Library Guides: Physical Anthropology

Jane Caputo, Instructor
Developed by Gina Haycock, Librarian

 

REFERENCE BOOKS:  Located on the first floor of the library behind the Reference Desk.  These books must remain in the library. Reference books include dictionaries, almanacs and encyclopedias. Specialized or subject encyclopedias (concentrating on a particular subject instead of covering all knowledge) are excellent starting points for research. They are focused on a particular topic, cover the major concepts of the topic, are written by experts in the field, and often have bibliographies or other references. Examples of Reference books in the COS library are as follows:

        An A to Z of DNA Science    #R576.503 W823
        The Human Genome Sourcebook    #R611.0181663 A176

CIRCULATING BOOKS: Located on the second floor of the library. Our newest books are, for the most part, in the areas of science and social issues, and current topics, because we try to build the collection to the type of assignments given to students.   
Some subject headings/key words that  you might use in the
COS book catalog  and/or the electronic resources (periodical indexes) are as follows:

physical anthropology

primates--behavior

human evolution

genetics

anthropology, prehistoric

man--origin

primates, fossil

DNA

human genome

fossil man

man, prehistoric

fossil hominids

genes

Goodall, Jane

paleontology

primates

primates--evolution

genomes

hominidae

human biology

radiocarbon primatology genetic code double helix gene mapping
Australopithecus missing link biological anthropology mutation chromosome
evolutionary genetics mitochondrial DNA human population genetics carbon-dating homo sapiens

PERIODICALS INDEXES AND DATABASES: Located on the first floor of the library. Periodicals refer to information printed over a period of time such as magazines, journals and newspapers. These are excellent sources for current and authoritative information. To find an article on a specific topic, it is necessary to use an index.  Indexes are available in paper and electronic formats. The library subscribes to approximately 23 indexes,  300 periodicals and 13 newspapers.  For a list of which periodicals and indexes are available at COS click on the link: http://www.cos.edu/library/periodicalsalpha.htm .  For periodicals that the COS Library does not have available, there is also the possibility of an Inter-Library Loan from Fresno State University.

ALSO, through the Electronic Resources link, http://cos.edu/library/electronic.htm, on the COS Library’s Web Site, there are links to the electronic index subscription databases that the library makes available to COS students. Many of these indexes offer full-text articles, which means the entire article will be available even if the library doesn't subscribe to the periodical itself. If a student is off campus, passwords are necessary to access these databases. Passwords are available for COS students at the COS Library Information Desk or by calling the Library at (559) 737-6179.

InfoTrac  is a periodical index database that works well when using a subject search. When entering a subject search, you can use broad terms, because the index will automatically help to narrow the search. This index is not completely full-text.

 Academic Abstracts is a periodical index database that works well when using a key-word search. When entering a key-word search, you need to use precise words and the more words you add, the narrower the search becomes. This index is not completely full-text.

Another possible search tool is Google Scholar at the URL: http://scholar.google.com/ This search tool indexes books, peer-reviewed papers, theses, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, and universities; however, full-text of the source is often unavailable online.

WEB SITES:
Anthropology in the News - Sponsored by Texas A&M, links to news stories concerning anthropology.
Anthropology Tutorials covering early theories of evolution, genetics, heredity, chromosomal abnormalities, biological adaptability , primates, and the classification of living things.
The Leakey Foundation provides research on human origins.

CITATION:
AAA (American Anthropological Association) Style Guide: http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.htm

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This page was created March 2007.
This page was last updated: 04/25/2008
For questions and comments, please mail to:
ginah@cos.edu

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