K-12 Resources for Students and Teachers - Longview

MCC libraries use the Dewey Decimal system to locate books on our shelves. Here are some facts to know about the Dewey Decimal System:

• Items are organized by subject matter, i.e. topic or theme. 
• Each item is assigned a 'call number' which is located on the spine of the book or item.
  • That call number correlates to a specific subject area.
  • For example, items containing information on the history of Japan use a call number beginning with 960. Information on diabetes is under the call number beginning with 616.
• The items are then organized on the shelf in call number numerical order from 0 to 999.
• Because call numbers group like themes together, items with the same subject matter will found together on the shelf.

Academic vs. Non-Academic: Academic sources are primarily used at the college level. These sources are different from non-academic sources because they are written by experts in their field and they are reviewed by other experts before being published to ensure that they are timely and accurate. Articles found in databases often refer to these sources as "peer-reviewed" or "scholarly."

Primary vs. Secondary: A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time period under study. They offer an inside view of a particular event. Secondary sources interpret and analyze primary sources. These sources are one step removed from the event.

Some types of primary sources include:

• Original Documents: Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, and official records.
• Creative works: poetry, drama, novels, music and art.
• Relics or artifacts: Pottery, furniture, clothing, and buildings.

Some types of secondary sources include:

• Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias

Your local library has wonderful resources available for students to use. You can find articles, books, films and e-books, that you can download to your e-readers like the Kindle or Nook. You can also download free apps, such as Overdrive or Libby, to use on your cell phone to checkout e-books. The library has links to help you with your homework as well. 

Be sure to get a library card to access their databases and online resources!

Mid-Continent Public Library

• Research and Learning

Kansas City Public Library

• Online Resources for Teens