WEST WE THE PEOPLE RESEARCH GUIDE

Physical Collections: (At each site, note the databases, subject directories, and/or pathfinders available to you.)

• ASD OPAC: http://dewey.asdk12.org/ (Use “ASD” for your “User ID” in order to search all District holdings)
• APL OPAC: http://www.anchoragelibrary.org/
  One-stop shopping here: You are searching AML, UAA, ARLIS, AMHA, as well as several South-Central campuses.
• UAA OPAC: http://lib.uaa.alaska.edu/
  Note that if you do not have a UAA login most of the databases are available only on campus (Lexis/Nexis Legal—full text here).
• Alaska State Court Law Library: www.state.ak.us/courts/library.htm
  Case law available online through the catalog; Public Access Westlaw and HeinOnline
  available online at the library (no offline printing); note hours and location @ site.

Searchable Databases:

• State Library Digital Pipeline: www.sled.alaska.edu/databases
  Read the database description (MasterFile Premier, Acadmeic Search Primier are good sources. Contact
  librarian for passwords if needed).
• APL: www.anchoragelibrary.org (Gale Resource Center, InfoTrac, netLibrary, ADN archives).
• Gale Resource Center Opposing Viewpoints at West: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/anch99517 /(contact librarian for password)

Electronic Books:

• Gale Resource Center e-books at West: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/anch99517 (contact librarian for password)
• Oxford Premium Reference: Link here.

Subject Directories:

• Librarian’s Internet Index: www.lii.org
• Infomine: http://infomine.ucr.edu
• netTrekker: http://school.nettrekker.com/frontdoor
  

Specific Sites:

• Supreme Court Collect: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html
  A collection of Supreme Court decisions
• Law Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/law/public/law.html
  Subject directory to legal sites
• Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov/
  Legislative information through the LOC
• The Supreme Court of the United States: //www.supremecourtus.gov
  Official government site
• Wex (from Cornell): http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/overview
  Dictionary and Encyclopedia for definitions/explanations of legal terms
• NOLO Glossary:www.nolo.com/glossary.cfm
• Landmark Cases: Supreme Court: www.landmarkcases.org/
  Title/URL says it all…
• A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/
  Online archive for U.S. legislation
• GLIN (Global Legal Information Network): www.glin.gov/
  Useful for looking up laws (domestic and international)
• LLRX (Federal legal system): www.llrx.com/features/us_fed2.htm

Internet Miscellany:

• Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov
  
  • Portal for Thomas (legislation information online)
  • American Memory (collection of Am. History resources online)
  • LOC catalogs (help for a literature search and identifying subject headings)
• NARA (the National Archives online): www.archives.gov
• Federal Statistics: www.fedstats.gov
• USA.gov (US government portal): www.usa.gov
• Pew/Internet: www.pewinternet.org/index.asp
• United Nations Stats. Div.: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/default.htm
• FindArticles (journal index): www.findarticles.com   

Search Tips:

• Search by phrase (“…”).
• Search by multiple terms (+… +… +…).
• Develop a list of synonyms (keywords, subject headings)
• Too many hits: narrow the search (more, more specific terms).  Too few hits: broaden the search (fewer, more general terms).
• On web searches if you don’t find something within the first two pages reformat your search
• Use “advanced search” (where you’re confident)
• There is no such thing as “one-stop shopping” when it comes to information.
• Question your sources.
• When in doubt ask a librarian.

West HS Library Sept. 2009