Category Archives: Database Tip

Database Tip, Feature Articles, Tips and Tricks

New York Times: Researching the Past

In a recent post Duke University Libraries had the pleasure of announcing that we successfully negotiated an All Access subscription to the New York Times: free for Duke students, faculty and staff.   Now’s a good time to provide an updated list of resources to research past issues of the New York Times newspaper, as well as direct links to the New York Times Magazine and Book Review.

DUL has more than a dozen platforms to access older issues of the New York Times. They include Gale, EBSCO and other publishers, covering various dates with different search interfaces.  This blog post focuses on only five of these research databases. Each of them has unique features which make them attractive to different disciplines, interests and approaches to research.

TimesMachine

Front Page NYT 10/29/1029
The day after Black Tuesday, 1929

Pretend you’re at your kitchen table, smelling newsprint and coffee, crinkling open the New York Times on any morning  in the last 150 years. This is the NYT’s own digital archive. It’s included in Duke’s All Access subscription.   “Over 150 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared.  Browse the newspaper archives, from Volume 1, Number 1 through 2002”.  One can search the archive by subject.  One can also skim the newspapers  by date, and see an entire issue in context.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: New York Times 1851-2019 & ProQuest Recent Newspapers: New York Times 2008 – present.

The advantage of ProQuest Historical and Recent Newspapers New York Times is that they focus the search on the NYT exclusively from these links.   The search results take you straight to the article as it appeared in the newspaper.  The search interface allows one to limit searches to particular kinds of newspaper articles. They are useful for narrowing searches, but also include facets like “birth notices” and “comics”. If those are your search objectives, don’t bother with ProQuest. Contact your librarian for alternatives instead.

Factiva

Duke University Newsstand

Effective databases are constructed to anticipate the thinking of experts who need their information organized in a specific way. Factiva is a product of  Dow Jones,  and a favorite for researchers in business, economics, and related fields. It’s up to the minute. On our special “Duke University Newsstand” splash page, articles trending in the NYT are right next to those trending in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

With the advanced search interface your search statements can be open ended or very precise, so the results can demonstrate your genius. If you need some extra help, see Factiva’s unique search feature, “Query Genius”.

Nexis-Uni

Top Industries affected by blizzards

Originally created as a database for international journalism, law, and corporate research (titled Lexis-Nexis), Nexi-Uni started with one of the most innovative, competitive search engines available.  Its reputation continues, and because of its sophisticated interface it’s compelling for any discipline.  You’ll need to do some digging to get to the Advanced Search specifically for the New York Times.  You can also specify a search by different sections of a newspaper article, like headline, byline or first sentence.

The search results can also be illustrated in graphs.  Results from a search “Blizzards AND Snow” show that Transportation and Defence are the top industries affected such weather events.

New York Times Magazine (Gale Academic OneFile) & New York Times Book Review (Gale Academic OneFile)

Searching NYT Book Review

There are so many different ways to get to each of these titles from the Libraries’ website, with so many variations in limited coverage, you may start thinking “how do I get there from here?” Use these two links in Gale Academic OneFile to go directly to the Magazine and Book Review.  Your search statement will automatically limit to the publication.  The illustration shows the left of the screen where you can search by date.  On the right is a search box which you can use to search by topic.

Another great option is Proquest’s U.S. Newstream, which provides full text PDF options of the Book Review and The Magazine. This option will allow you to replicate the experience of browsing these publications and provide you with images from the publications.

 

Many thanks are in order!  This blog  is an update of three previous posts by two former Duke University Librarians: Cheryl Thomas, and Anna Twiddy.   Ms. Thomas, Librarian for Philosophy and Religious Studies, is now emeritus after decades of service to the Duke University community.  Ms. Twiddy, former Humanities Intern, is now Student Success and Engagement Librarian at the University of Connecticut.

Announcement, Database Tip, Duke researchers, Featured Database, Technology

New EBSCO Interface for Duke Libraries

Post by Abigail Wickes, Electronic Resources Management Librarian

This month a highly used library resource will get a new look for the first time in many years. Duke will be implementing the new EBSCO interface on May 22.

What to expect from the new EBSCO interface

If you compare the old interface (first image) with the new interface (second image) you may observe a familiar layout with some visual simplification and navigation updates.

Old EBSCO interface
New EBSCO interface

One key difference you may notice on the new interface is many new options on the left navigation, some of which used to be in place at the top of the search boxes (such as authorities.) The new EBSCO interface has additional functionality in many areas. One that may be exciting for many users is the introduction of easier linking to EBSCO resources. In the past it was not possible to copy an EBSCO URL directly from the browser and expect to get back to the resource, but this has changed! In the new interface users can copy or bookmark links directly from the browser for future reference with no additional steps required.

Research Tools

When searching on EBSCO, users have some additional helpful features for identifying their topic:

Accessibility

The new EBSCO interface has many accessibility improvements:

FAQ

Q: Will my EBSCO account migrate to the new interface?
A: Yes, EBSCO accounts will migrate from the old interface to the new interface with no action needed by individuals.

Q: Will my saved searches migrate?
A: Yes.

Q: Will my folders migrate?
A: Yes. There were some problems with folder migration for schools that adapted the new interface earlier this year, but that is now mitigated: “Download options will now be presented to personalized users on the new user interface allowing them to replicate their folder structure in Classic without losing their data.”

Q: Will my saved search alerts and journal alerts migrate?
A: No, you will need to reestablish alerts after signing into your account on the new EBSCO interface. Please visit this search alert tutorial and this journal alert tutorial for detailed instructions.

Q: If I have a problem on the new interface, how do I report it?
A: Please reach out, and someone from Duke University Libraries will assist you directly or escalate to resolve the problem with EBSCO.

Q: Where can I learn more?
A: These resources provide more information on the EBSCO interface changes now and in the coming months:

Announcement, Catalog Tip, Collection Spotlight, Database Tip, diversity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Equity, Just for Fun, Life in the library, Tips for students

This Valentine’s Day, Go on a Mystery Date with a Book

Mystery Date with a Book Rate Your Date Card
Don’t forget to “Rate Your Date” and let us know what you thought of your match. Look for the rating card included with your book, and return it for a chance to win a library swag bag!

Hey, baby, are you overdue for a good book? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.

Aw, yeah. A new year means new books to fall for, and you’re in luck because this Valentine’s Day “Mystery Date with a Book” is back!

Currently single, in the reading sense? In a relationship with another author? Or is it “complicated”? Oh, honey, we’re here to help.

Check out our Mystery Date with a Book display next to the Perkins Library Service Desk, February 10-17, and let us match you up with a cute little number guaranteed to improve your “circulation.”

Our librarians have hand-picked some of their favorite literary infatuations. Don’t judge these books by their covers. We’ve got a little somethin-somethin’ for everyone! Each title comes wrapped in paper with a tantalizing teaser. Will you get fiction or nonfiction? Mystery or history? Fantasy or thriller? You won’t know until you find somewhere private and “get between the covers,” if you know what we’re talking about.

(Uh, oh. Was that you logging onto our wifi just now? Because we think we felt a connection.)

If you don’t have the hots for your book, no problem. Simply return it to the library. Its feelings won’t be hurt.

Either way, be sure to let us know what you think. Each book comes with a “Rate Your Date” card. Use it as a bookmark. Then drop it in our Mystery Date with a Book box when you return your book to Perkins, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a library swag bag. (Swoon!)

Okay, sorry-not-sorry for all the library puns. We’ll put them on hold.

Just get your pretty little self to Perkins and go on a mystery date with a book. You might just get hooked on a favorite writer!

For even more fun, make your own Valentine with us this Thursday, Feb. 13, using vintage images from the Rubenstein Library!

Announcement, Catalog Tip, Cool tools, Database Tip, Database Tip, diversity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Equity, Noteworthy Resources, Noteworthy Resources, Services, Technology, Tips for students

Introducing Full Access to The Atlantic Online

8 Comments

Earlier this month we announced that all Duke users with a NetID now have access to the complete New York Times through the Duke University Libraries.

Now here’s some MORE news you can use. Current Duke students, faculty, and staff also have free access to the complete Atlantic online.

The Duke University Libraries’ all-access subscription includes the latest articles in print and online, the Atlantic Archive, newsletters, podcasts, videos, crossword, and more.

We regularly receive requests for the Atlantic for personal and classroom use and are pleased to make it available to the Duke community. The magazine has a long, distinguished history as a cultural reporter and opinion-maker since its start in 1857.

To activate your access, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to TheAtlantic.com or download the Atlantic app from the App Store or Google Play Store
  2. Click “Sign In”
  3. Under “Accessing a group subscription?” select “Duke University” in the drop-down menu
  4. Sign in with your NetID
  5. Enjoy!

Announcement, Catalog Tip, Cool tools, Database Tip, diversity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Equity, Noteworthy Resources, Noteworthy Resources, Services, Technology, Tips and Tricks, Tips for students

Access the Complete New York Times Online through Duke Libraries

6 Comments

Here’s some news you can use. All current Duke students, faculty, and staff now have free access to the complete New York Times online through the Duke University Libraries. The new all-access subscription includes everything the New York Times offers, including current news and archives, the NYT News App, Games (including Wordle, Spelling Bee, the Crossword, etc.), Cooking, Wirecutter, the Athletic, and over 20 newsletters available to subscribers.

Get started in just a few quick steps.

Access through your computer browser

  1. Go to nytimes.com and click on “Log In”
  2. Select “Continue with work or school single sign-on”
  3. Enter your Duke email and sign in via NetID

Access through the New York Times app

  1. Go to nytimes.com in your browser
  2. Follow the same steps above to log in using SSO with your NetID
  3. Select Account Settings
  4. Select “Create” under Password
  5. This will send a reset password link to your Duke email
  6. Set a new password. DO NOT use your Duke NetID password.
  7. Download and open the New York Times app
  8. Click on “Log In or Register”
  9. Type in your netid@duke.edu and click “Continue”
  10. Use the new password you created above to log in.

What if I already have a paid subscription to the New York Times?

You can cancel your subscription and set up a free account through the Duke Libraries and enjoy the same level of access.

To cancel your paid subscription:

1. Log in to your account
2. Click on Account in the top-right corner and then Subscription Overview
3. Select Cancel your Subscription or Manage your Subscription, then the follow the directions.

NOTE: Depending on how you originally signed up for a New York Times account (through iTunes, for example), the steps for canceling your subscription may be different than those above. Visit the New York Times Help Center website for other methods of canceling your subscription.

After your paid subscription expires, follow the steps at the top of this post to set up your free subscription through the Duke University Libraries.

What if I have a free (limited) account with the New York Times, just for Games?

If you currently have a free (limited) New York Times account for playing Wordle and other games, you can still change to an all-access account through the Duke Libraries. But there are a few extra steps to take:

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Click on Account in the top-right corner and then Account Settings
  3. Select Email and Settings
  4. Click “Connect” next to Work or School
  5. A pop-up window will open, prompting you to enter your netid@duke.edu email address
  6. The window will redirect to Duke’s NetID login page for you to authenticate
  7. After logging in with your NetID, you will be rerouted to nytimes.com
  8. If your New York Times account is under a personal email, you will need to change it to your Duke NetID email (netid@duke.edu).

Switching Accounts and Saved Data

If you already have a personal paid or free New York Times account and you decide to switch, you will likely lose your data or saved files in Games, Cooking, and other sections, when you set up a new account through the Duke University Libraries.

Troubleshooting

Some users have reported being prompted to login again to view articles, recipes, and other content fully, even after setting up their free individual account. If that happens to you, simply navigate to this page on nytimes.com to activate your access using your NetID.

Need Help?

We’re always available by chat or email to answer any questions or help you with access.

Database Tip, Don't-Miss Database, Featured Database, Global Studies

Don’t-Miss Database: The Japan Times Archives

Screenshot of The Japan Times Archives basic search pagePost contributed by Matthew Hayes, Librarian for Japanese Studies and Asian American Studies

The Japan Times Archives offers a searchable collection of digitized issues of Japan’s largest and longest running English-language newspaper, covering the years 1865 through the present. The database also includes access to digitized issues of several subsidiary newspapers, including The Japan Advertiser, The Japan Times & Mail, The Japan Times and Advertiser, and The Nippon Times.

Why Should You Use This Database?

For faculty and students working in English, this database offers perhaps the most comprehensive cross-section of current events in Japanese history, society, and politics, especially as they relate to the international community. The chronological coverage is also unmatched as users can explore articles from Japan’s closed-country period shortly before 1868, through wartime and postwar periods of the mid-twentieth century, and beyond to Japan’s current moment.

Cool Features

The coolest feature of this database is the ability to run full-text searches in any issue. This is made possible through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This means that if a user is looking for articles on a very specific topic—even a single keyword—during a narrow run of issues, they can have results in a few seconds. For example, if a user wants to gather articles on the Anpo protests, a series of massive and violent demonstrations protesting the United States-Japan Security treaty, and which were most concentrated in 1960, they might search for “protest” and narrow to the mid-year period of 1960, as below:

Screenshot of search interface with “protest” used as search term, dates defined as May through June 1960, and issues set to “main.”

This search will return more than 500 results with the term “protest” either in the headline or article text. Users can then browse to find the article that suits their needs.

June 16, 1960, article covering the Anpo protests.

Database Tips

Don’t limit yourself to newspaper articles! Advertisements are also a great way to better understand the commercial and visual design histories of Japan. In addition to local products and events, many issues also advertised international products. If users are interested in how Japan participated in international commercial markets, or what types of appeals were made to local consumers, there are thousands of options here.

March 22, 1897, advertisement for Murai & Bros. tobacco products, which were manufactured in Winston, North Carolina.

January 1, 1939, advertisement for Tokyo New Grand Restaurant.

Similar Resources

A few of Duke’s other Japanese historical newspaper databases include Yomiuri Shimbun 讀賣新聞 (in Japanese), Asahi Shimbun 朝日新聞 (in Japanese), and Mainichi Shimbun 每日新聞 (in Japanese). Rubenstein Library also holds the Masaki Motoi Collection of Japanese Student Movement Materials, which contains several original issues of left-wing student newspapers from 1959 through 1977.

Questions?

Contact Matthew Hayes, Librarian for Japanese Studies and Asian American Studies.

Database Tip, Don't-Miss Database, Featured Database, Music Library

Don’t-Miss Database: Qwest TV EDU

Screenshot of Qwest TV EDU database landing page

Post contributed by Laura Williams, Head of the Music Library.

Qwest TV EDU is a video streaming channel showcasing Black music and global sounds. Created by music legend Quincy Jones, the database features a wide range of musical genres and styles, including jazz, the blues, soul, funk, world music, electronic music, classical music, and much more.

Why Should You Use This?

Qwest TV provides several major categories to explore in its catalog, including concerts, documentaries, and a rich trove of archival material with showstopping performances by legendary artists. Videos in Qwest TV span historic recordings from the 1950s right up to the present day, showcasing the storied history of musical styles and influences around the world.

The archive features some extraordinary live performances, including a 1963 Parisian concert by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald, and a 1982 performance by the legendary Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, with dazzling virtuosic solos by the young Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis.

Ella Fitzgerald Live at the Olympia, Paris (1963)
Ella Fitzgerald Live at the Olympia, Paris (1963)
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Live at the Village Vanguard (1982)
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Live at the Village Vanguard (1982)

Cool Features

One of the most interesting ways to delve into Qwest TV’s offerings is through recommendation lists created by Guest Curators who bring wide-ranging perspectives to their selections. Qwest TV also features some original content, such as Twelve Qwestions, a series of exclusive interviews. In anticipation of Gregory Porter’s visit to Duke in February 2024 through Duke Arts, you can explore his curated list of selections, a Twelve Qwestions interview, a documentary about the two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, as well as a live performance:

Gregory Porter “Liquid Spirit” -- Live at Jazz a la Villette Festival (2013)
Gregory Porter “Liquid Spirit” — Live at Jazz a la Villette Festival (2013)

Database Tips

A myriad of browsing categories connect content in a variety of interesting ways, highlighting Fresh Talents and Gems from the Vaults, as well as bringing together imaginative groupings such as Space is the Place (a celebration of spiritual jazz), the somewhat enigmatic New Ancient Strings, and an exploration of electronica in Africatronics.

One of the most exciting videos I discovered is a recent concert from the New World Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Eddins which “explores a symphonic world that influenced and was influenced by the musical heritage of the African diaspora.” Stunning performances by the orchestra and celebrated American soprano and scholar Dr. Louise Toppin are illuminated throughout by the historical commentary and insights provided by noted musicologist Dr. Tammy Kernodle, making this concert nothing short of extraordinary from both a musical and scholarly standpoint.

New World Symphony - Harlem Renaissance2023
New World Symphony – Harlem Renaissance
2023

Similar Resources

Other related streaming databases that might be of interest are the Naxos Music Library Jazz, Smithsonian Global Sound, and Medici.tv EDU, which features a similar international lineup of live concerts and documentaries, but with more emphasis on classical music, opera, and ballet. You’ll find more on our Online Listening and Viewing page.

Questions?

Contact Laura Williams, Head of the Music Library.

Database Tip, Don't-Miss Database, East Campus Libraries, Featured Database, Lilly Library

Don’t-Miss Databases: Proquest Black Studies

Image from Proquest Black Studies

Proquest Black Studies combines primary and secondary sources, leading historical Black newspapers, archival documents, government materials, video, writings by major American Black intellectuals and leaders, and essays by top scholars in Black Studies. Years of coverage include 1650 to the present.

Why Should You Use This?

Anyone looking for primary sources in African American studies should start here. Proquest Black Studies provides access to a wide range of primary sources under one platform. You’ll find records of organizations including the Black Panther Party and the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Records, 1895-1992. Jump start your research on historical figures (e.g., pilot Bessie Coleman) by browsing the Featured People list. You can also search the full text of eleven historical Black newspapers.

Bessie Coleman, First Licensed African American Woman Female Pilot
Bessie Coleman, First Licensed African American Woman Female Pilot

Cool Features

Documentaries, speeches, interviews, newsreels, and other types of videos are added features. I enjoyed watching Langston Hughes reading his poem “The Weary Blues” accompanied by a jazz band.

Langston Hughes: Performance "The Weary Blues" with Jazz Accompaniment
Langston Hughes: Performance “The Weary Blues” with Jazz Accompaniment

Database Tips

You can search the entire database for any terms you want to find, but choose the Basic Search page for an overview of the types of collections available and choices for browsing.

Similar Resources

Other online primary source databases for African American studies include African American Communities (focusing on Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and North Carolina) and HistoryMakers Digital Archive (video oral histories of African Americans). You’ll find more on our Research Databases page.

Questions?

Contact Heather Martin, Librarian for African and African American Studies.

Database Tip, Feature Articles, Featured Database, Humanities, Lilly Library, Music Library

ProQuest One Literature

Proquest One Literature brings together one of the most comprehensive collection of primary texts, ebooks, reference sources, full-text journals, dissertations, video and more, for access to historical and contemporary content by and about celebrated and lesser-known authors from around the world. The international literature focus is especially useful!

After you search, the results are helpfully divided in to categories such as criticism, primary texts, reference works, dissertations, book reviews, etc. You can also limit results by aspects like peer reviewed, publication date, subject, and language.

Another nice search feature of this resource is that you can find both literary criticism and primary texts for poetry, drama, and prose. If you specifically search the primary texts, you can search by author nationality, author ethnicity, literary movement or period, or gender.

I also really enjoyed the Poets on Screen collection that is part of this database, where you can watch clips of poems being read aloud, sometimes by the poet.

Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day

If you need to do research about a literary text, author, literary movement, or genre, this is a great resource to begin your search!

Announcement, Catalog Tip, Database Tip, Noteworthy Resources

Access to Major US Newspapers

Hello again! We at the library would like to offer you a quick guide for accessing some major US newspapers via Duke Libraries. Over the past few weeks, we’ve made a series of posts on accessing the New York Times (available here, here, and here), so feel free to take a look at those posts if you’re wondering about that paper specifically. This week, we’re going to offer recommendations on accessing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post. For each paper, we’ll list the easiest ways to access current and historical issues. For all of these links, you’ll need a NetID.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Investigation Exposes Broken Promises In Georgia's Senior Care Industry

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: If you’re looking to browse current issues of the AJC, we recommend using U.S. Newsstream. Using this link, anyone with a NetID has access to every issue of the AJC from November 7th, 2001 to the present. Note that articles are available in plaintext only. If you’re looking for historical issues of the AJC (including the issues of one of its predecessors, the Atlanta Constitution), we recommend using ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Using this link, you’ll see eight groupings of historical AJC material, providing access to issues from 1868 to 1984. If you click on an article in one of these groups, you’ll typically view it as a pdf, displaying the article as it appeared in the original print newspaper.

Chicago Tribune | Classifieds

Chicago Tribune: As with the AJC, we recommend using U.S. Newsstream to browse current issues of the Chicago Tribune. Using this link, anyone with a NetID has access to the Tribune from December 4th, 1996 to the present. For historical issues, we also recommend ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Using this link, you’ll see that this database has seven groupings of historical Tribune issues, providing cumulative access to issues from April 23rd, 1849 to December 31st, 2011. As with the historical issues of the AJC, too, you will typically be able to view these articles as pdfs (U.S. Newsstream access only contains plaintext displays of current articles).

Los Angeles Times | Newspaper Target Marketing Coalition, Inc.

Los Angeles Times: Using U.S. Newsstream to access the LA Times, anyone with a NetID can access issues from December 4th, 1996 to the present with this link, in much the same way as accessing the AJC and the Tribune. Historical issues are also best accessed the same way, using ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Using this link, you’ll see four groupings of historical LA Times issues, providing pdfs of articles in every issue of the paper from December 4th, 1881 to December 31st, 2012.

Washington Post online now available to Stanford | Stanford Libraries

Washington Post: Our recommendations for browsing current and historical issues of the Post are much the same as the previous three newspapers in this post. Using this U.S. Newsstream link, anyone with a NetID can access issues of the Post from December 4th, 1996 to the present. ProQuest Historical Newspapers, meanwhile, contains pdfs of Post issues and their articles from December 6th, 1877 to December 31st, 2004. Using this link, you’ll see these issues split up into five groups, sorted by date.