1. Think about and develop a SEARCH STRATEGY!

2. Find Background Information...Use Reference Resources

• Samples:
• Encyclopedia of Women's History in America (Reference HQ 1410 .C85 1996)
• Feminism: A Reference Handbook (Reference HQ 1410 .H365 1998)
• Greenwood Encyclopedia of Women's Issues Worldwide (Reference HQ 1115 .G74 2003 vol 1-6)
• Reader's Guide to Women's Studies (Reference HQ 1180 .R43 1998)
• Statistical Handbook on Women in America (Reference HQ 1420 .T34 1996)
• Women's Progress in America (Reference HQ 1410 .F76 1994)
• Women's Studies Encyclopedia (Reference HQ 1115 .W645 1989 vol 1-3)

3. Find Books & Videos

• JDH Library Catalog
• Use the Guided Keyword search to search for your topic and its synonyms.
• Use the Author-Title-Subject search to search for subject headings such as: Feminist Theory, Women, and Women's Studies.
• Browse JDH Library's books. The HQ 1100-1400 call numbers are a good starting place.
• WorldCat
• Search as above and use the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) button to get those materials not in JDH Library.
• Use Interlibrary Loan if we don't have the book(s) you need.

4. Identify and Find Journal Articles

• Indexes & Bibliographies:
  • Use Bibliographies and Sources Cited Lists from the reference resources and books that you have gathered.
  • Search appropriate periodical indexes in our "Alphabetical List of Databases" on the libraries home page:
    • Academic Search (general index)
    • Feminist Periodicals Index (index with a feminism specialty...located alphabetically in the Database list)
    • Gender Watch ( specialty in issues related to gender...located alphabetically in the Database list)
    • ViVa (index with a specialty in women's history)'
    • The Gerritsen Collection (general index)...books, pamphlets and periodicals reflecting the evolution of a feminist consciousness and the movement for women's rights.
    • See also: indexes listed under "Multicultural & Women."
• Finding Journal Articles Cited But Not Provided in the Indexes
  • Use the Author-Title-Subject Search in the Catalog to see if JDH Library owns the journal the article is in...search for journal title, not article title.
  • Use Interlibrary Loan if we don't have the journal(s) you need.

• American Women's History Homepage
• Publications from Human Rights Watch concerning Human Rights for women.
• Homepage of the University of Wisconsin System's Women's Studies Librarian
• UW-Superior's Office of Women's and Gender Issues Homepage
• National Organization for Women
• Don't forget to evaluate the web sites you find from these starting points!

• Ask the Reference Librarians for help and assistance. It is what we are here for!
• Ask your Professor for suggestions and pointers.

Designed and Created by Jeneen LaSee-Willemssen
Last updated: November 6, 2007
Copyright © 2001. All Rights Reserved.