 |
Masters of Public Administration Library Research Guide
Contents:
- What Is Available about Public Administration via Oviatt Library and Where Do I Find It?
- What If Oviatt Library Doesn't Own It?
- Other Internet Sites
- Cite Your Sources
- Help (including information about off campus computer access)
What is Available about Public Administration via Oviatt Library and Where Do I Find It?
Jump to: Books & Journals / Articles & Databases / Government Publications & Statistics / Newspapers / Masters Theses /
Books and Journals
- Use the Library Catalog.
Be sure to note the location (floor, stored, internet, etc.) as well as
the call number.
- How to Use the Library Catalog explains options you can use to become a more effective searcher and what the location codes mean.
- How to Do Library & Internet Research offers practical suggestions for improving search strategies, finding sources, etc.
Identifying Journal Articles on Topics in Public Administration & Databases
Find Articles & Research Data provides both a subject organization of research sources, including research sources for Public Administration and, in the toolbar at the top of the page, an A-Z list of databases available via the Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge.
Since many topics are interdisciplinary, your exact topic will determine which of the hundreds of Oviatt Library databases and print indexes to choose for a specific research project. Be sure to take a look at what is available, both for public administration and related disciplines, and also ask a reference librarian which ones would be best for a specific topic. Some databases offer full-text access to some of the articles (directly or by using the "Find Text" button).
Databases
Several databases will be relevant for many Public Administration topics and are good places to begin most research projects.
- Academic Search Elite (EBSCOHost) abstracts over 3,000 journals (1500 peer-reviewed journals) with full text for over 2000 of the journals, 1985-
- General OneFile includes some full-text.
- ABI Inform Global (via ProQuest Direct) focuses on business and management topics and has many journal articles in full-text format.
- International Political Science Abstracts
- Sage Journals Online includes several public administration journals.
- JStor Journal Storage Project provides online full-text access to older issues of many journals, including a number of scholarly titles on public policy and administration.
Other databases which are often useful, depending upon topic, include:
- WilsonWeb provides access to fourteen (14) databases (including Social Sciences Full Text).
- WorldCat (used to find out what library owns a specific title).
- FirstSearch2 access to FirstSearch databases for which the Library pays a per search charge.
- Emerald includes International Journal of Public Sector Management and other full-text journals in management.
- Project MUSE includes full-text scholarly journals.
- Dissertations and Theses (Humanities and Social Sciences) includes both abstracts and full text of many doctoral dissertations.
Once You Have Identified an Article You Want to Locate
Frequently Asked QuestionsGovernment Publications & Statistics
The Library is a selective depository for documents published by the governments of the United States and the State of California. Documents which have been cataloged are listed in the Library Catalog. Uncataloged printed documents are in particular sections of the Reference Room and the Microform area. Indexes and finding guides for using government documents are in the Reference Room on the first floor.
For assistance in identifying and locating government documents, inquire at the Reference Desk or use Oviatt Library's Government Publications page. Lots of government information is available on the internet, including many sources of statistics.
Starting Points for Government Information:
- Ways to Search for Government Information lists major indexes, internet sites to search for government information
- Government Information Page (federal, state & local, foreign & international)
- Government Reference Sources (organized by broad subjects such as crime, education, transportation, etc.)
- California and Los Angeles Government Web Links
Statistics about Local Areas
- Los Angeles Government Sources includes links to county and city level statistics.
- San Fernando Valley Statistics and Facts links to statistics from government and other sources.
- Community Information by Zip Code
- Finding Census Tract Data on the Internet
- Finding Census 2000 Data by Zip Code
Other Sources of Statistics
- Finding Statistics & Federal Statistics Sites (easy search techniques and a guide to the basic federal statistics sites on the web)
- RAND California (Ovatt Library subscription) collects and provides easy access to a variety of statistics from federal and State of California sources. An online training exercise for RAND California Statistics is available.
- Statistical Data Sources
Newspaper Articles
- Recent issues of the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News newspapers are available online via Proquest Newspapers or Lexis-Nexis Academic. (Check the database for dates included online; Proquest currently includes a greater time span for the Los Angeles Times). Many other newspapers are also available through these sources and others listed on Information Sources: News and Current Issues.
- The library also owns, on microfilm, all issues of the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News, and a number of other newspapers. Unless the library has specifically purchased a digital backfile, most newspapers go back much further on microfilm than in electronic format; the ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times makes older years of the Los Angeles Times available online. (See Information Sources: News and Current Issues for additional digitized historical newspapers). Microform can be very useful since online versions of newspapers may not include photographs, charts, graphic materials, or even some articles (those for which a specific author owns the copyright).
Masters Theses from the MPA Program
The Oviatt Library owns copies of Masters Theses completed at California State University, Northridge. Search the Library Catalog by subject for "Dissertations, Academic -- CSUN -- Public Administration" to examine the complete list of theses from the Masters of Public Administration program. (Many of these are shelved on the second floor under call numbers that begin with JF51 .Z95).
What If Oviatt Library Doesn't Own What You Need in Print or Online?
Other Libraries
Other Library Catalogs can help identify a local library that does own the book or journal that you need. The WorldCat database is particularly helpful.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan can borrow materials for you from other libraries, which is particularly useful when what you need is at a library too far away for you to visit in person. Read the Frequently Asked Questions about Interlibrary Loan page. Allow at least 10 working days for this service, though it may come much more quickly than that--especially if you sign up for electronic delivery.
Other Internet Sites
Some Professional Associations Online
- American Society for Public Administration
- American Political Science Association, Policy Section
- American Evaluation Association offers information on the field of program evaluation.
- International City/County Management Association
A few more useful links
- National Academy of Public Administration
- Public Administration and Management, an online journal with full copies of articles related to public administration and management.
- RAND Corporation. Oviatt Library subscribes to RAND California.
- Public Policy Institute of California
- Municipal Codes Online
- Information Resources for Grants and Grant-Writing. Geared to CSUN Faculty, but if you are interested in writing grant proposals, many of the sources listed may be a great help to you too.
- Internet Search Engines, a collection of internet search engines to facilitate locating information available on the internet.
Cite Your Sources
Ask at the reference desk if you have any questions about how to cite your sources for your paper. There are books there that tell you how to cite printed material, personal interviews, and web or other internet materials correctly. Citing Your Sources offers this type of information online.
Help!
If you are in the Oviatt Library and have questions, visit the Reference Desk on the first floor. When you are not on campus, the library's Research Assistance page provides answers and solutions for many problems. See below if your question is about computer access to these resources.
Computer Connections
If you are in the Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge, you will have automatic connections to all databases mentioned in this research guide using the library's computers or you can connect to CSUN's Wireless Network using your own laptop computer. If you are not on campus, instructions are available for our students to use computer resources from offsite.
- Accessing Library Resources from Off-Campus
- Information about the campus Virtual Private Network
- Computers in the Oviatt Library: locations, printing, laptops and wireless access information.
Created and maintained by Mary
M. Finley
Questions or comments: mary.finley@csun.edu
Links checked 22 August 2008
18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA 91330 (818) 677-2285 |
 |
|
|