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Resources and Tools Available
There are many different types of resources available to you for gathering information on your topic.
For differnet types of resources, there are different tools for finding them.
- SOPHIA, the online catalog - find books, reference books, statistical compilations, sound and video recordings, journal and magazine titles. Also includes links to thousands of electronic books.
- GALILEO - search in different databases for magazine, journal and newspaper articles. Also has full-text of some reference books and statistical information.
- Websites - current news, government publications, public opinion, maps and more. Check out our subject guides for some selected research sites on various topics.
Timeline of Information
Information about events changes over time and becomes available in different formats and places.
| Event Occurred... | Source | Type of Information | Where to Find? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 Days Ago | Newspapers; Internet |
news reporting; some analysis of data |
Lexis Nexis Academic or On the Web |
| 1 Week - Several Weeks Ago |
Popular Magazines |
overview of events; some analysis; still news reporting |
Various resources on GALILEO |
| Several Months Ago and Longer |
Scholarly Journals |
in-depth research; detailed examination |
Various resources on GALILEO |
| 1 -3 Years Ago and Longer |
Books | lengthy analysis or general discussion; can be interdisciplinary |
SOPHIA, the online catalog |
| More than 3 Years Ago |
Encyclopedias Handbooks Other Reference Sources |
brief overviews or summaries; factual information |
SOPHIA, the online catalog |
Based on UCLA Help Guide: The Flow of Information, originally at http://wwwtest.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/flow/ (link no longer active)