Soccer Dad: The library as resource

July 18, 2006

The library as resource

I know this is a topic I've mentioned in the past, but I finally decided to some research and make sure that I was correct.

What if someone mentions an article in a current publication but you don't subscribe? Is it possible to still read it and comment on it?

The answer is: "yes," if you have a library card. I know that Maryland library systems have paid for electronic access to magazines and newspapers that you can use at the libraries, or at home, if you have a library card.

But a check of other library systems shows that Maryland is not unique. There may be some limitations, but if you have a library card you probably have access.

Denver Public Library - go to the menu on the left and research resources which brings up a menu from which you would select "Find a Magazine or Journal." I picked Denver arbitrarily, but whichever system you choose, you'll have similar options.

If you're looking for Commentary Magazine you could either click on the "C" and then scroll down to the title or you could just enter the name of the magazine that you want.

I recently suggested to Colossus of Rhodey.Hube that he check his local library for the recent Why Israel Is Free to Set Its Own Borders by Michael 1. Krauss & J. Peter Pham. Guess what he found it at Prof Pham's academic website. Or, if you prefer, here's an HTML version of the article.

While there are sometimes limitations to the library approach, if you ever check it out you'll be amazed by the sheer number of publications that you can have access to. (Remember this access is paid for by the libraries.)

There are a few possible limitations.
1) If you're blogging about an article you can quote it but you can't link it.
2) Sometimes the access you're allowed is only from the library itself not from home. (You can only access the NY Times archives at the LA public library itself, not from home.)
3) I've discovered with Baltimore County that my security settings interfere with my ability to log on. There does seem to be documentation telling you how to get around this problem though.

When you find the article you want you can either save it to disk or e-mail it to yourself.

Now another approach to finding articles that are otherwise for pay for free is if the author is associated with an institution and publishes them on the institutions website. As Colossus of Rhodey.Hube discovered Pham and Krauss's article was saved to the Nelson Center's website.

Similarly a number Efraim Karsh's articles are avaible at his King's College Website. Also the Washington Institute for Near East Policy posts articles by its staff at its website. And as I will never tire of pointing out you can get How the PLO was legitimized by Jeane Kirkpatrick at the AEI website.

I realize that I've presented things from the standpoint of someone interested in Israel. But what I've outlined here, could be useful for any blogger wanting to avail himself or herself of the free resources his/her areas of interest.

Technorati tags: Technorati tag: Blogging, Research, Resources, Libraries.