LOGINS & PASSWORDS
Click Here for the Passwords List. You'll need to log in as a Catlin Gabel student or employee. Having trouble? Contact your division librarian.
In addition to our own books and databases, the public library offers dozens of databases, and thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming music that you may access using the barcode on the front of your shiny new library card. Having a library card is the first step in becoming a power user. You'll have access to hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of research materials.
(a field trip with History students to Multnomah County Public Library)
Upper division students will benefit from having a Multnomah County Library card as they begin to do more serious research, and begin to use a broader range of academic databases beyond the holdings of Catlin Gabel's library. Click here to get started:
Plan ahead, as you need to visit one of the public library's branches to obtain a card.
You don't need to live in Multnomah County to be eligible. Click here to find out whether you are able to obtain a card.
We Are What We Do: Pastimes and Modern Life
Goals for the day
The Key to All Wisdom: Think First, Search Second
Good research is the result of good thinking.
Brainstorm a list of keywords and phrases relevant to your topic, and include synonyms. This is an essential step you should never skip. Think about synonyms for your keywords and phrases.
Use quotation marks for exact phrases:
Wild cards find all versions of a word when added after the word's root:
Start with a general search, and narrow it down as you look through your results.
Some Useful Databases & Ebooks
Databases
We subscribe to a number of databases. To use them, you'll need the logins and passwords, so click on the box at the upper left of this page.Different databases are useful for different kinds of searches.
Ebooks
With a Multnomah County Library Card, you've got access to THOUSANDS of ebooks that you can read online. Here's a selection of books that might help. As you choose topics, come see Sue or Derek for help in finding additional ebooks that might be useful. Click the box below to get to this group of Ebooks.
Searching for Podcasts
Use your list of search keywords and phrases to find Podcasts or specific episodes that address your topic.
Major Platforms:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Youtube Music
Pandora
iHeart
Outside the Major Platforms:
Use these tools to search for podcasts outside specific listening platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audacy, etc.):
You establish your credibility by showing that the sources you use are written by knowledgeable, professional people with expertise. Here are some possible credentials an author might have:
How to Credential a Journal Article
There are 3 quick places to look:
When credentialing web sources, use similar tactics. Watch for a link titled "About," or "More Information." Here is such a page on a website about the writer Mark Twain.
Need help? Ask Sue, Maureen, Patrick, or Derek.
Credentialing a Book Author or Contributor
Book publishers and editors often do a bunch of the work for you! Here's where to look: