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Librarians

Cambridge Campus
Robyn Slusher
(763) 433-1819


Coon Rapids Campus
Gina Pancerella-Willis
(763) 433-1197



Juliana Boner
(763) 433-1358

Library Links

Overview

Welcome! This guide will help you understand the differences between primary and secondary sources and learn how to find, evaluate, and use them effectively in your research. Explore library databases, online resources, and search strategies to support your assignments and build stronger research skills.

When accessing library resources off campus, simply log in with your username (StarID@go.minnstate.edu) and password when prompted.

Need help? The library is here for you. Reach out anytime with questions, and we'll be happy to assist you!

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Note: Your chat question may be directed to a librarian from another college when Anoka-Ramsey librarians are unavailable.

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary vs. Secondary Sources: What's the Difference?

When you're doing research, your instructor may ask you to use both primary and secondary sources. So, what's the difference? The videos below will help you learn how these two types of sources are different and when you might use each one in your research. Still have questions after watching? A librarian is always happy to help!

Primary Sources

Primary sources are original materials created by people who experienced or took part in an event firsthand. They give you direct evidence and a closer look at what happened from the perspective of those who were there.
Examples of primary sources include:
  • Original laws, government documents, and historical records.
  • Newspaper articles written by reporters who witnessed an event or interviewed people involved.
  • Speeches, diaries, letters, journals, and interviews created by people who experienced the event.
  • Original research studies and scientific experiments.
  • Data collected from surveys, censuses, or economic reports.
  • Photographs, videos, and audo recordings that capture real events as they happened.
Using primary sources can help you better understand history and other topics by exploring information directly from the people and events being studied.


(Photo credit: Ellen Thompson, page six and seven of Diary of Joseph Cecil Thompson in April 1915).

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are created by people who were not directly involved in an event or research study. They use information from primary sources to explain, analyze, or interpret a topic, helping readers better understand what happened and why it matters.
Examples of secondary sources include:
  • Most books written about a historical event, person, or topic.
  • Articles that analyze or explain research findings, data, or trends.
  • Scholarly journal articles written by experts who are studying a topic rather than participating in it.
  • Biographies written about someone's life.
  • Documentaries that explain or interpret events (although they may include primary sources such as photos, videos, or interviews).
Secondary sources are useful because they provide background information, different perspectives, and expert analysis that can help you better understand a subject.

When is a Primary Source a Secondary Source?

Whether a source is primary or secondary depends on the topic you're studying and how you're using it.

For example, a biology textbook is usually considered a secondary source in biology because it explains and summarizes scientific research rather than presenting new discoveries.

However, if you're studying the history of science education or how textbooks have changed over time, that same biology textbook could be a primary source. In that case, you would be examining the textbook itself as evidence of what students were taught during a specific time period.
 

Primary Sources

Unlock Better Primary Sources with Smarter Searches

When you're looking for primary sources, it helps to know that they can be described using many different terms. Using the right keywords can help Google and library databases find better results.

Try searching words like:
  • documents
  • texts
  • photographs
  • maps
  • "primary sources"
  • "personal narratives"
  • diaries
  • interviews
  • "oral history" or "oral histories"
  • testimony
Another good practice is to use the "OR" connector to find subject synonyms within your search, and combine these with primary source term synonyms when creating your search string.

Example search: (segregation OR "jim crow") AND (documents or diaries)

Finding Primary Sources Through Background Research

Level Up Your Primary Source Search

Want to find stronger primary sources and make sure they're actually reliable? Check out Robin M. Katz's handouts! They include keyword ideas, search tips, and easy-to-follow steps for evaluating sources you find through Google. You'll learn how to track down firsthand accounts, original documents, photos, interviews, and other primary sources like a pro.

How to Google for Primary Sources - Search Terms

Evaluating Primary Sources Online - Cultural Herigate Websites

Search Specific Primary Source Collections

American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals
Step back in time with over 7,500 primary sources from 1691 to 1895, offering firsthand perspectives on early American history and culture.

Fordham University's Internet Modern History Sourcebook
A collection of primary and secondary historical sources covering world cultures, civilizations, and major historical events.

Search for a country name to find relevant materials, then use Ctrl + F on a page to quickly locate mentions of your topic. Some searches may lead to specialized collections focused on regions such as Africa, Asia, the Islamic world or Jewish history. Note: this site does not provide automatic citations, so be sure to follow your instructor's citation guidelines.

HathiTrust
Provides access to millions of digitized books and other resources on topics ranging from history and literature to science and health. Explore materials in hundreds of languages from libraries around the world, making it a great source for research, projects, and exploring new interests.

JSTOR
Explore original sources from many subjects, including letters, diaries, manuscripts, oral histories, government documents, images, maps, artwork, and more.

Library of Congress Digital Collections
Browse online primary source collections to find photographs, maps, letters, diaries, newspapers, oral histories, sound recordings, and historic films that bring the past to life.


Library of Congress World Digital Library
Discover primary sources from around the globe, including historical books, maps, images, and documents from libraries, museums, and archives worldwide.

To find sources for your topic, search for a country name, then use the filters to narrow results by century. Each item includes citation tools to help you properly credit your sources.

Minnesota Digital Newspapers
Search historical newspapers from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections by county, city, or publication date.

Star Tribune
Access current and historical Star Tribune articles with full-text coverage dating back to 1986.



U.S. Newsstream Collection
Explore recent and historical U.S. news from newspapers, newswires, blogs, and news sites. Access full-text articles and archives dating back to the 1980s.

Secondary Sources

Search the Library's Catalog to Find a Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper by Name




More Options





Streaming Videos

​Films-on-Demand: High-quality video and multimedia for academic, vocational, and life-skills content.

Kanopy: On-demand streaming platform that offers a large collection of award-winning films and documentaries. You will need to create a free Kanopy account and sign in to access the collection.

Research Favorites for Scholarly Articles

Academic Search Premier
Explore thousands of trusted academic articles and journals on almost any topic. Perfect for papers, projects, and deeper research.

Brepolis
An International Medieval Bibliography providing access to 14 centuries of European history from 300 to 1700.




JSTOR
Explore 12+ million articles, books, images, and primary sources across 75 subjects to find trustworthy information for your research.

Reference and Encyclopedia Resources


Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
This resource provides thousands of concise, reliable articles that can help you build background knowledge on a wide range of subjects, including science, history, art, technology, and current events.


MAS Complete
Full text reference books, biographies, primary source documents, photos, maps, and flags.


MAS Reference eBook Collection
This collection of reference ebooks provides trustworthy background information on topics such as biography, history, careers, language arts, literature, government, health, math, science, current events, etc.

World History Encyclopedia
A trusted, free history resource created by a non-profit organization. Explore articles, interactive timelines, and maps to help you learn more about historical events and people.

How to Use the Databases

Starting Your Research

Getting started with research can feel overwhelming, but knowing how to search effectively makes all the difference. Check out the videos below to learn essential research skills and database search techniques!

Picking a Topic is Research 

How Library Stuff Works: How to Choose Keywords 

How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Operators (AND OR NOT) 

Tutorials for Using JSTOR

Mastering JSTOR: Tips for Better Research

JSTOR doesn't work quite like Google, so using the right search strategies can make a big difference. Watch this video to learn easy tips and tricks for finding the sources you need.

 

Advanced Search on JSTOR

This quick video shows how Advance Search and Boolean operators can help you find stronger sources in less time.

 

Narrow Your Search, Find Better Sources

Too many search results? Learn how to refine your JSTOR search to focus on the specific topics and scholarly sources you need.

 

Tutorials for Using EBSCO Databases

Basic Search on EBSCO Databases

New to EBSCO? this tutorial shows you how to use the Basic Search feature to find articles, books, and other reliable sources.

 

Advanced Search on EBSCO

This tutorial shows you how to use EBSCO's Advance Search to find more accurate and relevant results for your research.

 

View, Read, and Use Articles in EBSCO

Discover how to access article details, open full-text content, and navigate EBSCO's PDF and Online Full Text viewers to make research easier.

 

Citing & Evaluating Information

Evaluating Information

We live in a world of misinformation.

On the web, it can be a challenge to know what information is credible and accurate. You may have heard about the CRAAP test (more information here), which consists of criteria to help evaluate a website. 



To complement this strategy, digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield developed the SIFT method, which provides additional valuable strategies for online researchers.SIFT, or the Four Moves:
S - Stop
I - Investigate the source
F - Find additional sources/better coverage
T - Trace Information back to the original context
Online Verification Skills - YouTube videos from Mike Caulfield

Additional guides to help you evaluate your sources:
Evaluating Resources (University of California, Berkeley)
Evaluating Information (American Library Association)
Critically Analyzing Information Sources (Cornell University Library)
 

Citation Style Manuals

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
ISBN: 9781603293518
Publication Date: 2020

 

MLA book coverMLA Handbook by The Modern Language Association of America
ISBN: 9781603293518
Publication Date: 2021

 

The Chicago Manual of Style, by University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff
ISBN: 9780226287058
Publication Date: 2024

 

Scientific Style and Format by Council of Science Editors
ISBN: 9780226683942
Publication Date: 2024
 

Citation Style Guides

Looking for information about citing your sources? Different styles like APA, Chicago, and MLA will require you to format information and sources differently.

After using any of these resources, always double-check your citations against the most current published guide. Below you will find resources for the most commonly used citation styles from the style guide homepages, as well as, the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).

Here are some introductory guides to these styles from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (Purdue OWL).

Citing Generative AI

When permissible to incorporate information that is generated by AI in your work, make sure that you are citing the AI tool wherever you include, quote, or paraphrase the information generated by AI. Use the information below to learn more.

You can find more information about using artificial intelligence and college policies through the library's guide on AI.

Help with Writing

Tutors in the ARCC Writing Center can help you with citations and references.

ARCC Tutoring web page: http://www.anokaramsey.edu/resources/tutoring-services/
Email: writing.tutoring@anokaramsey.edu 

Avoiding Plagiarism

From the ARCC Student Conduct Code, "Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment or the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials."

Citing your sources in a bibliography is a required part of the research process. It allows others to verify your information and acknowledges the previous work of other researchers and writers.

Click here for a General Guide to Understanding Written Plagiarism