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Milner Library

Latin American and Latino/a Studies

For students taking courses, or others interested in Latin American & Latino/a Studies, this guide provides access to major sources.

How To Research in Milner Library

Hello. My name is María Tudela. I’m the librarian for Latin American and Latino/a/x Studies. If you have any questions, please contact me.

This guide can help you with:

  • Getting started with the research process
  • Identifying databases related to Latin American and Latina/o Studies
  • Techniques for finding subject specific sources such books, articles, etc.
  • Linking to a course specific guide

Conducting research is an iterative process.
For more information about how to conduct research,
consult the An Overview: The Research Process web guide.

The following steps are helpful in beginning your research in Latin American & Latino/a Studies.

1. For background information on your topic, consult a reference source such as:
Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos & Latinas in the United States (E-book).  or
Oxford Handbook of Latino Studies (E-book) 

2.  Check the list of sources or bibliography in your textbooks.

3. Search for books in your topic in the Milner Library Online Catalog.

4. Search for articles in databases, such as:  Latino Literature or JSTOR. 

Latin American and Latino/a Studies at Illinois State University.  
Learn about the LALS courses and minor as well as campus activities, study abroad programs and community efforts.

Understanding Call Numbers.
Find books on the shelves more quickly with this quick overview of how to read Library of Congress call numbers.

Citing Sources
Determine Credibility (Evaluating)
Help Videos for Using Milner

Types of Sources (video)

Types of Sources video developed by Instruction and Student Engagement Department, Milner Library, Illinois State University
Creative Commons License This video is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You can also view the video here: https://www.screencast.com/t/9XiEwXwl6Q0b

When evaluating an information source, keep in mind these general criteria and questions:

reliability: Are the facts accurate?

credibility: Is the author an authority on the topic?

perspective: Is the source written as an opinion or does it use other sources as evidence?

purpose: Does this material inform, explain, persuade?

Additional Links