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SUBJECT GUIDES:

California & Local History

RESOURCES ON CALIFORNIA & LOCAL HISTORY

SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES

The library subscribes to many periodicals in various formats: microforms, print, CD-Rom and online via the Internet. Please check the library's periodical listings (at the reference desk) for date of publication and formats available. The following are periodicals that may be relevant to your research on Local History and California History:

Relevant Magazines and Newspapers in the Library:

  • California (formerly California Magazine)
  • California Chronicle
  • California Historian
  • California Historical Quarterly
  • California Historical Society Quarterly
  • California History
  • California Journal
  • Los Angeles Times
  • Long Beach Press-Telegram .
Other Subject-Related Periodicals in the Library:
  • American Heritage
  • American Historical Review
  • American History
  • American Indian Quarterly

To Search for Articles in General on Local History or California History
To search the magazine/newspaper databases listed LBCC Library homepage (Newsbank, ProQuest, SIRS, Facts On File), use words appropriate to your subject, including:
  • Names of local counties or local cities
  • Names of famous local persons
  • Names of local organizations or local institutions
Check in the Library of Congress Subject Headings set (the five big red books on the counter), in dictionaries, thesauri and subject-related books for the right words to use.

SEARCHING FOR BOOKS ON CALIFORNIA HISTORY AND LOCAL HISTORY

LBCC Library catalog is web-based and searchable via the Internet. From the Library homepage, click on the button "Voyager"; the Library Web site's URL is: http://lib.lbcc.edu
Use "Keyword" search or "Subject " search. At the orientation, the librarian will demonstrate on how to do a complex search for more relevant results.

Major "Call Numbers" for United States History and California History:

  • F861 to F870 California History
  • E78 Indians of California
  • E United States History

SEARCHING FOR CALIFORNIA AND LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET

  • Use a Search Engine such as Altavista (http://altavista.com) when you know the exact terms or names of your topic.
  • Enter two or more related words, each with a +in front of it to make your search more exact:
  • Search for phrases by putting double quotes around two or more words, for example:
    +california +history
    +"mexican immigrants" +california
  • Put an asterisk * after the root word to find plurals or other words beginning with the root.
  • Use subject directories such as Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com) or Internet indexes such as Librarian's Index to the Internet (http://www.lii.org) for browsing or when you are not sure of the terms or names. Indexes lead you from the general subject to the specific sub-topic.

Great websites relating to United States and California History


created by Kim Barclay

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