Subject Research Guides
Spanish
Note: To search this page for resources that are in the Spanish Language, use the Find function in your web browser (Control+F on a PC, Apple+F on a Mac) and search for Spanish Language Resource.
In this guide:
- Language
- Art and Literature
- History and Culture
- Government, Politics, and News
- Finding Books
- Going Abroad? Doing Qualitative Research?
Getting Help:
Language
We have many Spanish Dictionaries in the Reference collection of the library. They are located in the PC4640 section on the 4th floor of the library.
- New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish
Ref PC4112 .B88 2000
Includes one chapter for each of the major grammatical tasks as well as numerous examples. [Spanish Language Resource] - Diccionario (Spanish-English English-Spanish)
Ref PC4640 .G73 1993
A good, all-purpose dictionary. [Spanish Language Resource] - Latin-American Spanish
Ref PC4822 .G65 2000
Specifically for Latin-American Spanish. [Spanish Language Resource]
Art and Literature
Scholarly Articles
Look here for tips on finding full text articles.
- MLA International Bibliography (1963-present)
The premier database for literary and cultural studies; provides citations to articles dealing with literature, literary criticism, folklore, language, and linguistics. You can limit your search to works written in Spanish, if you wish. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish: - Type "Spanish" into one of the search boxes and select "Language, LA=" from the dropdown box that normally says "Anywhere."
- Search in English (for subject terms) and Spanish (for titles and other citation information).
- Humanities International Complete
Includes cultural studies, literary studies, art and art history, and Spanish studies. All articles will be in English. - Web of Science
Not only can you look for citations of books and articles on your topic, but you can also do a "Cited Reference Search" to find out how many people have cited a particular work or author and what the citing sources are, as well as what citations are contained in a particular work. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Change the dropdown to the right of a search box to "Language" and select "Spanish."
- Enter Search terms in Spanish.
- JSTOR
This includes full text access to many important journals in the field. However, you will probably not be able to find anything published within the last 5 years here. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Select "Spanish" from the Article Language dropdown box.
- Search using Spanish terms
History and Culture
Reference Books
- Historical Dictionary of Modern Spain, 1700-1988
Ref DP 192 .H57 1990
People, places, and events are layed out in alphabetical order in this historical dictionary. Entries range in length from a paragraph to several pages. Most entries also include a "For additional information" section listing books on the entry's topic. - Spanish Culture and Society
Ref DP233.5 .S73 2002
A glossary of terms related to Spanish culture and society, and covering approximately from the end of the Spanish Civil War (1939) to 2002. Also includes a list of thematic categories and their related entries in the beginning of the book (page ix). Entries are brief, and most include a "Further Reading" section. - Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Empire, 1402-1975
REF DP 56 .H57 1992
People, places, and events are layed out in alphabetical order in this historical dictionary. Entries range in length from a paragraph to several pages. Most entries also include a "Reference" section listing books on the entry's topic. - Europa World Plus
Find facts and figures about the countries and territories of the world.
Scholarly Articles
Look here for tips on finding full text articles.
- Historical Abstracts (1954-present)
Covers world history from 1450-present; provides citations to articles dealing with all aspects of history, including cultural and literary history. You may limit your search to works written in Spanish if you wish. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Select "Spanish" from the "Language" option box near the bottom right-hand corner of the main search page.
- Enter search terms in Spanish or English.
- Humanities International Complete
Includes cultural studies, history, and Spanish studies. All articles will be in English. - Web of Science
Not only can you look for citations of books and articles on your topic, but you can also do a "Cited Reference Search" to find out how many people have cited a particular work or author and what the citing sources are, as well as what citations are contained in a particular work. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Change the dropdown to the right of a search box to "Language" and select "Spanish."
- Enter Search terms in Spanish.
Government, Politics, and News
Reference Works
- Europa World Year Book
Ref JN1 .E85 (Ready Reference Shelf)
The article on Spain provides a survey of recent Spanish politics, a statistical survey with population, industry, and finance data, and a directory to major political parties, governmental agencies, and media agencies.
Newspaper & Popular Articles
Look here for tips on finding full text articles.
- Lexis Nexis Academic
To search Spanish news sources click "news" and then select "Spanish Language News, Combined" from the "Select Sources" drop-down box. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Click the "News" tab.
- Select "Spanish Language News, Combined" from the "Sources" dropdown.
- Enter search terms in Spanish.
- Hispanic American Newspapers
Full text of 22 Spanish-language newspapers printed in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries. - Web of Science
Not only can you look for citations of books and articles on your topic, but you can also do a "Cited Reference Search" to find out how many people have cited a particular work or author and what the citing sources are, as well as what citations are contained in a particular work. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:- Change the dropdown to the right of a search box to "Language" and select "Spanish."
- Enter Search terms in Spanish.
- CRL (Center for Research Libraries) Foreign Newspaper Search
We are able to request microfilm sets from CRL. If you find something you want to see, simply fill out an interlibrary loan request. [Spanish Language Resource]
To find articles in Spanish:
- Select a language from the "Language" drop-down box.
- Select "Newspapers" from the "Collection" drop-down box.
- Enter your search terms (in Spanish) and click "Search."
Finding Books
You can find books several ways. For example you can find books:
- By searching Bridge (our online catalog) or WorldCat (a gathering of many library catalogs from around the nation and the world).
- Note: If you are looking for a Spanish Language Resources, you can use this search form to search for only that part of our collection that is in Spanish.
- When you find a book that looks helpful, scroll down the page and look at the "subjects." You can start to collect these standardized subject headings and do searches for other books that are about the same topic. Remember to enter these into a subject search using exactly the same words as you found in your original record. (For more information on subjects, see Subject Headings below.)
- By finding citations to books in reference works or other books you've looked at, journal articles you've read, or even your text books from class. Bibliographies are your friends!
- By browsing the shelves next to books that have been helpful. Our call numbers put books near each other if they are about the same thing, so if you find one really good book look at the ones near it.
Subject Headings
Library of Congress Subject Headings are the words and phrases that you will use to do a Subject search in Bridge (as opposed to a keyword search, where you may use any words you like).
Because subject headings are created according to a specific formula, and because it is unlikely that you will be able to guess what phrases this formula will generate, it is often helpful to do a Keyword search on your topic, and, once you find an appropriate source, examine the subjects (usually found in the middle of the page as you scroll down). You may then conduct a subject search by clicking on the linked subject heading in Bridge. Keeping a list of the phrases you find in the subject headings can help you form more and more complex and effective searches as your research progresses.
- Search "Spanish Literature" to browse a list of relevant subject headings, such as:
- Spanish Literature -- Arab Influences.
- Spanish Literature -- 18th Century -- History And Criticism.
- Note that many Library of Congress subject headings relevant to Spanish literature do not begin with "Spanish literature."
- Popular Culture -- Spain -- History -- 20th Century.
- Spanish Drama -- History And Criticism.
Going Abroad? Doing Qualitative Research?
Check out this book as you plan your research. Or, after you've done your research, use this book to help you determine how to use your information effectively.
- Designing Qualitative Research
REF H62 .M277 2006
There is a particularly helpful table (Table 4.1) on page 133 that summarizes the strengths and uses of different kinds of data collection methods.
This Research Guide By:
Iris M. Jastram- Reference & Instruc. Librarian for Literature and Languages
- x7105
- ijastram@carleton.edu
- Library 463
