2. Following the 8 Steps to Historical Research Step 1: Organize! Step 2: Topic Selection Step 3: Background Reading for Historical Context Step 4: Narrowing Your Topic Step5: Gathering and Recording Information Step 6: Analyzing and Interpreting Sources & the Topic’s Significance Step 7: Develop a Thesis Step 8: Finalize the Project Beginning Your Research

3. PRIMARY SOURCES Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period. A primary source reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. SECONDARY SOURCES A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon. It is generally at least one step removed from the event. Textbooks and encyclopedias are examples of secondary sources. Sources of Information

5. Using the Library Catalog King, Martin Luther Keyword, subject, title, or author Login to place holds or create lists. www.coronapubliclibrary.org

6. Call Numbers The address of a book in the library. If it begins with ‘R’ or ‘JR’ it is for reference and cannot be checked out of the library. When looking up additional sources, the Call Number will be important to note.

7. Using Electronic Databases

8. Electronic Databases at Corona A to Z databases – business database America’s News: Newsbank – local, regional, and national periodicals Britannica Image Quest – Millions of rights-cleared images EBSCOhost – Thousands of full-text articles – MasterFILE Premier Worldbook Online – encyclopedia articles, primary source documents, and timelines

9. Accessing Electronic Databases www.coronapubliclibrary.org

10. What Databases Don’t Cover Databases often have a limited Backfile. For example, the database may only contain articles published between 1980 and the present. When researching an event, person, or idea that was developed prior to 1980, the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature and the American Heritage 50-Year Cumulative Index may be needed to locate sources.

11. Searching Strategies

13. Special Collections

14. Local History Resources at CPL The Heritage Room opened in 1980 and has a variety of resources for the public to use both online and at the library. A searchable database with over 1,500 artifacts, 6,000 photographs and slides, maps, citrus labels, and finding aids. Corona Heritage Online Manuscript Collections There are 135 manuscript collections available in the Heritage Room. Our largest collection is the Orange Heights Orange Association which contains the records for one of the last citrus organizations in Southern California. Corona Digital Newspaper Archive The in-house use only database includes 90 years worth of Corona newspapers. The collection spans the years 1887 to 1977 and there are over 157,000 pages available to view. Articles and whole pages of the paper can be saved to a flash drive or printed out.

15. Online Searching – Domain Types Country domain examples:.us.uk.au.in.il. comCommercial site.eduEducational institution.govGovernment site.orgOrganizational site (non- or for-profit).milMilitary.netNetwork (can be any kind of site)

16. Online Searching – CARS and Beyond Other Tips Authority Currency Links URL Comparison NHD Link C redibility A ccuracy R easonableness S upport