Newton Gresham Library Sam Houston State University
News & Current Events
(Reference Guide #59)
Newton Gresham Library contains many resources that are helpful for researching news and current events. These resources include subscriptions to current journals, magazines, and newspapers, online databases available from the Library’s webpage, and useful print resources located in the Reference Area. If you need assistance, please ask at the Library Reference Desk on the second floor.
ELECTRONIC DATABASES
Databases are an excellent way to gather information from news articles. Although the databases are accessed through the Library’s website, they are not considered freely accessible websites. Databases contain dependable, reliable, and accurate information, and their use is encouraged. Some databases contain entire articles (full-text) from newspapers, magazines, and journals, which can be printed or downloaded. Other databases contain only a citation and abstract (brief information) to an article, which you would then need to locate in the Library. Databases are accessible from on or off-campus. If off-campus, you will be prompted for your SHSU computer account username and password. To access the databases, go the Newton Gresham Library homepage at http://library.shsu.edu/. Click on Databases and Indexes, the second link in the main menu on the left. Click on a letter of the alphabet and select a database name from the alphabetical list, or, Click on Databases by Subject at the top of the page. Click on Newspapers & Current Events, Reference, or other subject area in the list. Not all databases listed below are included in the Newspapers & Current Events list. Academic Search Complete Academic Search Complete provides full text for over 1,260 academic, social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multi-cultural journals. In addition to the full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for over 2,880 journals. America’s Newspapers (NewsBank) Full-text access to 644 national newspaper titles, including 31 Texas titles. Tracks information at the state, national, and international levels. CQ Researcher This award-winning full-text online version of the print publication explores a single "hot" issue in the news in-depth each week. Topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education and science and technology. The CQ Researcher's hallmark is scrupulous objectivity and balance. Charts, graphs, sidebar articles, a pro-con feature, a chronology, lengthy bibliographies, and a list of contacts round out each report.
Houston Chronicle (1985-current) The Houston Chronicle is the only daily newspaper in the fourth largest city in the United States, and provides local, national and international news, features, sports and opinion for the region. LexisNexis Academic Provides access to the full-text of hundreds of newspapers, magazines, journals, law reviews, legal cases, and public laws. Statistical Universe (LexisNexis) Provides indexing to all statistics issued by the U.S. government since 1973 through CIS’ American Statistics Index and provides the actual statistical tables for approximately 60% of the indexed information. INFOTRAC Custom Newspapers A web-based collection of local, regional, and national full text newspapers, including the Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, etc. Backfiles go as far back as 1996 for most newspapers. Newspaper Source Provides full text for 139 regional U.S. newspapers, eighteen international newspapers, six newswires, and nine newspaper columns for a total of 174 full text newspapers and other sources. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) OVRC provides a dynamic online library of current event topics: the facts as well as the arguments of each topic's proponents and detractors. OVRC’s unique features include Viewpoint articles—frameworks that allow students to explore each topic's many facets—and Thomson Gale's Information Plus series featuring statistics and government data placed in context. World Almanac Offers a fundamental reference source for students, library patrons, library reference staff, and scholars alike. Includes biographies, encyclopedia entries, facts, and statistics. World News Connection World News Connection (WNC) offers an extensive array of translated and Englishlanguage news and information. Compiled from thousands of non-U.S. media sources, the information in WNC covers significant socioeconomic, political, scientific, technical, and environmental issues and events.
SELECTED PERIODICALS
The following is a select list of newspapers and magazines currently subscribed to by the Library. For more, consult SamCat, the Library’s online catalog, or ask at the Reference Desk. Austin American-Statesman Newspapers Area, 2nd floor Dallas Morning News Newspapers Area, 2nd floor Houston Chronicle Newspapers Area, 2nd floor Huntsville Item Newspapers Area, 2nd floor 2
New York Times Newsweek Time U.S. News and World Report USA Today Wall Street Journal
Newspapers Area, 2nd floor Current Periodicals, 2nd floor Current Periodicals, 2nd floor Current Periodicals, 2nd floor Current Periodicals, 2nd floor Newspapers Area, 2nd floor
ELECTRONIC JOURNALS
Use the Library’s Find a Journal Title tool to see if the Library has online access to a specific journal, magazine or newspaper. Go to the Newton Gresham Library homepage at http://library.shsu.edu/. Click on Find a Journal Title, the third link in the main menu on the left. In the search box, type the title of the journal, magazine, or newspaper that you are wanting to find, then click Search. If the Library has online access to the journal, magazine, or newspaper you are looking for, there will be a link to the database(s) where you can locate articles.
PRINT RESOURCES
The following sources provide introductory information, statistics, and backgrounds to many topics. Most are located at the Reference Desk or in the Reference Collection on the 2nd floor. Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature A1 .R34 On the Reference Index Tables An index to articles published in periodicals. Arranged by subject. CQ Researcher H35 .E35 Current issues at Reference Desk, previous issues in Reference Collection Provides background information, statistics, and viewpoints to timely topics of interest. An index to the CQ Researcher, located at the Reference Desk, lists topics addressed in each issue. Statistical Abstract of the United States HA202 .U5 At the Reference Desk http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ From the U.S. Census Bureau, a handy source for finding statistics about the United States on many topics including population; vital statistics; business, economics, and labor; income and wealth; science and technology; agriculture and natural resources; and transportation. World Almanac and Book of Facts AY67 .N5 W7 At the Reference Desk A good starting point for finding basic information about the United States, the 50 states, and other countries. Includes an annual timeline, federal government information, historical facts, flags, maps, manmade and natural landmarks, award/prize information, and sports information. The Statesman’s Yearbook JA51 .S7 In the Reference Collection Contains key world facts, information on each county including history, territory and population, government and elections, defense and international relations, economy, trade and industry, and culture. Also provides key information about intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations and European Union. 3
Facts on File D410 .F3 In the Reference Collection A weekly digest of world events containing summaries of news reports from U.S. and world newspapers. Texas Almanac AY311 .G3 T5 At the Reference Desk Information on all things Texas—government, business, transportation, environment, agriculture, recreation, culture, history, and education. The United States Government Manual JK421 .A3 At the Reference Desk The official guidebook to the U.S. government.
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/
Federal Regulatory Directory KF5406 .A15 F4 At the Reference Desk Explains the structure and authority of over 100 regulatory agencies of the U.S. government. The Book of the States JK2403 .B6 At the Reference Desk. Statistics from all 50 states including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches or state government, state finances, and selected state policies and programs. Almanac of American Politics JK271 .B343 At the Reference Desk In-depth profiles of every governor and member of Congress, voting records, and descriptions and maps of congressional districts. Hoover’s Handbook of World Business HF3010 .H65 At the Reference Desk Contains profiles of major global companies. Hoover’s Handbook of American Business HF4057 .A28617 At the Reference Desk Contains profiles of 750 major U.S. companies Digest of Education Statistics L112 .A35 At the Reference Desk http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/ From the U.S. Department of Education, statistics on U.S. education, preschool through college. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics KF9223 .A152 A2 At the Reference Desk http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/ Data from over 100 criminal justice sources displayed in over 600 tables. Crime in the United States (Uniform Crime Reports) HV6787 .A3 At the Reference Desk http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm Crime statistics provided by the FBI.
4
RELEVANT WEBSITES
The following are websites of newspapers and other media outlets. Associated Press BBC (British Broadcasting Company) CNN Houston Chronicle MSNBC New York Times Newsweek Time The Times (of London) USA Today U.S. News and World Report Washington Post http://www.ap.org/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/ http://www.cnn.com/ http://www.chron.com/ http://www.msnbc.com/ http://www.nytimes.com/ http://www.newsweek.com/ http://www.time.com/time/ http://www.thetimes.co.uk/ http://www.usatoday.com/ http://www.usnews.com/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Rev. EDC 10/2008
5