Defining Secondary Sources
Secondary source, noun
Any published or unpublished work that is one step removed from the original source, usually describing, summarizing, analyzing, evaluating, derived from, or based on primary source materials... —definition from the Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science
Library Paid-for Secondary Source Databases
- Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
Excellent starting point. Multidisciplinary article database offers access to more than 16,000 journals, magazines, and newspapers, including over 15,000 peer-reviewed journals.
- Humanities International Complete This link opens in a new window
Coverage of over 2,000 journals in history, film studies, religion, philosophy, and other fields within the humanities.
- Women's Studies International This link opens in a new window
Nearly 600,000 entries from over 2,000 periodicals and other sources, dating back to the 1970's, on the "core disciplines in Women's Studies." Materials include: journal, magazine, and newspaper articles; reports, theses and dissertations; book chapters; and more.
Interlibrary Loan
The Library can't own or subscribe to every piece of research ever created...that's why we have interlibrary loan!
If you need to use an article or book not in the library's collection, place an interlibrary loan request. The University Library can borrow materials from libraries across the globe.