have not yet been formally established.
6. Context:
What is the context for your research? Can you find "anything" on your topic, that is, commentary, opinion, narrative, statistics and your quest will be satisfied? Are you looking for current or historical information? Definitions? Research studies or articles? How does Internet information fit in the overall information context of your subject? Before you start searching, define the research context and research needs and decide what sources might be best to use to successfully fill information needs without data overload.
1. Content:
What is the intent of the content? Are the title and author identified? Is the content "juried?" Is the content "popular" or "scholarly", satiric or serious? What is the date of the document or article? Is the "edition" current? Do you have the latest version? (Is this important?) How do you know?
2. Credibility:
Is the author identifiable and reliable? Is the content credible? Authoritative? Should it be? What is the purpose of the information, that is, is it serious, satiric, or humorous? Is the URL extension .edu, .com, .gov or .org? What does this tell you about the "publisher"?
3. Critical Thinking:
How can you apply critical thinking skills, including previous knowledge and experience, to evaluate Internet resources? Can you identify the author, publisher, edition, etc. as you would with a "traditionally" published resource? What criteria do you use to evaluate Internet resources?
4. Copyright:
Even if the copyright notice does not appear prominently, someone wrote or is responsible for, the creation of a document, graphic, sound, or image, and the material falls under the copyright conventions. "Fair use" applies to short, cited excerpts, usually as an example for commentary or research. Materials are in the "public domain" if this is explicitly stated. Internet users, as users of print media, must respect copyright.
5. Citation:
Internet resources should be cited to identify sources used, both to give credit to the author and to provide the reader with avenues for further research. Standard style manuals (print and online) provide some examples of how to cite Internet documents, although standards have not yet been formally established.
6. Context:
What is the context for your research? Can you find "anything" on your topic, that is, commentary, opinion, narrative, statistics and your quest will be satisfied? Are you looking for current or historical information? Definitions? Research studies or articles? How does Internet information fit in the overall information context of your subject? Before you start searching, define the research context and research needs and decide what sources might be best to use to successfully fill information needs without data overload.