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These resources are great for getting background information, focusing your research, and finding viewpoints!

As you look for sources for your Annotated Map Project while you're "mapping conversations" or other assignments, review the videos below for extra support and consider using some of the sources on this page.

ProQuest Central contains scholarly articles and news sources that may be of use, depending on your topic. Use the "Cite" and "Email" options!

Search Tip: Search the "opposite"

Search not only for keywords that discuss the problem, but also the solution and vice versa. For example:

• insomnia / sleep
• unhoused / affordable housing
• air quality / air pollution

What happens if you can't find a scholarly article on your topic?

Watch the video below for tips (captions available).

Local information can be particularly elusive in library databases! Here are some strategies to try:

• Search local newspaper or news media websites for your issue
  • Sample search: KUTV or KUER or Salt Lake Tribune website, homeless
  • You’ll find videos and articles- sometimes with references to people, groups, other articles or reports, etc. that you could track down
  • If articles are behind a paywall, check the library for access (ProQuest Newsstream has both the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune)
• Search the internet for local groups or organizations related to your issue
  • Sample search: homeless Utah .org
  • Every group/organization has an agenda! As long as you understand the purpose and potential biases of a given group, it can be a great source for things like reports, policy proposals, press releases, etc.
• Search local government (city level, county level, state level) for your issue
  • Sample search: Utah.gov, homeless
  • You’ll find laws, policies, reports, government organizations related to your issue, etc.
• Search local educational institutions for “centers” or research related to your issue
  • Sample search: University of Utah homeless
  • Pro tip: The University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Institute has tons of research and reports on local issues like housing, health care, etc.
  • If a school is known for something (business, agriculture, etc.), they’ll likely have students and faculty researching it

Local statistics can be tricky to locate. Start at utah.gov (linked below).

Sometimes there's a local research group/institute at a local college or university that studies your topic/issue. You can try the following Google search strategies to limit results to specific domains, websites, or find related sites if you find an organization or site of use:

• limit results to a specific type of web domain using site: 
  • examples: site:.org ... site:.gov ... site:.edu
• limit results to a specific website using site:
  • examples: site:utah.gov ... site:who.int
• limit results to websites related to a specific website using related:
  • examples: related:usich.gov ... related:theroadhome.org

With the Google searches, it's important to remove all spaces after the colon (i.e. site:.org not site: .org) to maximize relevant results.

A librarian can help track down local information if you get stuck!