Sometimes, getting started on your research is the hardest part. We've put together a brief list of websites where you can begin your research journey.
- Encyclopedia Britannica is a good place to start when you're writing about a topic that's new or unfamiliar to you. You'll find all sorts of helpful background information and links to related topics.
- Internet Public Library links to over 500,000 essays on topics ranging from literary classics to philosophy to law and government.
- JSTOR is one of the most academically renowned databases, with over thousands of scholarly articles and over one million images, letters, and other primary sources.
- NMU Olson Library is an excellent place to look up books, articles, studies, interviews, and other primary and secondary sources, because the library website pulls from multiple databases to help you find what you're looking for. You can use search filters to narrow down your topic. Or, stop by on-campus and ask our friendly local reference librarians for assistance; they're highly trained and ready to give you professional, accurate advice on how to find and use your research sources. If the NMU Olson library doesn't have what you need, they can help you order books from other universities using MelCat.
- NYPL Digital Gallery has over 300,000 images from primary sources in the New York Public Library's collection, including historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, and photographs.