College of DuPage Library

Citizenship Information

This guide provides a list of materials available at the library and online for individuals interested in becoming a citizen of the United States. For more information on the rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Website.

  1. At the Library
  2. Online Library Resources
  3. Helpful Websites

United States Citizenship Resources


Study Guides

The following titles are available for check out with a COD Library Card. General books are located on the second level of the Library (3rd floor of the SRC) and Reference books are located on the main level of the Library (2nd floor of the SRC).

Books
Audiobooks
Bilingual Videos


Reference Works

  • The Almanac of American Politics. Reference JK1010 .B26 2014
  • The Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America. Reference JC599.U5 E53 2005
  • The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. General E169.1 .H614 2002 & Online
  • Our United States geography : our regions and people. General E161.3 .V35 1994

    • Ebook and Practice Tests

    Learning Express Library
    http://codlrc.org/database/483
    Learning Express provides citizenship materials that include:

    • Citizenship practice tests
    • The “Pass the U.S. Citizenship Exam” ebook
    • The “Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Green Card” ebook
    • Libro digital: "Guía de Ciudadanía/Naturalización en U.S.A."
    • Libro digital: "Pasa el Examen de Ciudadanía Americana, 3ra Edición"

    To access the Citizenship resources, click the above link and choose "Adult Learning Center"; then click the "Become a U.S. Citizen" icon.
    You can use Learning Express Library anytime and anywhere with your COD Library card.

    Websites

    Use the websites below for additional information on the Citizenship test and resources to help study for it.

    Becoming a U.S. Citizen: An Overview of the Naturalization Process
    This video provides a general overview of the naturalization process, including where to find immigration information and the general requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen.

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Learners Page
    Educational resources such as study guides and information sessions for those interested in the process of citizenship through naturalization.

    Civics Flash Cards
    Download and print these flashcards to study for the civics test.

    Study Materials for the English Test
    Includes videos, study booklets, flash cards and practice tests. The English test measures an applicant's ability to speak English and is administered by an officer from USCIS.

    Celebrate Ada Lovelace

    Ada

    adalovelace.jpg

    Check out this biographical information on Ada Lovelace in the Encyclopedia of Computer Science.

    You can also read about Ada Lovelace on the Finding Ada website, which not only describes Ada's life, but also has interesting links to read.

    Women in STEM

    Curious to know more about women's impact on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields? Check the info below.

    Celebrate Ada Lovelace Day with Adafruit.

    Adafruit will share stories of modern and historical women in science and math for 24 hours on Oct 14. Check out previous features (and build up to the current day).

    Read the September 2014 article Paving the Way for More Women in STEM in Forbes.

    You can also browse Q130 and QA 27.5 to find other books on Women and Science and Women and Mathematics.

    Careers in STEM?

    Curious about exploring a career in STEM? The White House has good information for women who are interested in working in these fields.

    You can also check our Career and College Information guides to different STEM careers.

    Questions? Contact Laura Burt-Nicholas.

    Image Credit: William Henry Mote, Portrait of Ada Lovelace, 1838
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    Research Desk

    Research Desk.PNG

    Got Tough Questions?

    Struggling to get that philosophy research project off the ground?

    Not really sure how to discover information about DuPage county for a business class?

    Wondering exactly how to read that scientific article?

    We're here to help.

    Come by the library research desk on the second floor of the SRC. Librarians are willing to work with you to make sure you get the information you need to start the project-- no matter how long it takes.

    Already Used the Research Desk?

    Please take our survey to let us know what you thought. (add link after next week's assessment meeting)

    Chicago Region

    1. Citing Sources
    2. Evaluating Sources
    3. Evaluating Resources
    4. Online Videos
    5. Research Fundamentals
    6. Write an Annotated Bibliography
    7. Interlibrary Loan

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    LIBRARY CATALOG

    LIBRARY CATALOG: Search for materials in the COD library or in libraries worldwide.

    List of Guidebooks on Chicago at the COD Library
    Outline of the Library of Congress Classification System (what COD uses to arrange its books)
    I-SHARE (formerly Illinet Online): Get books from over 80 Illinois academic libraries
    Interlibrary Loan, to get books and journal articles from other libraries around the country.
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    REFERENCE BOOKS

    Why Reference Sources?

    Is your research topic too big to cover in a short paper?  Is your topic so specific that sources will be hard to find?

    Before you even begin your research, start the process with reference sources-- in the Library's Reference Section or online in our databases.  Reference books, like subject encyclopedias, can give you a head start and make your research easier in the long run.  Use reference sources to:

    • find a topic
    • narrow your topic
    • find keywords
    • get background information on your topic

    America's Changing Neighborhoods : An Exploration of Diversity through Places.
    Chicago: A Chronological & Documentary History, 1784-1970. General F 548.3 .F 87 1974
    Chicago History Timeline. Online.
    Chicagoland 6-County Atlas. Ready Reference G1049 .C5 A6
    Comparative Guide to American Suburbs. Reference HT 123 .C616
    The Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online and Reference F 548.3 .E53 2004
    Encyclopedia of Urban America: The Cities and Suburbs. Online and Reference HT 123 .E5 1998
    The Directory of Chicago Area Ethnic Organizations and Media. Reference F 548.9 .A 1 D 57 2012
    Encyclopedia of the Chicago Literary Renaissance. Reference PS 285 .C 47 P 56 2004
    Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures. Reference HD 108.5 .E 53 2002
    The Ethnic Handbook: A Guide to the Cultures and Traditions of Chicago's Diverse Communities. Reference F 548.9 .A1 E 87 1996
    The Geography of Illinois. (Douglas Clay Ridgely, University of Chicago Press,1921)
    Illinois Biographical Dictionary. Reference CT 232 .I 448 2008
    Illinois Encyclopedia. Reference F 539 .I 45 2008
    Municipal Codes. Click on the city name to find the municipal code.
    Place Names of Illinois. Reference F 539 .C 35 2009
    Pronunciation Guide for Illinois Place Names. (Donald E. Brown, University of Illinois, 1957)
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    DATABASES

    You must have a valid College of DuPage library card to access the electronic indexes and databases from off-campus.

    Academic OneFile. An index to over 2500 magazines and journals covering a variety of topic areas including Chicago. This database provides references, abstracts, and many times the full-text of articles. A COD library card is required for off-campus use.
    Academic Search Complete. Abstracts from nearly 3000 journals and full text for 1250 journals including general reference, political science, education, social sciences, humanities, general science, multi-cultural studies, library and information science. Try searching for a Chicago neighborhood (e.g. Wicker Park Chicago, or Pilsen Chicago).
    Business Decision. Search for demographic data by address, zip code, and metropolitan area. Create customized neighborhood searches.
    Chicago Tribune Newspaper. Full text of articles from 1989-present.
    Chicago Tribune Historical Database. Digital images of every issue of the Chicago Tribune from 1849-1989.
    Google Scholar. This provides access to many free full-text articles, as well as citations to many other articles.
    National Newspapers (ProQuest). This includes the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
    Sanborn Digital Insurance Maps. These large-scale fire insurance maps, covering 1867-1970, can be used to study trends in the development of cities and neighborhoods in Illinois.
    SocIndex with Full-Text (1974-present). References & abstracts for journals for articles on diversity and trends in city demographics.

    More COD Library journal and newspaper article databases.
    Explanation of Scholarly Journals
    Explanation of the Difference Between Magazines and Journals
    How to Read a Research Article
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    CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

    Chicago is a huge and ethnically diverse city that has long been divided into many diverse neighborhoods, which are officially known as Chicago Community Areas (CCA's). The Community Areas all have numbers assigned to them by the city government, although these numbers are usually not mentioned in journal or news articles. You need to know the number of the community area in order to do effective research in many databases and reference publications. Click on this link to see a map of the Chicago Community Areas.

    Chicago Community Areas
    What is a Neighborhood?
    What is an Ethnic Neighborhood?

    REFERENCE BOOKS

    America's Changing Neighborhoods : An Exploration of Diversity through Places.
    Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs: A Historical Guide. Reference F 548.18 .K 43 2008
    The Chicago 77: A Community Area Handbook. Reference F 548.6 .Z 36 2014
    Chicagoland 6-County Atlas. Ready Reference G1049 .C 5 A6
    The Directory of Chicago Area Ethnic Organizations and Media. Reference F 548.9 .A 1 D 57 2012
    The Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online and Reference F 548.3 .E5 3 2004
    The Ethnic Handbook: A Guide to the Cultures and Traditions of Chicago's Diverse Communities. Reference F 548.9 .A1 E 87 1996

    DATABASES

    Business Decision. Search for demographic data by address, zip code, and metropolitan area. Create customized neighborhood searches.
    Chicago Tribune Newspaper. Full text of articles from 1989-present.
    Chicago Tribune Historical Database. Digital images of every issue of the Chicago Tribune from 1849-1989.
    Sanborn Digital Insurance Maps. These large-scale fire insurance maps, covering 1867-1970, can be used to study trends in the development of cities and neighborhoods in Illinois.

    WEBSITES

    Business Loans in the Chicago Region: Access to Credit. Fact sheet from the Woodstock Institute listing business loans by race and area.
    Catalog of Administrative Data Sources for Neighborhood Indicators. A guide to using data from a variety of sources to create neighborhood profiles. Urban Institute 2007.
    Census 2010: Chicago. Data from the U. S. Census includes links to the American Community Survey as well as demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics.
    Chicago Community Area 2000 Census Profiles. Maps as well as data on racial demographics, income, and educational level for the 77 community areas.
    Chicago Community Areas. Map of the 77 Chicago Community Areas.
    Chicago Police Crime Statistics. Search for weekly as well as historical statistics by District Number.
    City of Chicago Police Districts and Community Areas.This map shows the 77 Chicago Community Areas overlaid with an outline of the police districts.
    Illinois Congressional District Demographic Profiles. Search by Congressional District Number to get data on sex, age, race, and ancestry for that district.
    Metro Chicago Immigration Fact Book. 2003 Roosevelt University Institute for Metropolitan Affairs publication.
    The Newberry Library Chicago Neighborhood Guide. A bibliography covering books, articles, maps and websites for the Chicago neighborhoods.
    Radical Cartography: Chicago Boundaries. Dot mapping technique shows the racial transition in Chicago from 2000 to 2009, with an overlay of the CCA boundaries.
    Young Children in Chicago. Statistical data on children, ages 0-5, in the 77 Chicago neighborhoods.
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    CHICAGO AREA GOVERNMENT WEB SITES AND INFORMATION

    What is a Metropolitan Area?

    Chicago Area Congressional Districts. Enter your address to find your U.S. senator and representative.
    Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA)
    Chicago Landmarks. Search for Chicago landmarks by district or building name on this City of Chicago website.
    Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Data and reports on livability, mobility and the economy.
    Chicago Urban League
    City of Chicago Website
    Cook County Website
    DuPage County Website
    Illinois and U.S. Representatives. Search by address to find your representatives.
    Lake County, Illinois QuickFacts from the U.S. Census
    State and Local Government on the Net. Search thousands of state agencies as well as city and county governments.
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    CHICAGO AREA MAPS AND ATLASES

    An Atlas of Biodiversity : Chicago Wilderness, A Regional Nature Reserve. Reference QH 105 .I 3 S 95 1997
    Chicago Community Areas. Map of the 77 Chicago Community Areas.
    Chicago: Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Interactive and downloadable maps for the city of Chicago.
    Chicago, Illinois, and Regional Demographics and Maps. This Governors State University Library website has links to detailed information on Chicago geography, census reports, and demographics.
    Chicago in Map: 1612 - 2002.. General F 548.3 .H 96 2005
    Chicago Transit Authority. Online route maps for buses, METRA, and the "EL."
    Chicagoland 6-County Atlas. Ready Reference G 1049 .C 5 .A 6 2003
    City of Chicago Police Districts and Community Areas.This map shows the 77 Chicago Community Areas overlaid with an outline of the police districts.
    Cook County, Illinois: Maps and Gazeteers. Extensive collection of historical maps for Cook County.
    Illinois Digital Map Library. Digitized county maps, mostly from the 1800's, sponsored by the U.S. Genealogy Web Project.
    Illinois Historic Maps. From the University of Texas map collection.
    Old Maps Online: Chicago Area. Digitized historical maps of the Chicago area from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.
    Radical Cartography: Chicago Boundaries. Dot mapping technique shows the racial transition in Chicago from 2000 to 2009, with an overlay of the CCA boundaries.
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    CHICAGO AREA STATISTICS

    Business Loans in the Chicago Region: Access to Credit. Fact sheet from the Woodstock Institute listing business loans by race and area.
    Catalog of Administrative Data Sources for Neighborhood Indicators. A guide to using data from a variety of sources to create neighborhood profiles. Urban Institute 2007.
    Census 2010: Chicago. Data from the U. S. Census includes links to the American Community Survey as well as demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics.
    Center for Disease Control SNAPS. County data from the Center for Disease Control, including number of immigrants, ethnicity, country of origin for immigrants, languages spoken, heating fuel, and disability statistics. Pick the state and then the county.
    Chicago and Cook County, Illinois - Digital Atlas
    Chicago Community Area 2000 Census Profiles. Maps as well as data on racial demographics, income, and educational level for the 77 community areas.
    Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Click on the DATA tab for demographic, land use, and transportation data.
    Chicago Police Crime Statistics. Search for weekly as well as historical statistics by District Number.
    City of Chicago Data Portal. Browse or search historical as well as current data on the city of Chicago, including current employee names and salaries, building permits, and crimes.
    Cities Ranked and Rated.Reference HT 123 .C585
    CityData.com. Statistics by city, including housing, income, and racial distribution.
    Cook County QuickFacts from the U.S. Census
    Cook County Statistical Abstract
    Demographia. Wide range of Chicago data including commuter information, growth rate, and population density. Compiled by Wendell Cox Consultancy.
    DuPage County QuickFacts from the U.S. Census
    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Statistics and information for Chicago and other midwest cities.
    Illinois Congressional District Demographic Profiles. Search by Congressional District Number to get data on sex, age, race, and ancestry for that district.
    Local Community Fact Book: Chicago Metropolitan Area: Based on the 1970 and 1980 Censuses. Reference and General HA 730 .C5 L63 1984
    Metro Chicago Immigration Fact Book. 2003 Roosevelt University Institute for Metropolitan Affairs publication.
    SAGE STATS database
    Statistical Abstract of the United States. Ready Reference and General HA 202 .U5 S93
    Young Children in Chicago. Statistical data on children, ages 0-5, in the 77 Chicago neighborhoods.
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    DUPAGE COUNTY INFORMATION

    The general call number for books about DuPage County is F 547 .D9.

    DuPage County Cultural and Historical Sites Inventory. Reference F 547 .D 9 D 87 1996
    DuPage County Historical Museum. This library, located in Wheaton, has a large collection of DuPage County history books as well as plats of survey for the county.
    DuPage County QuickFacts from the U.S. Census
    DuPage County Website
    DuPage Roots. A history of DuPage County. Online and Reference F 547 .D 9 T 49x 1985
    Family Maps of DuPage County, Illinois: With Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Reference F 547 .D 9 B 69 2007
    History of DuPage County, Illinois. (1874) by Rufus Blanchard
    A History of the County of DuPage, Illinois. (1857) by C.W. Richmond. Reference F 547.D 9 H 578 2010
    Inventory of Historical Landmarks in DuPage County: Interim Report. Reference F 547 .D 9 I 5 1974
    The Phoenix Land: The Natural History of DuPage County. General QH 105 .I 3 L 3 1995
    Wheaton Public Library. The Wheaton Public Library has a large collection of local history resources.
    Other local libraries in the county may have information on their towns. A list of public libraries in DuPage County can be found here: DuPage County Libraries
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    OTHER RESEARCH GUIDES

    Anthropology (with a section of resources on Ethnic and Culture groups)
    Criminal Justice
    Economics
    Food and Culture
    Geography
    History
    Political Science
    Race and Racism
    Social Problems
    Statistics for Demographics and Business/Economics
    Urban Studies

    Help Celebrate Banned Books Week 2014!

    banned books week.jpg

    Think the days of people trying to limit what you can read are over?

    Think again. Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom puts together a list of the 10 most challenged books in this country. A challenge is defined as a request that a library remove a book from its shelves. In 2013 alone, the Office of Intellectual Freedom reports 307 books were challenged.

    Want to know more? Check out the American Library Association's graphics depicting reasons for book challenges, the people most likely to challenge a book, and types of institutions most likely to receive a challenge from 1990-1999 and 2000-2009.

    One Challenge Highlighted

    In Fall 2013, parents in a Minnesota school district protested the choice of Eleanor and Park as the High School Summer Read project, objecting to the language, plot, and theme of the book.

    Curious to see for yourself? Read the book.

    Other Resources:

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    Biology 1110: Patwardhan

    Green_ash_killed_by_Emerald_Ash_Borer.jpg
    Welcome! Click on a tab below to find books, articles, and websites for use in this course.

    You'll need a College of DuPage Library card in order to use most of the resources below from off campus. If your card is not working, it may need to be reactivated.

    Questions? Feel free to use my contact info to the right, stop by the Reference Desk, or contact us by email or chat

    Image Credit: "Green ash killed by Emerald Ash Borer" by Forest Service, USDA Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
    1. Pick a Topic
    2. Find Articles
    3. Read a Research Article
    4. APA Citations

    Getting Started: Finding (and Narrowing) a Topic

    Have a glimmer of a topic that you'd like to work on? Great! You'll want to work to narrow that topic a bit before you dive into the catalog and databases, or you will be swamped with results. You can try the following strategies to narrow a topic:

    • Visit CQ Researcher, a library database that summarizes current events into massive PDFs.
    • Gale Virtual Reference Library has got great entries on many of your topics.
    • Issues and Controversies will help you to figure out opposing viewpoints on many environmental issues, such as genetically modified organisms or nuclear power.
    • While you would never cite Wikipedia, you can use the references at the bottom of the entry to start your search.
    • Finally, doing an all-purpose google search can give you hints about what words to use when searching.

    Still Drawing a Blank?

    audobon magazine.PNG

    The College of DuPage library has several print magazines/journals that you can browse through for inspiration. For example, try looking at headlines in:

    • American Forests
    • Mother Earth News
    • Audubon
    Recent magazines and periodicals are located on the second floor of the SRC, behind the reference desk.

    Finding Articles in Databases

    Scientific research can be best found in academic databases. Here are the top two databases to look for information.

    Academic Search Complete has a mixture of popular and scholarly articles on a variety of subjects. You'll want to be sure that you're using a source appropriate for class when searching.

    Science Direct is a database of only scholarly scientific articles. Be sure to select "Subscribed Journals" while searching.

    Academic OneFile is a great place to find a mixture of scientific and popular articles as well. Just like in Academic Search premier, make sure that you're using a good source for this project while searching.

    See the full list of biology databases.

    Distinguishing a Research Article From a Popular Article

    Worried that you might be reading a trade article from a scholarly article, or a review article from a scientific research article?

    Start by looking for the distinctive markers of a scholarly article: are the authors' degrees or university affiilations listed? Do you see an abstract? How about charts, tables, graphs?

    Once you are certain that you are looking at a scholarly article, make certain that your article is a scientific research article, by looking for the following distinctive sections:

    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Method
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Conclusion
    • References or Works Cited

    Some of these sections may be merged with other sections, have slightly different names, or may not be labeled, but all should be present in one way or another.

    Confused? Take a look at page one of a scholarly article below:

    Scholarly Article

    scholarly article marked.png
    Notice the following:

    1. The authors list a university affiliation
    2. The abstract is right in the center of the page
    3. The (unmarked) introduction

    Want to take a closer look? Cladophora (Chlorophyta) spp. Harbor Human Bacterial Pathogens in Nearshore Water of Lake Michigan is a research article found on PubMedCentral, the government-sponsored free article database. You can use this as a model scholarly research article.

    Having Trouble Reading Your Article?

    • Check out this handy guide to reading scholarly articles.
    • Remember that you can use reference databases to explain words or concepts that you're unfamiliar with. Try searching Credo or Gale to start.

    APA Citations

    Find directions about how to cite your sources on the library citation guide.

    Most databases will have a Cite link that you can also click to get article citations.

    Finally, you are welcome to use NoodleBib if you'd like to use a program to create and organize your citations. You must "Create a New Folder" when you use NoodleBIB for the first time. Click on "I am citing a(n):," choose the type of item you are citing, and then fill in the online form. Your bibliography will be formatted for you.

    Further questions about APA style? Check out Purdue OWL, which has a detailed APA citation style guides.

    Chicago On Foot and in Pictures

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    Feel like getting out to explore before the cold winter sets in? Enjoy a city tour!

    Stop by the third floor display case (by the music collection) to see a collection of books about Chicago tours, the city, the architecture, and even exploring with kids!

    Image Credit: J. Crocker, Loop Skyline From the Lakefront, Chicago, IL, USA
    1. Books
    2. Websites

    Library Books on Display:

    • Around Chicago with Kids F 548.18 .A7 2000
    • Peaceful Places Chicago F 548.18 .F68 2011
    • Norman Mark’s Chicago F548.18 .M33 1993
    • Not for Tourists Guide to Chicago F 548.18 .N63 2013
    • Chicago City of Neighborhoods F 548.18 .P33 1996
    • Chicago Off the Beaten Path F 548.18 .T47 2002
    • Time Out Chicago F 548.18 .T563 2013
    • Secret Chicago F 548.18 .W44 2002
    • Chicago a Pictorial Celebration F 548.3 .C47 2006
    • Chicago F 548.37 .I78 1986
    • Sidewalks F 548.37 .K64 2006
    • Chicago’s Historic Hyde Park F548.68 .H9 D38 2013
    • Chicago’s South Side F 548.9 .N4 M55 2000
    • AIA Guide to Chicago NA 735 .C4 A43 1993
    • Chicago On Foot NA 735 .C4 B32 1987
    • Chicago’s Famous Buildings NA 735 .C4 C4 2003
    • City by Design Chicago NA 735 .C4 C58 2008
    • Chicago In and Around the Loop NA 735 .C4 W67 2004
    Not seeing what you want? Try browsing in the following areas:
    F 548 (Chicago History & Culture)
    NA 735 (Architecture)

    Websites

    Interested in learning more? The following websites might help:

    The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers both boat and walking tours throughout the city.

    You have a couple of options if you have both a sweet tooth and a zest for exploration.

    You can plan a bike tour or stick with a company one.

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    Spanish Language

    Welcome to the Spanish Language Research Guide

    Click on a tab below to find books, videos, articles, and websites for use in studying the Spanish language.

    If you need additional help, please contact the Foreign Languages Librarian or stop by the Reference Desk. You can also get help from our online reference service: Ask A Librarian.


    Everything is in Google, right? Why do I have to use library books and databases? Click here to find out!

    Everything is on the Internet, right? No.

    Newspapers (mostly) in Spanish.
    Contrary to popular opinion, there are millions of books and articles whose content is not freely available on the open web.

    As we all know the Internet contains an incredible amount of useful information. Conversely, it also has a lot of information that is not credible, reliable or well-informed. Some information on the web are blatant lies, or half-truths published in order to support a particular belief or opinion. (For more information on learning how to distinguish the good, bad and ugly on the Internet, see The CRAP Test to learn how to evaluate websites.

    Using resources available through the Library will save you time and frustration, and undoubtedly will lead you to producing higher-quality work.

    Types of Resources:

    Reference Materials:

    Use reference materials, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries to get background information and a basic understanding of your topic.

    Book & Journal Articles:

    Books and journal articles provide a more focused examination of the topic. Again, most books and articles found in the Library's databases are written by experts.

    1. Books & Videos
    2. Databases & Journals
    3. Websites
    4. Local & Government Information
    5. Vocabulary

    Finding Books

    Use the COD Library's book catalog en espanol to find books & videos. Use the search fields to combine multiple search terms and limit your results by material type (book, video), date, or language. You'll need a current library card to check out books.

    Searching for Spanish language books and films

    The Library has a number of Spanish language films in both VHS and DVD formats. Also, many American produced movies in the DVD format have alternate soundtracks in Spanish. To locate Spanish language films in the library, try the following search terms:

    • "foreign language films" AND spanish
    • "spanish language films"
    • "feature films, spain"
    • "feature films, mexico"

    The Library also has a number of Spanish readers, books in Spanish, and bilingual Spanish-English books to read. Try the following search terms in the library catalog:

    • "spanish language readers"
    • "spanish language materials" AND bilingual
    • "spanish language materials" AND fiction
    • "spanish language materials" AND poetry
    Searching for books about the history and culture of Spanish speaking countries

    Some suggested searches include searching by country. There are other subheadings that may be of interest too. If you are not finding what you are looking for, contact the Foreign Languages Librarian or stop by the Reference Desk.

    Recommended search terms:

    • [Country] AND history
    • [Country] AND “social life and customs”
    • [Country] AND civilization
    • [Country] AND “intellectual life”
    • [Country] AND “politics and government”
    Recommended Titles

    The series below have books on individual countries. Click on the series titles below to see all books in that series. Books in these series may be checked out of the library.

    I-Share

    I-Share allows you to borrow books from over 80 Illinois academic libraries. You must have a current COD library card, and create an account to request books from an I-Share library.


    E-book Collections

    Most books in these collections can also be located and accessed by searching in the Library's COD Library's book catalog. Under "Format" select "eBook" from the dropdown menu.

    • ebrary

      • Collection contains several books on historical and modern Spain and Latin America, including works on politics, society, economy and the arts. Many e-books can be viewed from your computer or downloaded to your e-book reader. You need to create an account to download e-books to your device.

    • EBSCO e-book collection

      • Find several books on the business and culture of Spain, Mexico, and other Spanish speaking nations. NOTE: Books can be viewed by single page on a computer, or, can be downloaded to an e-book reader. You'll be prompted to create an EBSCO account. The loan period for e-books is four hours. Books can be renewed after the initial loan period expires.

    • Humanities (ACLS) E-book Collection

      • This resource includes over 1500 full-text, cross-searchable books in the humanities selected by scholars for their continuing importance for research and teaching. This collect covers the history, culture, arts, religion, and customs and society of Spain and Latin America. Pages from this collection can be printed and emailed.

    Project Gutenberg E-books

    Project Gutenberg provides access to many Spanish language books and books on topics such as social life and customs, history, travel, religion and literature in Spain and Latin America. NOTE - these books are in the public domain and are typically over one hundred years old. These books will offer historical context for Spanish-related topics. Many can be read online or downloaded to e-book readers.


    Reference Works

    Reference works, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are useful for learning about background information on a topic.
    Please note that print reference books may be used while in the library only. Online reference books may be accessed from any on or off-campus computer. You'll need a library card to access online books and articles from off-campus.
    Click on the links below to access the online book/website or record/description of the print book.

    Latin American History & Culture

    Art

    Film and Literature

    History, Politics, and Geography

    Society, Culture, and Education

    Spanish History & Culture

    Art

    Film and Literature

    History, Politics, and Geography

    Society, Culture, and Education


    Spanish Language Dictionaries
    • Business Spanish Dictionary - eBook
      Available through Credo Reference. Select "Find a Book" from the horizontal menu.

    • Collins Spanish Dictionary - eBook
      Available through Credo Reference. Select "Find a Book" from the horizontal menu.


    Videos


    Spanish Language Feature Films


    Films on Spain

    Databases & Journals

    The Library subscribes to many databases that provide access to thousands of popular and credible, scholarly journals. Many databases provide access to full-text articles, while some provide information about the article only (citation). Request (for free!) through Interlibrary Loan copies of articles to which the Library doesn't have full-text access.

    What are databases?

    Databases are organized collections of information that you can search on a variety of fields, like title and author's name. iTunes is a database and so is Amazon. Even your contacts list in your phone is a type of mini database. The Library has databases of articles from newspapers, magazines and journals. We also have databases of streaming videos, music and e-books. The difference between our databases and iTunes or Amazon is that our stuff is free for you to use. You can browse the library's databases here: http://codlrc.org/databases

     

    Viewing Databases in Spanish

    Many of our databases, including any EBSCO provided database, can be viewed in languages other than English. Language options are usually located at the very top or bottom of a database page. For assistance changing the language settings for a database, visit any of our reference desks.

    Databases - Best Bets

    • Academic Search Complete

      • Multidisciplinary database covering a wide range of academic areas.

    • Academic OneFile

      • Multidisciplinary database covering a wide range of academic areas.

    • Communication and Mass Media Complete
      This database includes full text for 301 journals in the areas of communication, mass media and speech.

    • CultureGrams
      A reference database of comprehensive information on world cultures.

    • Informe!
      A Spanish-language database that provides indexing, images and full text of popular Hispanic magazines.

    • JSTOR

      • An archive of digitized journal articles ranging in date from the 1700s to the early 2000s. These collections span a variety of subjects in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

    • Medline Plus Consumer Health

      • Provides information from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

    • Newspaper Source

      • Provides full text for 23 national (U.S.) and international newspapers and nearly 200 regional (U.S.) newspapers.

    Spanish Language Magazines

    Evaluating Websites

    Who can publish on the Internet? Anyone. Learn how to evaluate websites on the Library's guide to Evaluating Websites.

    Web Resources

    Translate the Page

    Some of the websites listed below are in Spanish. Chrome web browser does have a language translation function. When Chrome detects that a website is written in a language other than English, Chrome will offer to translate the website. Download Chrome and follow the directions below.
    chrome translation service.jpg
    While the translations at times are not perfect, you will get a general context of the translated text. Be careful not to rely solely on translations made by Chrome or other translating services!


    Latin American History & Culture

    Art

    Film and Literature

    General

    History, Politics, and Geography

    Society, Culture, and Education


    Spanish History & Culture

    Art

    Film and Literature

    History, Politics, and Geography

    Society, Culture, and Education


    Conversational Spanish

    Dictionaries, Grammars, & Other Learning Aides

    Magazines & News

    Searching the Web en Espanol

    • Aprendiendo a Usar la Internet

      • A Spanish language site for beginning internet users. The site includes tutorials, lessons, and links to additional resources to aid users in searching online.

    Spanish Search Engines and Portals

    Spanish Directories / Gateways

    Local & Government Information


    Cultural Experiences

    Instituto Cervantes


    Government Agencies (U.S., Illinois, and Local)

    United States Government

    Illinois Government

    Local Government

    • DuPage County State's Attorney"s Office

      • Select Spanish from the drop down menu at the top-right side of the home page
      505 N. County Farm Rd
      Wheaton, IL 60187
      (630) 407-8000
      Serves: All residents of DuPage County. Spanish spoken,
      Programs: Responsible for prosecuting all criminal acts charged in DuPage county.

    • DuPage Housing Authority

      • Website in English
      711 East Roosevelt Road
      Wheaton, IL 60187
      (630) 690-3555
      Serves: DuPage County. Spanish spoken.
      Programs: Housing assistance to families and elderly.


    Private Organizations (Local)
    • Centro de Informacion

      • 28 N. Grove Ave. Suite 200
      Elgin, IL 60120
      (847) 695-9050
      Serves: DuPage and western Cook County.
      Programs: Counseling, citizenship, education, employment, health care, housing, translating and others.

    • Community Crisis Center

      • P.O. Box 1390
      Elgin, IL 60121-1390
      (847) 697-2380 (24 hour crisis line)
      (847) 697-9740 ("Ayuda" Helpline for Spanish-speaking individuals)
      Serves: Northwest Suburban Cook Co. Spanish spoken.
      Programs: Community Crisis Center provides information, referral, counseling support, suicide intervention and advocacy via the phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

    • Family Resource Center on Disabilities

      • Website mostly in English
      20 E. Jackson Blvd.
      Suite 300
      Chicago, IL 60604
      (312) 939-3519
      Serves: Parents, advocates and family members of children with disabilities. Spanish spoken.
      Programs: Information and referral. Outreach to minority parents. Training sessions on special education rights, advocacy, mediating, family support and negotiating skills.

    • Latin American Chamber of Commerce

      • 3512 W. Fullerton
      Chicago, Illinois 60647
      (773) 252-5211
      Serves: Hispanic and other minority businesses in Chicago and the suburbs.
      Programs: General business consulting.

    • Mexican American Chamber of Commerce

      • 111 West Washington Street
      Chicago, IL 60602-2703
      (312) 855-8783‎
      Serves: Mexican-Americans in Illinois
      Programs: Development of business opportunities.


    Radio Stations

    Spanish language radio stations that can be picked up locally:

      AM

    • 1200 WLXX
    • 1450 WRLL

      • FM

    • 90.7 WRTE
    • 93.5 WVIX
    • 95.5 WNUA
    • 103.1 WVIV

    Spanish language radio stations available via Web broadcasting:


    Study Abroad Experiences at the College of DuPage

    Vocabulario para la investigación en español

    (Spanish Vocabulary for Research)

    El Proceso de Investigación / The Research Process
    Español English
    hacer investigación (en la computadora/red) to do research (on the computer/web)
    hacer una búsqueda (en línea, online) to do a search (online)
    los resultados results
    ampliar/refinar to broaden / narrow (a search)
    evaluar to evaluate
    selccionar to select, choose
    citar to quote, cite
    las fuentes, los recursos sources, resources
    Obras citadas Works Cited


    Los Archivos Bibliotecarios / Bibliographic Records
    Español English
    la base de datos database
    cita bibiográfica bibliographic citation
    booleano, operador boolean, operator
    número de clasificación call number
    registro, archivo record
    encabezamiento (de materia, autor, etc.) (subject, author, etc.) heading
    palabra clave keyword
    el título title
    el/la autor(a) author
    el editor publisher
    la fecha/año de publicación publication date/year
    el tomo volume
    número issue number
    la página (de título/portada) (title) page


    Para Evaluar las Fuentes / Evaluating Your Sources
    Español English
    (no) es útil para… it is (not) useful for…
    actual, reciente current, recent
    culto scholarly
    popular popular
    encontrar to find
    de una fuente fidedigna from a reliable source


    Tipos de Recursos / Types of Resources
    Español English
    el libro book
    la revista magazine, journal, periodical
    el periódico, diario newspaper, daily
    el artículo article
    el ensayo essay
    el discurso speech
    la entrevista interview
    la obra (de consulta) (reference) work
    la guía guide
    el video, disco video, DVD
    un sitio web website
    la página web web page
    el enlace (web) link
    la página principal home page


    En la Biblioteca / In the Library
    Español English
    l/la bibliotecario/a (de consulta) (reference) librarian
    las existencias holdings
    el pedido, pedir the request, to request
    el impreso, la copia printed (material), copy
    imprimir to print
    el texto completo full text
    entrega de documentos document delivery
    tarjeta de la biblioteca library card
    préstamo interbibliotecario interlibrary loan
    sacar to check out
    renovar to renew
    devolver to return
    (estar) vencido to be overdue
    la multa fine


    Vocabulario Adicional / Additional Vocabulary
    Español English
    resumen Abstract
    archivos Archives
    Archivo adjunto Attachment
    Autenticación (de usuarios) Authentication
    bibliografía / literatura citada Bibliography
    operadores booleanos Boolean operator
    Navegador Browser
    Catálogo Catalog
    Disco Compacto CD
    Chat / charlar Chat
    Circulación Circulation
    Vocabulario controlado Controlled vocabulary
    Credencial / tarjeta para fotocopias Copy card
    plataforma de teleformación / plataforma educativa Course management system
    Obras en reserva Course reserve
    descriptor Descriptor
    módem telefónico Dial-up
    Disertación / Tesis Dissertation
    bajar Download
    Libro electrónico E-Book
    Editor Editor
    Reserva electrónica Electronic reserve
    enciclopedia Encyclopedia
    Hardware/maquinaria Hardware
    Acceso alta velocidad High speed access
    Reservar /retener Hold
    Retención de libros Holdings
    Lenguaje de Marcas de HiperTexto HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
    Hipertexto Hyperlink
    Icono; Símbolo Icon
    índice Index
    Mensajería Instantánea Instant messaging (IM)
    Internet / La Red Internet
    Titulo de revista/Revistas Indizadas Journal title
    dispositivo de almacenamiento portátil Key drive
    filtrar Limits/Limiters
    microformatos Microform
    módem Modem
    ratón Mouse
    Multi-medio Multimedia
    Periódico Newspaper
    Catálogo en línea Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
    Formato de Documento Portable PDF
    publicación arbitrada Peer reviewed journal/td>
    fuentes primarias Primary source
    imprimir Print
    Servidor proxy /apoderado Proxy server
    Petición de reserva /reservar Recall
    publicación arbitrada Refereed journal
    Referencia(s) Reference
    conexión remota Remote access
    Renovación de préstamo Renewal
    Reserva /(Reservar) Reserve
    publicación arbitrada/ publicación académica Scholarly
    búsqueda computarizada Search statement/search query
    Fuentes secundarias Secondary sources
    serie Serial
    componentes lógicos Software
    Estantería Stacks
    manual de estilo Style manual
    dispositivo de almacenamiento portátil Thumb drive
    subir Upload
    Localizador Universal de Recursos URL
    identificación de usuario User ID
    Referencia Virtual / Servicio de consulta por internet Virtual Reference
    acceso inalámbrico Wireless
    La Red / Internet World Wide Web
    unidades ZIP / discos ZIP Zip drive/ zip disk Zip
    Tags: 
    Orenic
    Spanish
    language

    Pages

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