Student Library & Technology Essentials

There are three main types of sources you typically encounter in academic research: secondary/academic sources, primary sources and popular/general sources.

Secondary/Academic: Usually are journal articles and books created by scholars or experts in a particular field of study that are found in library databases and resources. These sources provide analytical interpretations and analyses. Sometimes they are referred to as peer-reviewed or scholarly sources.

Primary: Original sources created by individuals or groups directly connected to a time, place, event or subject area. Represent the perspectives and worldviews of their creators and do not represent all voices. Some examples are letters, photographs, original scientific research and material objects.

Popular/General: These sources are created for a wider, non-academic audience. Often they are freely available online. Examples of these include news sources and websites or libraries, museums, governments and other institutions. 

The assignments and research projects you will be working on will determine the types of sources that you will be looking for. Frequently, your professor will require a specific type or types of sources. The more diverse the sources, the richer the research!

Discover the extensive resources available from the Trinity library and beyond in OneSearch. 

This is a great database to start with if you aren't sure exactly what you are looking for and want to see what is out there for information!

In OneSearch you have multiple search options and multiple ways to filter your search results.

Everything Search: search all OneSearch resources, at Trinity and beyond.

Trinity Catalog Search: search resources only available from Trinity's collections. 

Refine my results: limit your search results to items available online or physically accessible in the library or by material types, dates, authors, subjects, languages and more.

In addition to OneSearch, the Library's A-Z Database page is a comprehensive list of all our databases and links to free resources, which will have access to journal articles, eBooks, news sources, primary sources, audio, streaming video, and much more

Additionally, we provide specialized course and subject research guides, and our mini reading list guides, thoughtfully compiled by students, faculty, and librarians. These reading lists span a diverse range of subjects, including Antiracism, Banned and Challenged books, and resources concerning Indigenous communities in the United States.

As a Trinity student, you can access all of these invaluable resources, regardless of whether you're on or off campus.

When on campus, be connected to the eduroam WiFi network for complete access. If you're off campus, make sure you go through the links on the Library's A-Z Database page, where you'll be prompted to enter your Trinity username and password.