MONT 199Q-F05: Nuclear Weapons & Human Limits (Linder)

CrossSearch is a one-stop search tool that lets you search most of the informational resources available through the library, including:

• Books, ebooks, archival materials, media and music scores owned by the Holy Cross Libraries.
• Research databases like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, ARTstor and ProQuest Central.
• E-journal collections like JSTOR and ScienceDirect.
• The Holy Cross digital repository CrossWorks.
• Open Access collections such as HaithiTrust Digital Library

CrossSearch looks in many different places and for many different types of sources. In one search, you might find results for academic journal articles, books in the library’s collection, films, newspaper articles, and more. This can be a good place to start if you want to find a broad scope of the resources available on your topic. However, because CrossSearch includes so many types of resources, you might find you need to filter these results more than you would in a more specific database.

CrossSearch is best accessed through the library home page (www.holycross.edu/academics/libraries).

About Databases

A database is a collection of information that is arranged and tagged for easy searching and retrieval. Think of a database like an online storage container: It stores different publications, journals, books, magazines, and newspapers and makes it possible for you to access them. The library subscribes to over 300 databases that are available for Holy Cross students to use. Visit our A-Z Databases list to see what is available.

General Databases

General databases include information and journals that cover many subjects and academic fields. These can be a good place to start if you’re not sure what subject your topic falls under, if your topic is interdisciplinary and falls under multiple subject areas, if you want to see perspectives from different fields about your topic, or if you simply want to find general information.

To find general databases, go to the A-Z Database List. In the dropdown menu labeled "Subjects," select "_General" and click "Search." You will see a list of general databases, with some highlighted as "Best Bets." Some general databases are listed below.

Subject Databases

Subject databases include journals and publications from a specific academic field. They may include a number of different publications, but they are all within the same academic area. These can be helpful if you want to look at one specific subject or field. They tend to bring back more focused results with publications in that subject area.

To find subject databases, go to the A-Z Database List. In the dropdown menu labeled "Subjects," select your subject area and click "Search."

History Databases

Religious Studies Databases

Library Catalog

Use the Library Catalog to find print books, print journals, and ebooks in the library's collection. Access the Library Catalog search through the library home page (https://www.holycross.edu/library). Above the search bar, select "Library Catalog." To use more advanced searching options, click on the "My Library Account" link below the search bar to go directly to the catalog, where you can search by keyword, title, subject, or call number. 

Books on the shelves are organized by call number. A call number is an address for a book that tells you where the book is located on the shelf. Call numbers identify different subject areas, so books with similar call numbers will cover similar subjects. This way, when you find a book on the shelf, you know the books around it are on similar topics.

When you look up a book in CrossSearch or the Library Catalog, you will see the call number listed with the book details.

You can download a map of the Dinand Library stacks below.

Science Library

Books with call numbers that start with Q, R, S, and T (except TR) are shelved in the Science Library. These include the subjects Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Agriculture, and Technology. When you find one of these books in the catalog, the location will say Science Library.

The link below includes a map of the Science Library stacks. 

Primary Source Databases

Some library databases focus on primary (historical) sources. To access these, go to the A-Z Database List. Click on the "Types" dropdown menu at the top of the page. Select "Primary Sources," then click "Search." You will see a list of databases that have primary sources. Each one includes a description and a date range covered, which can help you decide if it will have information relevant to your topic. 

Note: In the sciences, "primary sources" refer to scientific studies conducted by the authors of a paper. Some databases that appear in this search will be in the science fields. To be more specific about historical sources, you can also select the dropdown menu for "Subject" and choose "History," then click "Search." This will show you databases that include primary sources in the field of history.

Historical Newspapers

Newspapers and magazines can be useful primary sources, as they show a clear snapshot of a period of time. Below are some suggested databases for historical newspapers. You can also find them by selecting "Newspapers & Magazines" from the "Types" dropdown menu in the A-Z Database list. Pay attention to the dates listed below the database title. This will tell you if the database includes the time period you are studying.

Suggested Primary Source Databases

Some suggested databases for historical primary sources are included below.