The following is some general information about resources and tools to assist researchers in the history of American sport. Many of these materials are available at the University Library. The research process for each researcher will be different, so this guide cannot cover every possibility. Please do not hesitate to contact the Reference staff at 862-1544 or at the Reference Desk on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library should you have any questions regarding your individual research project.
The library's holdings are best accessed through its online catalog, called Triple I (III). This system can be searched by author, title, subject, journal title, or key word. Help in using the online catalog is available onscreen and at the Reference Desk. The library catalog can be accessed from your home or office via the Internet.
You can use the list of Library of Congress subject headings to draw up a list of subject headings related to your topic. These are located in the Reference area on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library. You can also use the"related subjects" entries, the "Show Similar Items" feature on the online catalog, or click on the subject links in the Web version of the catalog to extend your original subject search. Examples of possible subjects include
The University Library's books are arranged by the Library of Congress classification system. In Dimond Library, the general collection is located on Level 4 (A through L call numbers) and Level 5 (M through Z call numbers).
The reference collection not only has general encyclopedias and dictionaries such as the World Book Encyclopedia and Webster's Dictionary,but also has many specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries as well. Other reference works include directories, statistical sources, and bibliographies. Reference works you may find useful for researching topics or looking for information in the history of sport include:
Periodical indexes are generally arranged by subject. Many indexes are subject-specific, while some are very general in nature. Be sure to check the library catalog by searching for the title of the journal to see if the Library has the journals you need and where they are located. In Dimond Library, journals are located on Level 2; current periodicals are arranged by title, bound periodicals are organized by subject and shelved by Library of Congress classification numbers, and periodicals stored on microfiche or microfilm are found in the Microforms Room on Level 2.
Electronic Sources
Many of the Internet-accessible indexes the UNH Library subscribes to are limited to use by UNH faculty, students, and staff. Read these instructions for more information about accessing such restricted databases from outside the library.
While the above indexes are the ones most often used in identifying research materials on sport history, additional online indexes and print indexes are available for other areas of interest such as sports in literature, film, or art, sports management, etc.
The University Library is a federal government depository library, and as such receives many (but not all) publications of the U.S. government. The Documents Department's Reference Desk and reference collection are located on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library with its circulating collection accessible on Level 1. Government documents are organized by the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification scheme which is based on originating agency and document type, rather than on subject like the other library collections.
Many of the library's holdings of federal documents published after 1976 are shown on the online catalog; additional indexes to this material include:
Librarians and staff who specialize in locating and identifying U.S. and international government documents are available to help you at the Documents Reference Desk on the main floor (Level 3) of Dimond Library.
A primary source is firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic. It is typically generated by a participant or witness to an event or action. Such sources include, among other things, diaries, letters, newspapers, magazine articles, tape recordings, pictures, government documents, and maps - with the distinction being that they are composed or authored by some one who saw the activity or event ocurring. Thus, a book or newspaper or magazine article written by Babe Didrikson Zaharias, or by some one who knew or saw Babe Didrikson Zaharias, would be a primary source. Some resources for locating and identifying primary sources on the history of American sport include:
If you allow enough time for your research (i.e. begin your research well in advance of the due date for your paper or presentation), you may be able to take advantage of the library's Interlibrary Loan service to obtain books, journal articles, and other materials not available at the University Library. Interlibrary Loan forms are available online. Please include as much information as you can for each item you request. Interlibrary Loan materials are generally received within 10 days to 4 weeks; the average time is about 2.5 weeks (but can take longer). Undergraduates are limited to six requests (books and articles) per week.
WorldCat allows searching of authors, titles, and subjects across multiple library catalogs. Remote access to this database is limited to UNH students, faculty, or staff. Read these instructions for more information about accessing WorldCat from off campus. Interlibrary loan requests for books not owned by the UNH Library may also be placed through WorldCat.
There is a wealth of information (and sometimes misinformation) available on the WWW. Any researcher must use critical thinking skills to evaluate Web resources just they would any other source, whether in print, on television, or through personal communication. The following listings are just a sample of some sites on the WWW focusing on various topics within the study of sports:
Appropriate citation of sources and references is an important part of the research process. The Reference Department website has a page of links to manuals and guides for various citation styles. Standard style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Associationare also located at the Reference Desk.
Last revised July 7, 2005