Instead of posting a discussion question to the course blog (though you may do that as well if you like!), please post a description of the research topic or topics you’re thinking of researching.

Search the open web for resources on your topic. For one search term (e.g., “Roosevelt’s first hundred days”), plug the term into 3 different search engines: Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Based on the top 5 results of your search, which search engine seems to provide the best information? Why?

Also, search the open web for archival collections, articles, books, images, audio, and video related to your topic. Use these websites:

• WorldCat.org — allows you to limit by archival materials as well as to find books and even some articles
• Google Scholar — scholarly articles and books (secondary sources)
• Google Books — full-text search of about 10 million books
• The Internet Archive — especially good source for archival video and audio; click on the links for “Moving Images” and “Audio” at the top of the home page
• YouTube — there’s a surprising amount of historical footage on YouTube, although much of it may also be available via the Internet Archive
• Flickr Commons — a relatively small number of historic photos from cultural heritage organizations are posted here

Save useful/interesting results from this search using the bibliographic software of your choice.

Skim through NYU’s list of library databases. Which databases there might be most useful for your research topic?