Spanish Research Guide
Introduction
This web page highlights a selection of print and electronic resources
available through the Ryerson
Library that can be used to undertake research on topics related
to the Spanish language and culture. Many of these resources can
be accessed via computers in the Ryerson Library and in computer
labs on the Ryerson campus. If you are a Ryerson student, staff
or faculty member, access is also available through home or office
computer systems that are connected to the Internet. For further
information on connecting to Library resources from a home system,
consult the Remote
Access instructions on the Library's home page.
Background Information
Start By Defining Your Topic
Identify the main concepts in your topic, phrase them as keywords and try to think of synonyms for your keywords. Use Boolean logic to formulate an effective search strategy. Try using this search strategy worksheet to plan your search.
Check the "help" or "search tips" screens of the database(s) you are using to see which Boolean operators can be used.
If you need help, ask at the Reference Desk, 2nd Floor, Library, or Ask a Librarian.
Get Background Information
Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, you may want to find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic.
For background information on your subject, you can consult reference books (eg. dictionaries, directories, handbooks), located on the 2nd Floor, Reference or in the stacks as "Non-Circ".
Ryerson Library Book Collection
Most books on the Spanish language are located in the PC4001 - PC4900 call number range, books on Spanish literature PQ6001 - PQ7079.2 call number range, and books on Spanish American literature PQ7081 - PQ8929 call number range, all on the 9th floor. If you do not have a specific author or title of a book, and you do not know the Library of Congress Subject Heading, search the Library Catalogue by keyword.
Reference books (eg. dictionaries, directories, handbooks) on are located on the 2nd Floor, Reference and on the stack floors. Some useful reference works for Spanish are:
Cambridge Encyclopedia of Latin America and the Caribbean (1992) F1406 .C36 1992
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures (2000) F1406 .E515 2000
Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (1996) F1406 .E53 1996
Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature (1997) PQ7081.A1 E56 1997
Encyclopedia of Mexico (1997) F1204 .E5 1997
Handbook of Latin American Literature (1992) PQ7081.A1 H36 1992
Latin America: a Political Dictionary (1992) F1406 .R67 1992
South America, Central America and the Caribbean (2005) F1408.29 .S68
Ryerson Library Audio Visual Collection
AV materials are located on the 5th floor, and are listed in the Library Catalogue.
Find Journal Articles Using Periodical Databases
Ryerson Library Periodicals Collection
Periodicals generally provide information that is in-depth and focused, usually from a contemporary point of view. Periodicals may be academic/scholarly, popular or trade publications.
Print Periodicals (journals, magazines)are located on the 5th floor, and are listed by title in the Library Catalogue.
The Library provides electronic access to the full-text of a large number of journals. These electronic journals, as well as our print journals, are listed in Journals by Title A-Z.
To Find Articles On Specific Topics Within Journals,You Should Use Periodical Databases.
Web Access to Databases :
The Ryerson Library has a large array of databases (which may be indexes, abstracts or full-text) on a wide range of subjects, accessed through the Library Homepage. (www.library.ryerson.ca).
Connecting from on-campus: Click on Articles and Indexes, then click on Find articles by Subject . Click on Arts & Humanities or Multi-Disciplinary. Click on the appropriate database to connect or for a description of the database.
Connecting from off-campus: To get access to Library resources from off-campus, consult the Remote Access instructions on the Library's homepage.
The following are some of the remote databases useful for research in Spanish:
MLA Bibliography
The MLA Bibliography, produced by the Modern Languages Association of America, is the fundamental research tool for the humanities. The database is an index of international scholarly materials on modern language, literature, linguistics, and folklore. The citations are from over 4,000 journals and series, monographs, working papers and conference proceedings.
Project Muse
Project Muse provides online international subscription access to the full text of over 100 scholarly journals in the fields of literature and criticism, history, the visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, political science, gender studies, mathematics and many others.
Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index)
Web of Science covers over 8,000 international journals in the sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. Through ISI Links, the Web of Science also offers navigation to electronic full-text journal articles, genetic information, and chemical and patent databases. Included are these citation databases: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)--1998-present; Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)--1998-present; Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI)--1998-present.
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier provides full text for 1,360 academic, social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multi-cultural journals. In addition to the full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for 2,920 journals. Nearly 1,770 journals are peer reviewed.
For effective searching of the above electronic databases Boolean search strategy should be used.
Evaluate Your Sources
Peer Reviewed/Scholarly Journals
Evaluating Internet Resources
Cite Your Sources And Use A Standard Format For Your Bibliography
Understanding Citations
It is important to cite all your sources and use a standard format for your bibliography.
Format the citations in your bibliography using examples from sources such as the Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) standards. These are available on the Web. Check Preparing a Bibliography.
Handouts of these formats are also available from the Writing Centre L266A or in print in the Ryerson Library book collection.
MLA Style Manual and guide to scholarly publishing
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
To cite electronic or Internet resources in your bibliography, check Citing Electronic Resources
Search The Web For Resources
You can also check out the Web for additional resources, but be sure to follow Evaluating Source.
Ryerson Library Subject Guides: The Ryerson Library is in the process of developing subject guides to resources on the Internet and in the Library.
Subject Classified Directories: Subject Classified Directories are collections of hyperlinks to WWW resources arranged by subject headings: (eg Health, Science, Arts and Humanities, etc.). To get to Subject Classified Directories, from the Ryerson Library Homepage (www.library.ryerson.ca), click on Research Guides, then click on Search the Internet.
Search Engines: Search Engines are designed to search for information available on the WWW using keywords, search commands or search languages specific to the individual search engine being used.
Other Internet Resources
Associations and Institutions
Dictionaries
Electronic Texts
News Sources
Spanish Studies
Spanish Language Authors
Spanish Language Studies
Spanish Literature Studies
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