A book is a publication focused on one topic. A book can be a primary, secondary, or tertiary source. We have books in print, online, and audiobook formats.
To find books in any format, search the library catalog, IvyCat. To access a book that is in the library, you need to know its call number. To access a book online, you need to log in to My Ivy or create a free account on that database to read it. Find out more:
Extensive collection of online academic books in all subject areas.
Search in library databases and catalogs with the key words of your statement or question. It saves time to write these key words down, with a synonym for each, because you will refine them as you search. When you find a resource that you like, look at the subject tags on its record, and use those to find more. For more help on constructing searches see these Library Guides:
Your assignments may ask you to use primary sources and/or scholarly sources.
The terms primary, secondary, and tertiary indicate the relationship between the author and the events described. A primary source is documentation from someone who personally witnessed or experienced them: ex. a diary, an interview, a report of an experiment. Primary sources are not always written texts!
Scholarly sources refers to the audience: not for general readers. Peer-reviewed refers to the scholarly process of review before publication. You can limit your searches to scholarly or peer-reviewed items.
