You research will take you into many areas of the library and into several disciplinary approaches, depending on the pop culture text you are using. A great place to start is looking at the Reference Books tab (above); these books will give you succinct but thorough overviews of topics. In addition to the resources on this guide, consider browsing the resources on these related guides:
If you get stuck with your research, have a question about finding or accessing sources, or would simply like to chat about your topic & research options with a librarian, feel free to contact me directly (contact info is underneath my picture) or visit any librarian at the Reference Desk. We are information professionals - we can help you find all kinds of materials, as well as give you additional ideas for places and ways to search.
To find books in our library, search the Library Catalog - you can also search directly via the search box on the library's homepage.
When you find books that look useful, write down the Location & the Call Number.
General Collection, A - PQ are on the Third Floor
General Collection, PR - Z are on the Second (Main) Floor
Oversize, A - Z are on the Third Floor
Reference, A - Z are on the Second (Main) Floor.
Once you are in the right area, signs on the sides of the shelves will direct you further. The system is a little tricky to figure out at first, so don't hesitate to ask for directions at the Circulation Desk or Reference Desk.
Browse the shelves when you find a useful book. Books are shelved according to topic, so chances are you'll find other relevant books nearby.
You can check books out at the Circulation Desk (front desk).
Here are options for finding books beyond what we have in house. I recommend searching at Gustavus first before expanding your search to other libraries; these are great options to use after you've determined whether or not we have materials useful for your topic here.
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of your topics & the fields themselves, there are a number of options for finding articles. Try these to track down articles; some may work better than others depending on your topics. Use the FindIt button in the databases to start locating the full text of articles. Consult the Tracking Down Materials tab (above) for more suggestions and guidance.
Fall 2020 reference (research) help:
