Gustavus Library Resources:
Google Scholar has a useful feature: If you plug in the author and title of a book or article, it links you to newer publications that have cited it. This is a cool way to see how influential a particular work has been and to see how others have drawn on it.
One of the most powerful ways to find valuable sources and assess their signifcance is to follow the breadcrumb trail left by scholars in their published work. When researchers cite sources, they are bolstering their argument by providing evidence, but also pointing readers to places they can go for more information. Take them up on it!
In addition to references in books and articles, the bibliographies found in specialized reference works will point you to the most significant research on a topic, an efficient shortcut to the best stuff.
Once you see a reference that looks good, how do you get your hands on it? Here's a quick checklist.
Research Help:
