Africana Studies 100.3: Exploring Self-Knowledge with Stories by African American Woman Writers
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/afr100_3.html

 

  Library Gateway Overview
  Finding Background Material
  Finding Books
  Finding Periodical Articles
  Evaluating Sources
  Citing Sources
  Reference Help

  Question? Ask a Librarian  

 


CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GATEWAY

Library Catalog | Find it!: Articles Databases e-Journals Images | MyLibrary | Ask a Librarian | Individual Libraries

The Cornell University Library Gateway is the Cornell University Library's homepage on the World Wide Web. The Gateway lists information about the CU Library and provides access to library resources and services.

Research Strategy and Process - An online tutorial offering instructions and suggestions on how to make your research skills and use of the Library more efficient and effective.

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FINDING BACKGROUND RESOURCES

Handbooks and Encyclopedias

African American Writers
Smith, Valerie, ed.
2nd ed. 2 Vols. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 2001
(Uris Ref   PS153 .N5 A344 1990, Olin Ref   PS153 .N5 A23 2001, also Africana Ref   PS153 .NS A231)

This up-to-date and very well-written handbook covers the writing of over 50 African-Americans from slave narratives to contemporary fiction. The entries consist of a biographical, critical essay for each author and a thorough bibliography. Many essays include excerpts of work by the author. Also included is a chronology, a list of contributors, and an index.

American National Biography
New York: Oxford UP, 2000
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   CT213 .A68x 1999)

The landmark American National Biography offers portraits of more than 17,400 men and women -- from all eras and walks of life -- whose lives have shaped the nation. More than a decade in preparation, the American National Biography is the first biographical resource of this scope to be published in more than sixty years.

Published in 24 volumes in 1999, the American National Biography won instant acclaim as the new authority in American biographies." (Oxford University Press' About the ANB Web Page.) The online edition is "updated quarterly, with hundreds of new entries each year and revisions of previously published entries to enhance their accuracy and currency. The ANB Online features thousands of illustrations, more than 80,000 hyperlinked cross-references, links to select web sites, and powerful search capabilities."

American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies
Unger, Leonard, ed.
4 Vols. New York: Scribner's, 1974
(Uris Ref   PS129 .A51), with supplements (1979-2004)

This is an excellent source for information about the lives, careers and works of major American writers. The nearly 100 essays were originally published as the University of Minnesota's Pamphlets on American Writers and contain, in addition to biographical materials, a selected bibliography of the author's books as well as books and articles about him/her, and a critical analysis and evaluation of the writer's work. Arranged alphabetically by author from volume one through four. The final volume also includes an index to authors, titles and subjects mentioned throughout the work. The major weakness of the original set is that it includes very few women or black writers. The set has now been updated with twelve supplements in eighteen volumes, which include many more women and black writers.

Black Literature Criticism: Excerpts from Criticism of the Most Significant Works of Black Authors over the Past 200 Years
Draper, James P., ed.
3 Vols. Detroit: Gale, 1992
(Olin Ref   PS153 .N5 B617, also Africana Ref)

This set contains a selection of criticism of works by major black writers. Including poets, essayists, autobiographers, novelists and more. Approximately half of the entries were selected and updated from the Gale's Literary Criticism Series. The entries include introductions to the author and extensive excerpts from the selected criticism. The set also includes an author index, nationality index, and a title index.

Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia
Hine, Darlene Clark, ed.
2 Vols. Brooklyn: Carlson, 1993
(Uris Ref   E 185.86 .B542x 1993, also Olin Ref, Africana Ref)

This encyclopedia contains 804 entries, including 641 biographical entries and 163 which deal with general topics and organizations. The subjects of the biographies are individuals who played a role on the national stage. Each entry contains a brief biography. A 23-page chronology is also included.

Contemporary Authors: A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers in Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Poetry, Journalism, Drama, Motion Pictures, Television and Other Fields
Vol. 1-. Detroit: Gale, 1962-
Available online through Find It! Databases. Search for Literature Resource Center.

An excellent source for information on both major authors and new and relatively unknown authors. An up-to-date source of biographical information supplied by the individual authors. Also included are bibliographies, work in progress, career, and personal facts. Covers authors living as of 1960.

Contemporary Black Biography
Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1992-
(Africana Ref   DT18 .C76)

Neurosurgeon Keith Lanier Black, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Kraft executive Paula A. Sneed, and journalist Laura Washington are among the individuals newly profiled in this addition to the series. There are also updated entries for Arthur Ashe, Ella Fitzgerald, and Will Smith.

Contemporary Literary Criticism: Excerpts from Criticism of the Works of Today's Novelists, Poets, Playwrights, and Other Creative Writers
Vol. 1-. Detroit: Gale, 1973-
Available online through Find It! Databases. Search for Literature Resource Center.

Also in print,
(Uris Ref   PN771 .C762)

Designed as an ongoing series of selective excerpts from critical writings (books and periodical articles) on contemporary authors. Writers treated are those who are either now living or who have died since January 1, 1960. In addition, consideration is given to writers of current interest and authors of mystery and science fiction writing. Full citations to the source follow the excerpts. Arrangement of each volume is alphabetical by author's surname. Index to authors covered in series is cumulated in each volume. Olin Library has volumes one through eighteen in the stacks.

Dictionary of Afro-American Slavery
Miller, Randall M. and John David Smith, eds.
Westport: Greenwood, 1988
(Africana Ref   E441 .D55, and Uris Ref   E185 .D55)

Focused on the United States and placed in time between the first English settlement in North America and the Reconstruction period after the Civil War, this dictionary contains entries on such subjects as abolition, the slave trade, the underground railroad, Nat Turner, slavery in the various regions of the U.S., slave culture, religious influences and much more. Entries vary in length from a brief paragraph to many pages, and nearly all are followed by references to further readings. Appendixes include a chronology of Afro-American slavery, a list of editors and contributors, and finally, a subject and name index.

Dictionary of Literary Biography
Detroit: Gale, 1978-
Available online through Find It! Databases. Search for Literature Resource Center.

Also in print,
(Uris Ref   PS129 .D55)

An on-going set of volumes, published by Gale Research Company and designed to provide biographic, bibliographic, and critical material on major writers of America and Great Britain as well as some writers of Canada, France and Germany. Each volume is arranged alphabetically by the writers covered. There are numerous portraits and often there are appendices containing special information. A list of further reading concludes each volume. An index to all volumes appears at the end of each latest volume. Olin and Africana buy selective volumes.

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History: the Black Experience in the Americas
Palmer, Colin A., ed.
2nd ed. 6 Vols. Detroit: Macmillan Reference, 2006
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   E185 .E54 2006, 1st ed. in Uris Ref   E185 .E54 1996, also Africana Ref)

This second edition of the award-winning Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History is a much-needed expansion of the 1996 classic and its 2000 Supplement, both of which focused almost exclusively on the United States. Widening its lens to include the whole Western Hemisphere, the new edition identifies and addresses broad themes critical to understanding the texture of cultures, achievements and challenges ( publisher ). The entries include biographies, descriptions of events, historical eras, legal cases, areas of cultural achievement, professions, sports, and places. Each entry includes a list of references. Volume six includes an appendix which provides extensive statistical information. Cross-references with in the entries make it easy to follow related topics. A revised and updated version of the first edition also available in Africana Library on CD-Rom.

Encyclopedia of Black America
Low, W. Augustus and Virgil A. Clift, eds.
New York: Da Capo Press, 1984
(Africana Ref   E185 .E56+, as well as Olin Ref, and Uris Ref   E185 .E57 1981+)

The first comprehensive volume summarizing major and minor events of the history of black people. Entries fall into three categories: articles, biographies and cross references. The category for articles is divided into clusters, arranged alphabetically; examples include Africa, African Legacy/Survivals, Afro-American History, Civil Disorders, Civil Rights, Education, Literature, Music, Newspapers, Race, and Slavery. Biographies comprise the second category and are more concise than the articles. They number about 1400. The major limitation of this source is that the date of material does not extend beyond 1976-1977.

Encyclopedia of Religion
Jones, Lindsay, ed.
2nd ed. 15 Vols. Detroit: Macmillan, 2005
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref BL31 .E57 2005, as well as first edition Uris Ref BL31 .E55)

"This second edition, which is intended to reflect both changes in academia and in the world since 1987, includes almost all of the 2,750 original entries -- many heavily updated -- as well as approximately 600 entirely new articles. Preserving the best of Eliade's cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture, this new edition is the definitive work in the field for the 21st century. An international team of scholars and contributors have reviewed, revised and added to every word of the classic work, making it relevant to the questions and interests of all researchers." (Publisher's Web Site)

Facts on File Encyclopedia of Black Women in America
Hine, Darlene Clark, ed., Kathleen Thompson, associate ed.
11 Vols. New York: Facts on File, 1997
(Africana Ref   E 185.96 .F2x 1997)

This 11-volume set features biographical information on about 950 well-known and lesser-known African American women in a variety of fields and professions, as well as historical information about 100 institutions. Each subject volume is organized alphabetically by surname or organization and includes an introductory chapter, chronology (most covering through 1995), bibliography, index, black-and-white photographs, and content information about the entire set.

The Handbook of African American Literature
Ervin, Hazel Arnett.
Gainesville : University Press of Florida, 2004
(Olin Ref   PS153 .N5 E78 2004, also Africana Ref)

This handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the analysis, interpretation, history, and appreciation of African American literature. It features 415 literary terms, ages, movements, periods, and cultural sources, covering works of major critics and major and minor writers from the 1700s to the present. Also included is a literary timeline, divided into sections for African, African American, and Anglophone Caribbean literature that illustrates what was written during the same years in different parts of the world.

Modern American Women Writers
Showalter, Elaine, ed.
New York: Scribner's, 1991
(Uris Ref   PS151 .M68 +, also Olin Stacks)

This addition to Scribner's respected Writers series of reference books provides scholarly, biographical and critical articles on forty-one representative women writers who published in the United States since 1870. Articles also review important individual titles and place them in the context of each author's overall work. Each signed article includes a selected bibliography of critical and biographical studies.

Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism
Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Company, 1981-
(Uris Ref   PN761 .N71)

NCLC provides criticism on the works of nineteenth-century authors. Each annual volume includes criticism on about 40 to 50 writers. Each alphabetical author entry includes: the author heading (with full name and dates of birth and death), a short biographical paragraph, a list of principal works and then the criticism excerpts (each containing a full citation to their source). Uris Library has the first thirteen volumes only.

Notable Black American Women
Smith, Jessie Carney, ed.
Detroit: Gale Research, 1992
(Uris Ref   E185.96 .N89; also Africana)

Arranged alphabetically, this source includes 500 biographies of historically important Black American women, from colonial times to the present. Areas of endeavor are diverse, and include abolitionists, entertainers, activists, philanthropists, and writers. Articles contain references for further reading.

Oxford Companion to African American Literature
Andrews, William L., Frances Smith Foster, and Trudier Harris, eds.
New York: Oxford, 1997
Available online through the Library Catalog (Contains fewer entries than the print version.)

Also in print,
(Uris Ref   PS153 .N5 O96x 1997, and Olin Ref   PS153 .N5 O98 1997)

A landmark handbook comprising the contributions of over 350 contributors. Entries include themes like "Black Aesthetic" and "Freedom." Other entries cover topics such as "Folk Literature" and "Slave Narratives." There are over 400 biographical entries ranging in length from two hundred to more than two thousand words. Many of the entries include brief bibliographies. The work is extremely well-organized, with many cross-references and a detailed index.

The Oxford Companion to Philosophy
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995-
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
2nd ed. (Olin Ref   B51 .O94 2005).

"An assembly of 249 distinguished philosophers have contributed to The Oxford Companion to Philosophy to create the most authoritative and engaging philosophical reference work in English. It gives clear and reliable guidance to all areas of philosophy and to the ideas of all notable philosophers from antiquity to the present day. The scope of the volume is not limited to English-language philosophy: it surveys the foremost philosophy from all parts of the world. The book covers philosophical topics from animal souls, arthritis in the thigh, and brain in a vat to Zoroastrianism and vague objects. There are more than fifty extended entries of 3,000 words on the main areas of philosophy and the great philosophers." (Publisher's description)

The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
Blackburn, Simon.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   B41 .B62)

This dictionary is meant to be a "resource for anyone interested in general intellectual movements". (Preface) It contains definitions to over 3000 philosophical terms and those from related disciplines (theology, physics, psychology, sociology) "where such terminology is heavily embedded in philosophical discussion". (Preface) It also includes historical philosophers and scientists whose work brought about major changes in philosophical thought. The definitions contain extensive cross-references.

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Craig, Edward, ed.
10 Vols. London; New York: Routledge, 1998
Available online through the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   B51 .R68 1998)

The Routledge Encyclopedia provides an excellent update to the older Encyclopedia of Philosophy. It covers a wide range of philosophical topics in 9 Vols., (the tenth volume is the index) containing just over 2,000 signed entries. There are many more entries than in the older encyclopedia, with much better coverage of non-Western philosophy and more biographical entries. Survey articles are not as comprehensive, however. The Routledge Encyclopedia's coverage of ethics is noticeably better, making this a first choice for ethicists. Articles are followed by brief bibliographies. An excellent resource.

The Online version of the 10-volume Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy can be browsed by philosophical themes, philosophies, historical periods, and religions. Full text entries can be searched by keyword, title, contributor, or bibliography.

Toni Morrison: An Annotated Bibliography
Middleton, David L.
New York: Garland, 1987
(Olin Stacks   Z8595.4 .M62 1987, also Africana Ref)

Part of the Garland Reference Library of the Humanities series, this volume is a comprehensive collection of criticism of the works of Toni Morrison up to 1983. Types of sources include magazines, journals, collections of essays, books, and dissertations. Most entries include lengthy annotations which include the thesis and major points presented in the work reviewed.

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FINDING BOOKS

Connect to the Cornell University Library Catalog

The Cornell University Library Catalog includes the holdings of all of the libraries on the Ithaca campus, in addition to those of the Geneva Experiment Station. (The Medical College Library, located in New York City, has a separate catalog.) The catalog contains records for books, computer files, government documents, manuscripts and archives, maps, musical scores, periodicals, serials, sound recordings, and visual materials received and cataloged since 1973. There are also records for most pre-1973 items, and for items that are on order or in process.

Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers

Library of Congress Classification

The Cornell University Library uses Library of Congress subject headings as the standard for subject searching. Unlike searching by keyword, where any term or wording of a topic can be entered into the computer, subject searching requires you to use the exact wording of an official Library of Congress subject heading in order to retrieve search results.

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FINDING PERIODICAL ARTICLES

Periodical indexes identify and locate articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Periodical indexes provide the authors, titles, and sometimes abstracts, of relevant articles, along with the name of the periodical, volume, pages and date. Some online periodical indexes also provide the full-text of the article. When full-text articles are not provided, use the Cornell Library Catalog to determine which library owns the periodicals you need. For the complete list of indexes see Find it! Databases

Please see selected list of indexes below:

Academic Search Premier
Ipswich, MA: EBSCO Publishing, 1984 to present
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

This interdisciplinary database provides citations and abstracts for articles from over 4,140 journals, and includes full-text articles from over 3,170 journals.

AltPressIndex
Baltimore, MD: Alternative Press Center
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Indexes journals covering cultural, economic, political, and social change. Coverage is international and interdisciplinary, with citations drawn from alternative, radical, and left periodicals, newspapers and magazines. Includes selected abstracts from research journals. Subjects covered include anarchism, democracy, ecology, feminism, gay and lesbian issues, indigenous peoples, labor, national liberation, and socialism.

Alt-PressWatch
Stamford, CT: Softline Information, Inc., 2001-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Full text database of selected newspapers, magazines, and journals of the alternative and independent press. Basic or advanced subject searching takes you to in-depth articles on contemporary society, including coverage of the peace movement, ecology and the environment, labor, indigenous peoples, public policy, and grassroots organizing. This coverage of diverse points of view and perspectives complements the reporting in the mainstream press.

America: History and Life
Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1964-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin stacks   Z1236 .A2 A5+)

Indexes and abstracts national, regional, and international journals, book and media reviews, dissertations, and books covering American and Canadian history from pre-history to the present. Includes materials from archival, library, and historical society collections. This publication is an outgrowth of the earlier Historical Abstracts which attempted to cover U.S. history as well as world history.

ATLA Religion
American Theological Library Association
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

A comprehensive database that contains citations from international titles and multi-author works in and related to the field of religion. It also includes a full range of index citations to journal articles, essays in multi-author works, book reviews, and Doctor of Ministry projects from ATLA's print indexes: Religion index one (RIO), Religion index two (RIT), and: Index to book reviews in religion (IBRR).

Biography Index: A Cumulative Index to Biographical Material in Books and Magazines
New York: Wilson, 1984-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also in print,
(Olin Ref   Z5301 .B61+), 1946 to the present.

Covers biographical material appearing in more than 2,500 periodicals, in current books of individual and collective biography in the English language, and in obituaries (including those of national interest published in the New York Times). Types of biographical material included are: pure biography, critical material of biographical significance, autobiography, letters, diaries, memoirs, journals, genealogies, fiction, drama, poetry, and bibliographies. Persons indexed are from all countries and all historical periods. In two sections: 1) name alphabet; 2) index by profession and occupation. For almost any biographical research, it is the best place to start looking for recent material.

Black Studies Database: Kaiser index to Black resources
Baltimore, MD: National Information Services Corp., 1997-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also on Disc,
(Africana Ref   Disc Z1361 .N39 B625)

This database covers events critical to the study of Black life and culture outside of Africa including notable figures in Black history, culture, and sports; the Civil Rights Movement; the growth of the NAACP and the National Urban League; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; jazz and soul music; Taken from more than 150 publications relevant to the Black experience and African Diaspora.

Ethnic NewsWatch
Stamford: Softline Information, 1990-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also on Disc,
(Africana Ref   Disc Z1361 .N39 B625)

This is a multi-cultural database containing the full-text of articles, columns, and editorials from 125 ethnic and minority American newspapers and news magazines. It includes African-American, Arab-American, Asian-American, Eastern European, European, Hispanic/Chicano/Latino, Jewish, and Native American publications. Spanish-language newspapers are in Spanish; the database is searchable in English and Spanish. Local, national, and international business, economic, political, and social issues are covered in addition to entertainment, fashion and music topics.

Index to Black Periodicals
Detroit: Gale Group, 1999-2004
Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1950-1998
(Africana Ref   Z1361 .N39 I38; also Olin Stacks)

Also on Disc,
(Africana Ref   Z1039 .B56 B62), 1995-2004.

A yearly author and subject index to about 25 Afro-American periodicals of general and scholarly interest. The journals which are included cut across such disciplines as psychology, sociology, education, history and popular culture, etc. Formerly called the Index to Periodical Articles By and About Blacks, and is the best source available for articles from black journals.

MLA Bibliography
New York: Modern Language Association, 1925-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Also in print,
1921 - 1962, (Olin Ref   Z7006 .M68 +)
1963 - 2004, (Olin Stacks   Z7006 .M68 +)

An international database providing references to scholarly articles from over 4000 journals dealing with languages, literature, folklore and linguistics. It is useful for finding literary criticism of a particular author or work, as well as articles on literary theory, women's studies, popular culture, and performing arts.

ProQuest Research Library
Ann Arbor: UMI, 1986-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Research Library, formerly known as Periodical Abstracts, is a comprehensive database available through the ProQuest online system. It indexes and abstracts general interest magazines and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities and sciences. It comprises two components: a core list of periodicals covering about 800 publications, and 15 subject-specific modules that supplement the core list. Modules cover arts, business, children, education, general interest, health, humanities, international studies, law, military, multicultural studies, psychology, sciences, social sciences, and women's interests. Full text of many articles is provided.

Philosopher's Index
Bowling Green, OH: Philosopher's Information Center
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Provides indexing and abstracts from books and many journals on philosophy and related interdisciplinary fields published in the U.S. and the Western World. Coverage is from 1940 to the present for U.S. materials, and 1967 to the present for non-U.S. references.

Women's Studies International
Baltimore: National Information Services Corp., 1972-
Available online through Find It! Databases or the Library Catalog

Provides citations and some abstracts to the core areas of Women's studies. Covers journals, newspapers, newsletters, bulletins, books, book chapters, proceedings, reports, theses, dissertations, NGO studies, web sites and grey literature.

For more databases see Find it! Databases.

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EVALUATING SOURCES

Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography lists the steps to create a bibliography, and gives examples of annotated bibliographies.

How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the usefulness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.

Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, appearance, and intended audience.

Evaluating Web Resources lists ways to analyze the Web sites you find.

Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.

For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.

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CITING SOURCES

Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity
Give credit where credit is due. Cite your sources using the style listed below or another style approved by your instructor. A handout summarizing the MLA style is available at Uris and Olin Reference.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed.
Gibaldi, Joseph
New York: MLA, 1999.
(Olin Ref   Z 253 .M68 1999, also Uris Ref)
and Library Gateway MLA Citation Guide

This handbook is based on the MLA Style Manual and is intended as an aid for college students writing research papers. Included here is information on selecting a topic, researching the topic, note taking, the writing of footnotes and bibliographies, as well as sample pages of a research paper. Extremely useful for the beginning researcher.

Managing information using RefWorks
RefWorks is web-based software that allows you to easily collect, manage, and organize bibliographic references by interfacing with databases. RefWorks also interfaces directly with Word, making it easy to import references and incorporate them into your writing, properly formatted according to the style of your choice. For more information and to set up an account go to http://refworks.cornell.edu.

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RESEARCH AND REFERENCE HELP

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        Evaluate your learning in this class        


Updated: 18 December 2007 (nm)
Tony Cosgrave - ajc5 AT cornell.edu
Reference Librarian


Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, okucirc@cornell.edu