Books can give you an overview of your topic. You do not necessarily have to read the entire book, just enough to support your assignment. Many of our (print) books will have a link to the table of contents or summary of what the book is about to help you determine if it will be useful. For e-books, you can download individual chapters or entire books (depending on what ebook database you are using).
Locate print books in the library stacks (shelves) Books that begin with call no. A-K are on the third floor, books that begin L-Z are on the fourth floor.
If you have a specific title or author you are looking for, use the library catalog to locate books or media (e.g. DVD's) on your topic. Go to the catalog from the main library webpage at the tab, or use the box below, to search for books.
MeLCat
For books not owned by the library, try MeLCat.MeLCat is a service where you can borrow books from libraries, both academic and public throughout the state of Michigan. Search for your book; if available through MeLCat, press the "Get This!" tab, and follow the instructions to make your request. Books will arrive at the our library (you will be notified when it arrives); return materials to our library; we return it to the lending library for you.
Interviews from the Center for the Study of Automotive Heritage's MotorCities Memories Oral History Project. Listen to interviews from the mostly-women Ford factory ("Phoenix") during World War 2, labor union activists Doug Fraser and Tim Foley and more.
Listen to the city's history through the town’s cultural, social, political, musical and automotive heritage (website, 10/18)
Hosted by UM-Dearborn's Professor Tim Kiska. Listen from the website or from Apple Podcasts
Wayne State University Campus
The Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs was established as the Labor History Archives at Wayne State University in 1960, with the goal of collecting and preserving original source materials relating to the development of the American labor movement (website, 10/18).
The Bentley Historical Library collects the materials for and promotes the study of the histories of two great, intertwined institutions, the State of Michigan and the University of Michigan
Encyclopedias and Handbooks
ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND HANDBOOKS
Encyclopedias and handbooks can be useful for an overview of a topic. While you would not use information from an encyclopedia or handbook in a written or oral research or essay paper, you can use them to get information on a topic you are not familiar about, or want to learn more about it before you start your paper.