Skip to Main Content

POLS 023: Slavery and its Legacy for US Politics (SC)

Political Science 23: Slavery and its Legacy for US Politics - Schwartz (Spring 2024)

Get Help with Research

You can get help with finding primary and secondary sources, citations, and organizing your research.

Simon Elichko (they/them)
Social Sciences & Data Librarian

Help with Archival Sources

Celia Caust-Ellenbogen (she/her)
Associate Curator, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Library How-To: Get free access to books and articles

The libraries provide you with millions of books and articles that you can read for free. Follow these instructions to find what you need.

Find an article 

Bagby, Laurie M. Johnson. “The Use and Abuse of Thucydides in International Relations.” International organization 48, no. 1 (1994): 131–153.
 

  1. Search Tripod for the article's title. 
  2. Do you see a match for the article in Tripod?

Find a book

Khong, Yuen Foong. Analogies at War : Korea, Munich, Dien Bien Phu, and the Vietnam Decisions of 1965. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1992.

  1. Search for the book title in Tripod.  (example: Debating the Democratic Peace)
  2. Click on the result to view the full record page.  (example)
    Tripod will give you information about how to get the book, whether it's available online or there's a print copy at the library.

 

Find a Book Chapter

Mahoney-Norris, Kathleen A., and Derek S. Reveron, 'Climate Change and Environmental Security', in Derek S. Reveron, Nikolas K. Gvosdev, and John A. Cloud (eds), The Oxford Handbook of U.S. National Security. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190680015.013.33

  1. Search Tripod for the book in which the chapter is published - in this case, Oxford Handbook of US National Security.
  2. Click to view the full record. For this book, there's online access and a print copy you could request from Haverford.

Tripod tells you how to get books, articles, and other materials through the library.

Understanding Tripod instructions for getting a book:

  • View Online
  • Get a Physical Copy
    • You can borrow books from the library for free. Look up the book in Tripod, then look under "Get It" to find the shelf location.
    • In the screenshot below, this book's shelf location code is highlighted in blue:
    • screenshot of tripod page for a book
       
    • How do you use the shelf location to find your book?
      • Shelf location code:  Swarthmore McCabe Library Available, Stacks ; E841 .F86 1997
      • Swarthmore McCabe Library Available, Stacks
        • You can find a copy of the book on the shelf at McCabe Library.
      • E841 .F86 1997
        • E bookshelves are on the lower level of McCabe. (Check signs by the stairs and elevator.)
        • On the lower level, find the E bookshelves. Then look for the shelf that includes E 841.
        • Walk down that aisle. Look for books labeled "E841 F86."
      • When you find the book, take it to the front desk in McCabe to check it out (borrow it) for the semester.
         
    • Do you have to find the book yourself?
      • You're welcome to, but you don't have to. Here are two other options.
      • Ask for help -- Library staff can help you find your book. Don't be shy, ask at the front desk.
      • Request the book -- You can have the book brought to the front desk for you. You'll get an email when it's ready, usually within a day.
        • How to request a book: Sign into Tripod, then click Request Physical Item. Choose McCabe from the list and submit.
           
    • Other common shelf locations:
      • McCabe Reserves
        • These books are shelved behind the front desk at McCabe. Ask for the book to borrow it. Borrowing time may be limited
      • Honors Reserves
      • Haverford or Bryn Mawr
        • Books at Bryn Mawr and Haverford can be delivered you at McCabe within 1 day.
        • To request a TriCo book, sign into Tripod, then click Request Physical Item. (example TriCo book)

How to get a book that's not available in Tripod:

  1. Login to EZBorrow. Search for your book and request a copy. (takes ~1 week to arrive, usually)
  2. Can't find the book in EZBorrow? Fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request form. (~1-2 weeks to arrive, usually)

 

How to get an article or book chapter (PDF) that's not available in Tripod:

  1. Double-check Tripod availability. For an article, try searching for the journal title (not the article). For a chapter, try searching for the book (not the chapter).
  2. If we don't have access, place an Article Delivery Request or a Book Chapter Request. You'll get a PDF by email. (2 days or less, usually)

Use the red chat button in Tripod to get quick help.

  • If you're prompted for your name and a question, there's a librarian or RIA available to help.

Email librarian@swarthmore.edu.

  • During the week, you should get a response back within a few hours (often faster).

Stop by the McCabe Research & Information Desk to ask.

  • Librarians and RIAs staff this desk. There's usually someone there from 11am-10pm M-Th.

 

Slides from class