The World Into Which You Were Born Assignment

For specifics, refer to the assignment your Core faculty has assigned to you. In general, this assignment calls for a summary of an article from a news magazine of newspaper that was published during the week of your birth, dealing with science, technology, medicine, or religion, including what made the issue or event newsworthy then and how significant you think it is now.

1 : Choose a Reference resource that provides you with quick, basic information on events happening around the time of your birth:

Timetables of history : a historical linkage of people and events Ref. D11 .G78 2005
People's chronology : a year-by-year record of human events from prehistory to the present Ref. D11 .T83 1994
Facts on file Ref. D410 .F3, v. 1989 (or other year as appropriate)
Day by day, the eighties Ref. D848 .M45 1995, v. 2
American decades primary sources Ref. E169.1 .A471977 2004, v.1980-1989

2 : Choose the news resource you'd like to use.

There are a number of news magazines and newspapers to choose from, in a variety of formats. Choose the title of the resource you'd like to use, then consider the format choice (if one is available). Follow the instructions for access.

Time
Print: full run, v.1 – current
Online: 1923– current through the Freely Accessible Journals access

Newsweek
Print: full run; v.1 – current
Online: 1975 – current through the Lexis Nexis Academic database

U.S. News and World Report
Print: 1949 – current
Online: 1975 – current through the Lexis Nexis Academic database ; 1984 – current through Expanded Academic database

Life (Chicago)
Print: full run; older (pre-1934 on microform)
No online access available prior to 1993

New York Times
Print: current issues only; CLR Fireplace Study, 2nd floor
Microfilm: full run; CLR 251
Online: 1980 – current Lexis Nexis Academic database

Wall Street Journal
Print: current issues only; CLR Fireplace Study, 2nd floor
Microfilm: 1972 – 2006; CLR 251
Online: 1984 – current ABI/Inform Research database

Washington Post
Print: current issues only; CLR Fireplace Study, 2nd floor
Online: 1977 – current Lexis Nexis Academic database

3: Enter the title of the news resource you'd like to use in the JournaLocator search box.

If you choose to use the print format of the chosen resource, you'll be accessing GALILEO to request the volume you need from storage.

If you choose to access the content online, click on the database name that matches the year coverage you need.

If you choose to access the content via microfilm, ask at the Circulation Desk for assistance.

4: Follow the directions and tips for use of GALILEO or of the article database from which your resource can be accessed.

Time magazine
--From the magazine website's homepage, note the two search options in the grey box just below the Time logo.
--Enter event keywords.
--Enter the date range of the week of your birthday (or 7 days around that time); for example, 03/16/86 to 03/23/86.
--Click the red "Search" button.

GALILEO
--From the JournaLocater screen, click on "Christopher Center Print Holdings" which connects you to the title's record in GALILEO, our online catalog.
--Determine the volume number to match the month/year of your birth. This requires scrolling down through many listings.
--Request the volume from storage through GALILEO by clicking on the "Request from Storage" button.
--Once you have completed the request, pick up the volume for checkout at the Circulation Desk, 2nd floor.
--You'll need your student ID to check-out the volume.

Lexis Nexis Academic
--From the JournaLocator screen, click on "Lexis Nexis Academic" which will connect you to the database.
--The database automatically enters your selected news source (Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, New York Times, or the Washington Post).
--Enter event keywords in the "Enter Search Terms" box.
--In "Specifiy Date Options," choose "Date is between..." and enter the date range of the week of your birthday (or 7 days around that time); for example, 03/16/86 to 03/23/86.
--Click on the red "Search" button on the upper right part of the search box.

ABI/INFORM Research
--From the JournaLocator screen, click on "ABI/INFORM Research" which will connect you to the database.
--The database will bring you to the date range page of The Wall Street Journal.
From here you have two search options:

--Under "Search for articles within this publication," enter event keywords in the first search box.
--In the "Date range" box, choose "Specific Date Range" from the drop-down menu and enter date range of the week of your birthday (or 7 days around that time); for example, 03/16/86 to 03/23/86.
--Click on the gold "Search" button.
OR
--Under the "Browse for Specific Issues" bar, enter the month of, the month after, and the year of your birth.
--You can then choose the specific day and browse the articles that were published on that day.

If you experience difficulty with accessing the resource, please ask for assistance. There is always someone to help at the Circulation Desk, usually someone at the Reference Desk, or make an appointment with Prof. Trisha Mileham, librarian for the Valpo Core program.

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