Self-Service Portal
"What would you like to know?"

Deciding Where to Search

What type(s) of sources might you need?
Does your assignment recommend certain source types (e.g. peer-reviewed articles, newspaper articles, data, books, videos)? What role do sources play in the project?

Depending on the topic, you might look for books, articles, media coverage, or other online sources. If your topic is very new, there may not be many books or scholarly articles because scholarly works can have a long publication process.

Who has written on/discussed your topic?
A topic like "race relations in prisons" might be explored by scholars in sociology, law, criminal justice, public policy, psychology, or ethnic studies. Search by discipline or your academic field by using the databases and other library resources recommended in the Subject Guides.

Locating Sources

Books: Search the Library's FLO Catalog. For help finding books, visit Finding Books on Your Topic.

Articles: Search most of our databases simultaneously through @LL Search. For more specific databases, consider looking at our Places to Start list. Access our ProQuest databases here.

Subject-Specific Research: Browse the Subject Guides or Databases List by Subject for more specialized resources. For more guidance look at Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles.

Primary Sources: See our guide to Finding Primary Sources.

Newspaper Sources: Go to Finding Newspaper Articles.

Looking for data? Currently we do not have access to databases that exclusively have datasets or statistics, however useful data on your topic can often be found using Google. Search for "[your topic] statistics" or "[your topic] data" or you use Boston Public Library's digital data resources if you decide to get an e-card.

Can't access what you need? Sometimes Lesley does not have access to certain articles, books, or any other resources you may specifically need for your paper. If that's the case, you can make a request for it via our Interlibrary Loan.

Still not sure where to search? Ask Us!