Library Research Guides: AMST/SOC 225: Life in the Big City: Start Here

Welcome!

Use this guide as a starting point for your research. The tabs on the left-hand side can help you locate specific types of resources and search strategies. Don't hesitate to reach out to your librarian for help!

Background Sources

Use these databases to find brief articles on a general topic, which can be helpful for identifying search terms, narrowing your topic, and locating other resources.

Oxford Bibliographies Online

Annotated bibliographies for a variety of subject areas.
Credo Reference

Hundreds of full-text academic encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other sources for introductions to topics, definitions, or factual information. Includes subject-specific titles from art, literature, education, science, religion, history and more.
Sage Knowledge

Search across more than 100 full text encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works in the social and behavioral sciences.
Oxford Reference Online

Over 400 full-text academic encyclopedias, language dictionaries, books of quotations, and other sources. Includes subject-specific titles from art, classics, history, law, linguistics, literature, media studies, medicine, performing arts, philosophy, religion, science and technology, politics, and more.

Boston Sources

Below are some potentially useful resources for learning about Boston.

City of Boston
Official website of the city of Boston
Boston Planning & Development Authority
In partnership with communities, the BPDA plans Boston’s future while respecting its past. By guiding physical, social, and economic change in Boston’s neighborhoods, the BPDA seeks to shape a more prosperous, resilient and vibrant city for all.
Boston Area Research Initiative
The Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI) seeks to spur original urban research on the cutting edge of social science and public policy. In conducting and interpreting this research, BARI seeks to forge mutually beneficial relationships among the region’s scholars, policymakers, practitioners and civic leaders.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is the regional planning agency serving the people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of Metropolitan Boston. Our mission is to promote smart growth and regional collaboration. Our regional plan, MetroFuture, guides our work as we engage the public in responsible stewardship of our region’s future.
Boston Housing Authority
The BHA provides affordable housing to more than 58,000 residents in and around the City of Boston. Residents are assisted through a combination of public housing and federal and state voucher subsidy programs that provide a wide variety of housing opportunities. As the largest public housing authority in New England, the BHA houses close to 9 percent of the city's residents.
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society has information, artifacts, and collections of art and documents on the history of the state. They also have a research library and electronic resources.