HIST R1B: A History of Diplomacy from the Greeks to Wikileaks

Doe, Main Stacks, Moffitt Library floorplans

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:55:34 -0700

Looking for a location in Doe, Main Stacks or Moffitt? Try the floorplans, or ask for assistance!

Proxy server

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:57:07 -0800

To use library databases from off campus you have to set up the proxy server: this changes your browser settings.

Different browsers [Firefox, Chrome, Safari...] have different instructions- they are all here.
You can set it up on multiple devices
You log in with your CalNet ID
There's an alternative: the VPN

Using call numbers to find books

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:46:00 -0700

Books and journals are arranged on our shelves according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. Each is assigned a unique call number based on its subject matter and other characteristics. Items on the same subject will often be grouped together.

In using a call number to locate a book on the shelf, consider each element in turn before moving on to the next segment.

These call numbers are arranged as they should appear on the shelves. In each case, the element shown in boldface distinguishes the number from the preceding one:

Q
76
K26

QA
17
F75

QA
17.1
C98

TK
3
Z37

TK
29
M49

TK
29
M5
1997

TK
29
M5
2007

Each call number consists of several elements. For example::

TK
7881.6
M29
1993

The FIRST line, TK, is based on the broad subject of the book. Within Class T for technology, TK represents electrical engineering.

The SECOND line, 7881.6, defines the subject matter more finely. When looking for the book, read this as a whole number with a decimal component. In this example, TK7881.6 represents magnetic recording (a subdivision of TK— electrical engineering).

The THIRD line, M29, usually indicates author, but may also represent a further subject subdivision, geographic area, etc. There may also be a fourth line, formatted the same way. When looking for the book, read the numeric component as if it were preceded by a decimal point. In the example above, the numeric part of M29 should be read as ".29" (and the call number TK7881.6 M29 comes before TK7881.6 M4).

The YEAR of publication, such as 1993, may also be present. These file in chronological order and often indicate successive editions of a book. The call number may also have additional elements, such as volume numbers.

Early Modern Europe Databases

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:41 -0800

These databases include primary sources.

Primary Source Searching - Names

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:27:54 -0800

One of the most powerful ways to find primary sources in the Library is to use the names of people. An essential part of your background reading should be to note down names of people involved in your topics.

Names can be searched in the catalogs [Oskicat and Melvyl] in specialized ways: as authors or as subjects. Even people you do not consider authors in the conventional sense may be listed as authors, if:

their correspondence is available
their manuscripts are available
interviews with them are available
their diaries are available
published versions of these are available

When searching for primary sources, it's a good idea always to search those names as authors, as well as keywords. Works where the person is listed as an author will always be primary sources.

Primary Sources in Oskicat

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:29:30 -0700

There are tens of thousands of historical primary sources in Oskicat. To narrow your searching to primary sources, try this.

Use Advanced Keyword Search
Pull down the "Subject" limiter in the left side box.
Enter your main search term. It could be a topical word, like Auschwitz or Holocaust.
In the next row, again pull down the "Subject" limiter in the left side box. Enter one of these specific 'primary source' search words:

personal narratives
correspondence
interviews
memoirs
diaries
sources
pamphlets

The results should be a list of primary sources on your topic, each of which is a book in the Berkeley library.

Finding Primary Sources overview

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:18:00 -0800

Primary sources can be found in a variety of library tools:

Catalogs: OskiCat and Melvyl
Online book and text collections
Primary Source databases provided by the Library
Vetted sites on the web:

For specific search strategies, see the Library's Guide to Finding Historical Primary Source s

Secondary Sources

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:43:18 -0800

Use a database efficiently

Databases allow you to search for articles by subjects, words in the text, authors, and more. Use the UC e-links button to find the article in full text or to search Melvyl for the print copy or to request it from another library.

Searching principles:

Start with just one or two search words
Look for specialized terminology – thesaurus, descriptors, subject headings-- you can use to target your searching
If you get too many results, add additional search words or use more specific words
If you get too few hits, use fewer terms or use more general terminology
Save relevant citations and email them to yourself, always

History databases

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:38:44 -0700

Three important databases for research in History.

Citation Management Tools

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:01:56 -0700

Citation management tools help you manage your research, collect and cite sources, and create bibliographies in a variety of citation styles. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, but any are easier than doing it by hand!

Zotero: A free plug-in that works exclusively with the Firefox browser: keeps copies of what you find on the web, permits tagging, notation, full text searching of your library of resources, works with Word, and has a free web backup service.
RefWorks - free for UC Berkeley users. It allows you to create your own database by importing references and using them for footnotes and bibliographies. Use the RefWorks New User Form to sign up.
EndNote: may be purchased from UC Berkeley's Software Central.

It's always good to double check the formatting -- sometimes the software doesn't get it quite right.

Using APA 6th? Purdue has produced this very handy quick guide. The fulltext of APA 6th is not available online, but we do have print copies in the EdPsych Library in reference and short term reserve at BF76.7 P83 2010

Zotero Tips

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:04:46 -0700

If you've never used Zotero before, use the QuickStart Guide to get started.

Change your preferences if you want Zotero to

set your default citation style
search the full text of pdfs you save
Automatically attach associated PDFs and other files when saving items

To use Zotero to find specific articles in our library's databases, set up the Open URL resolver with this link: http://ucelinks.cdlib.org:8888/sfx_local?

An in-depth discussion of the relative virtues of Endnote and Zotero,

Guide to writing history papers

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:34:30 -0700

Research Advisory Service

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:40:21 -0800

Research Advisory Service for Cal Undergraduates

Book a 30-minute appointment with a librarian who will help refine and focus research inquiries, identify useful online and print sources, and develop search strategies for humanities and social sciences topics (examples of research topics).

Schedule, view, edit or cancel your appointment online (CalNetID required)

This service is for Cal undergraduates only. Graduate students and faculty should contact the library liaison to their department or program for specialized reference consultations.

Other ways to get help

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:59:26 -0700

Other ways to get help: in person, by e-mail, using specialized chat services

Ask a Librarian 24/7 Chat

ljones@library.berkeley.edu (Lynn Jones) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:03:58 -0800

When you use this chat widget a reference librarian from Berkeley, or another UC campus, or another academic library around the US may be answering your question. We share information about our libraries to make sure you get good answers.

If the librarian can't answer you well enough, your question will be referred to a Berkeley librarian for followup.

Have fun chatting.