Cambridge Campus
Robyn Slusher
(763) 433-1819
Coon Rapids Campus
Gina Pancerella-Willis
(763) 433-1197
Juliana Boner
(763) 433-1358
Robyn Slusher(763) 433-1819
Coon Rapids Campus
Gina Pancerella-Willis(763) 433-1197
Juliana Boner(763) 433-1358
Welcome to the library guide for History - Modern World Civilizations I. On this tab, you will find information about the library and helpful links related to the research and writing process, including links to help you cite your sources.
The second tab contains information about how to find online resources for this class, including timelines, primary sources, country overviews and more.
The third tab contains information about some of our databases, and how to use LibrarySearch, the library catalog, to find print books in our library and in other libraries across the state. It also includes information about how to find and access eBooks in our collections.
The second tab contains information about how to find online resources for this class, including timelines, primary sources, country overviews and more.
The third tab contains information about some of our databases, and how to use LibrarySearch, the library catalog, to find print books in our library and in other libraries across the state. It also includes information about how to find and access eBooks in our collections.
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Code, "Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment or the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling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
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
Writing manuals are available in the library, and expert tutors in the ARCC Writing Center can help you with citations and references. You can get help in-person, by email, or by booking a virtual appointment.
ARCC Writing Center:
https://www.anokaramsey.edu/resources/tutoring-services/writing-services/
ARCC Writing Center:
https://www.anokaramsey.edu/resources/tutoring-services/writing-services/
This book is available in both campus libraries.
The Chicago Manual of Style, by University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff
Publication Date: 2024
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).
- APA - American Psychological Association style is most commonly used to cite sources within the sciences. APA Tutorial
- MLA - Modern Language Association style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities.
- CMS - Chicago Manual of Style covers a variety of topics from manuscript preparation and publication to grammar, usage, and documentation. CMS Quick Chart
JSTOR (also linked from our Library Resources page in the Databases section) is a collection of archival journals and primary sources.
After clicking on JSTOR (and logging in with StarID and password if prompted), click Advanced Search.
- In the Terms box, type "[your country] and history" or "[your country] and 18th century" or "[your country] and 17th century".
Ghana and history
Ghana and 18th century
Ghana and 17th century
- You may also type a specific person, event, treaty, war, etc., if you have already identified a topic of interest related to your country.
- In the Narrow Results section under Item Types, click the Articles box and the Research Reports box. You may also limit to English in the Languages box.
- Click on Submit Advanced Search.
To cite the article, click the Cite box and copy the Chicago style citation.
EBSCO (also linked from our Library Resources page in the Databases section) is a vendor that provides access to multiple databases containing articles from scholarly journals.
If prompted, login with STAR ID and password.
On the searching screen, follow these steps:
- Click the Peer Reviewed box.
- In the Terms box, searches you could try are
[your country] and history,
or [your country] and 18th Century,
or [your country] and 17th century, etc.
You may also type a specific person, event, treaty, war, etc. if you have already identified a topic of interest. - Click Search.
If you like the article, click the Access Options drop down, and select the PDF. Once the PDF opens, across the top right of the screen will be options to print, cite (inverted commas icon), save, share (including via email), and download.
Many, but not all, the articles in EBSCO are full text from the publisher. If you come across any articles which are not full text, in the Access Options drop down, you may click Link to Request Full Text. This will take you into the Interlibrary Loan screen where you may order the article for free.
After you submit the article request, please check your college email account for an email notifying you the article is available. This process normally takes 1-3 working days. Follow the instructions in the email to retrieve your article. Please note you have up to 7 days from the day the email was sent, to retrieve the article and up to 5 views/prints of the article.
See the EBSCO eBooks Basics Guide to learn about saving, printing, and downloading pages from an eBook in this collection.
Search for your country name or or search by topic or keyword in the EBSCO Academic eBooks Collection. Try adding a time frame to your search terms. For example, you could search for "Scotland 1600", or "Medieval England".
You may need to adjust your keywords depending on how specific your topic is. For example, a search for "Haiti" covers a much wider range and would bring back many more results than a more specific search for "Haitian Revolution".
Click Films on Demand or Kanopy to locate videos on your country, or visit the Library Resources page and click Streaming Videos.
Because there may not be many academic videos on your country, try searching just your country’s name.
To generate a citation in Films on Demand, click the Cite icon and then Chicago Manual of Style.
To generate a citation in Kanopy, click Share, then find Citation Tool, then click on Chicago.
Note: the first time you use Kanopy, you’ll need to create a personal account to access their videos. View this brief instructional video to help you create your account.
In the Library Search option above, click the dropdown arrow next to ARCC + Online and change it to ARCC Libraries.
To search for books, ebooks, and streaming videos, click in the search box and type your country name. Click Search.
On the results page, you can narrow your search down to only books: on the left side, click on the dropdown arrow next to Resource Type, and click on Books.
Browse through the list of results and click any title that sounds promising. After clicking the title, read through the description and table of contents to see if the item will work for you. You may only need a couple of chapters from the book.
Books from the Historical Dictionary series have been quite helpful if you are able to locate one for the country you have selected. These books offer a detailed choronology of events in the first several sections. (Examples below)
Click on a title to get more information about the item, to find the location of the item, or to request it.
If we don't have the items you need, we can request them from other libraries through InterLibrary Loan (ILL). There's no cost involved, it's easy to do, and it's convenient. The books will be sent to us, and you can check them out and return them here.
If you want help finding or requesting books, just ask! Call or email us at ARCC.Library@anokaramsey.edu. We are happy to help!
To search for books, ebooks, and streaming videos, click in the search box and type your country name. Click Search.
On the results page, you can narrow your search down to only books: on the left side, click on the dropdown arrow next to Resource Type, and click on Books.
Browse through the list of results and click any title that sounds promising. After clicking the title, read through the description and table of contents to see if the item will work for you. You may only need a couple of chapters from the book.
Books from the Historical Dictionary series have been quite helpful if you are able to locate one for the country you have selected. These books offer a detailed choronology of events in the first several sections. (Examples below)
Click on a title to get more information about the item, to find the location of the item, or to request it.
If we don't have the items you need, we can request them from other libraries through InterLibrary Loan (ILL). There's no cost involved, it's easy to do, and it's convenient. The books will be sent to us, and you can check them out and return them here.
If you want help finding or requesting books, just ask! Call or email us at ARCC.Library@anokaramsey.edu. We are happy to help!
Start here with Library Search, or find the yellow Library Search button on the Library Resources page.
If you are not familiar with locating books in our library, we are happy to show you how! Please see library personnel for help.
If the book you want is an eBook, the link to retrieve it will have a clickable link like this: Available Online.
Find books in a specific campus library:
- Type in your search terms.
- Click on either Coon Rapids or Cambridge Library in the dropdown list that appears as you search.
- Scroll down to find Resource Type in the left side menu.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to Resource Type and click on Books.
If you are not familiar with locating books in our library, we are happy to show you how! Please see library personnel for help.
If the book you want is an eBook, the link to retrieve it will have a clickable link like this: Available Online.
Start here with Library Search, or find the yellow Library Search button on the Library Resources page.
To request an item, scroll to the “How to Get It” section, and click Sign in. Use your STAR ID and password. Next, click the link “Request via Interlibrary Loan.” {Interlibrary Loan is the process by which our library will get sources for you for FREE from libraries all across the state).
An auto-filled form will apear. Check the box next to the red paragraph to agree with the copyright restrictions. Scroll down and click Send Request.
Please allow enough time for your book to arrive. It may arrive within a week, but it can take up to two weeks, depending on how far away it's coming from. The library will email you when your book(s) arrive in the library, and you may check them out with your photo ID at the library's Service Desk. The books will check out to you for 3-12 weeks, depending on the lending library.
Return books to the Library Service Desk, or drop them in the book drop outside the library entrance.
- In the search box, type "[your country name] and history".
Example: Ghana and history - Click on Other Libraries in the drop down list that automatically appears.
- On the results page, on the left side, click the dropdown arrow next to Resource Type, and click on Books.
To request an item, scroll to the “How to Get It” section, and click Sign in. Use your STAR ID and password. Next, click the link “Request via Interlibrary Loan.” {Interlibrary Loan is the process by which our library will get sources for you for FREE from libraries all across the state).
An auto-filled form will apear. Check the box next to the red paragraph to agree with the copyright restrictions. Scroll down and click Send Request.
Please allow enough time for your book to arrive. It may arrive within a week, but it can take up to two weeks, depending on how far away it's coming from. The library will email you when your book(s) arrive in the library, and you may check them out with your photo ID at the library's Service Desk. The books will check out to you for 3-12 weeks, depending on the lending library.
Return books to the Library Service Desk, or drop them in the book drop outside the library entrance.
For a timeline and key dates in your selected country's history
If you start with a Google search - try these terms:
bbc [your country] country profile
Example: "bbc Ghana country profile"
This will give you notable people, events, etc. that you can research in depth further.
Although the CIA World Factbook has been taken down, there is an archived version here from February 2026. Click on the Countries link at the top of the page and scroll through the list, or click the search and enter a country name. There you will usually find the country's flag and maps that you can use as image sources. Scroll down to the Introduction section for a historical overview.
For historical value - Library of Congress Country Studies - "This collection contains electronic versions of eighty books originally sponsored by the U.S. Army and written by researchers affiliated with the Library’s Federal Research Division. The books present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world.
Britannica Academic An accurate, current, and comprehensive resource for college-level learners. Contains encyclopedia content plus multimedia, timelines, world data analyst, country comparison, and the Britannica blog. Search by country name or event.
If you start with a Google search - try these terms:
bbc [your country] country profile
Example: "bbc Ghana country profile"
This will give you notable people, events, etc. that you can research in depth further.
Although the CIA World Factbook has been taken down, there is an archived version here from February 2026. Click on the Countries link at the top of the page and scroll through the list, or click the search and enter a country name. There you will usually find the country's flag and maps that you can use as image sources. Scroll down to the Introduction section for a historical overview.
For historical value - Library of Congress Country Studies - "This collection contains electronic versions of eighty books originally sponsored by the U.S. Army and written by researchers affiliated with the Library’s Federal Research Division. The books present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world.
Britannica Academic An accurate, current, and comprehensive resource for college-level learners. Contains encyclopedia content plus multimedia, timelines, world data analyst, country comparison, and the Britannica blog. Search by country name or event.
To find primary sources:Library of Congress World Digital Library .
In the upper right search box, type your country name.
Once results appear, go to Refine your Results on the left and click on a century, such as 1800 to 1899 or 1500 to 1599.
Click on a result and get its citation by clicking the Cite this Item box at the bottom of the page.
Rights and Access information: “The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.” Source: https://www.loc.gov/collections/world-digital-library/about-this-collection/rights-and-access/
In the upper right search box, type your country name.
Once results appear, go to Refine your Results on the left and click on a century, such as 1800 to 1899 or 1500 to 1599.
Click on a result and get its citation by clicking the Cite this Item box at the bottom of the page.
Rights and Access information: “The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.” Source: https://www.loc.gov/collections/world-digital-library/about-this-collection/rights-and-access/
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts presented cleanly (without advertising or excessive layout) for educational use. It is intended to serve the needs of teachers and students in college survey courses in modern European history and American history, as well as in modern Western Civilization and World Cultures.
To find primary sources, type your country name in the upper right search box.
To find primary sources, type your country name in the upper right search box.
- Depending on your country, your search may link to Fordham’s more specific history sourcebooks - African, East Asian, Indian, Islamic, Jewish, and Global.
- Once results appear, you will want to review the links to find relevant information. Click a link in the results list - this will bring you to a relevant section on the site.
- Then press Ctrl and F on your keyboard. Type your country name in the Find box that appears. Use the arrows in the Find box to find the various links where your country is mentioned.
- Please note there is no embedded citation tool on this site, so please follow your professor’s instructions and/or consult the Writing Center for assistance.
Primary vs. Secondary Sources – guide from UCLA’s History dept.
What to know about embedded citation tools: these are clickable links/icons in library catalogs and databases (and sometimes on reliable websites) which will create a citation in a specific citation style, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and CSE. Once at the source, you can identify these tools by the words Cite, Cite this Source, Citation, or the inverted comma symbol. While these tools save time and create a basic citation, they can occasionally make mistakes, particularly in indenting and capitalization. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to review the created citation and correct any mistakes before submitting the assignment. Follow your professor’s instructions for citation styles and ask for assistance at ARCC’s writing center if needed.
ARCC Libraries – contact information, hours, services, and resources
Please feel free to reach out to the library for help; you are our first priority!
What to know about embedded citation tools: these are clickable links/icons in library catalogs and databases (and sometimes on reliable websites) which will create a citation in a specific citation style, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and CSE. Once at the source, you can identify these tools by the words Cite, Cite this Source, Citation, or the inverted comma symbol. While these tools save time and create a basic citation, they can occasionally make mistakes, particularly in indenting and capitalization. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to review the created citation and correct any mistakes before submitting the assignment. Follow your professor’s instructions for citation styles and ask for assistance at ARCC’s writing center if needed.
ARCC Libraries – contact information, hours, services, and resources
Please feel free to reach out to the library for help; you are our first priority!