EN090: Banned Books
Library Resources*


Information on banned books and censorship can be found in many sources, but the ones listed below should be most helpful for your research for this class. Keep in mind that the Bertrand librarians enjoy helping students! Try to figure things out for yourself first, but don't be shy about asking at the reference desk if you get stuck or otherwise need assistance.


Bibliographies and Databases Accessible from Bertrand Library's Home Page through any campus networked computer

  • Online Catalog. The Bertrand Library online catalogue is the key to the library's entire collection, including books, maps, government documents, videos, multimedia, etc. Handouts are available in the library describing how to use this tool and workshops are available if you'd prefer formal instruction beyond what I provided in class. Some useful general subject headings might include: multicultural education, curriculum planning, and censorship. From the library's home page, click "catalogue."
  • ArticleFinder. This interdisciplinary database indexes periodicals and is a good starting point for almost any research project. It is searchable in the same way as keyword in the library's online catalogue. From the library's home page, click "research."
  • ERIC Educational Resources Information Center, an information system sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The ERIC database provides access to the education literature and contains over 700,000 records for journal articles and other documents, such as curriculum materials and conference proceedings. Handout on search techniques available from reference librarians. From the library's home page, click "research," then "cd-network."
  • FirstSearch. FirstSearch is a collection of databases, including Reader's Guide Abstracts, a general index of popular and some scholar periodicals on a broad range of topics, and Education Abstracts, which provides descriptions of periodicals articles in the field of education. This is a good place to look for material on curriculum and pedagogy. Beware, however, that Bertrand Library may not own what you're looking for. Its often more productive to consult Essay and General Literature Index (described below). To find FirstSearch from the library's home page, click "research."
  • MLAIB Modern Language Association International Bibliography. For those of you doing literary critical papers, this is the single most important database for research in literary studies. From the library's home page, click "research," then "cd-network."

    • Bibliographies available in Book Form (Ask at the Reference Desk)

  • Reader's Guide. You probably remember this general index from high school.
  • Alternative Press Index. Particularly valuable for finding materials from radical, non-mainstream sources. A great source for projects in Black Studies, Ethnic Studies, Women's Studies, Peace Studies, etc. Can be time-consuming to use, but always leads you to interesting reading. AI3.A27. Ref Counter.
  • Editorials on File. Reprints editorials and editorial cartoons in their entirety from over 200 U.S. and Canadian newspapers since 1985. Big city papers and small towns, too. A fascinating reading experience and a real goldmine of opposing viewpoints! FYI--this source may also be useful to find illustrations for Powerpoint presentations in other classes. D839.E3 Ref Counter.
  • Essay and General Literature Index. This important source indexes essays and chapters of books, therefore supplementing the on-line catalogue in a valuable way. Information for each entry includes the author and title of the essay or chapter followed by an "in" reference to the collection or book where the essay may be found. The list of indexed books is located at the back of the volume with Bertrand Library call numbers written beside those the library owns. A real time-saver. Often more valuable than FirstSearch because it tells you quickly what available HERE.


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    * This handout is based on materials prepared by the Bertrand Library Staff during Fall 1995.