Books contain information that is usually scholarly in nature, especially when purchased for an academic library. Students are encouraged to use books when they are looking for overall background on an issue or an intense analysis of a theory or person.  When creating an assignment or evaluating student selected topics, it is important to know how much information is published on the topic as well as the time frame.

For example, some professors will create an assignment that requires students to find books or articles published in the last 10 years on a subject.   This does not take into account publishing trends on a topic by topic basis.

The given assignment: Find 3 books and 3 articles on your topic published since 1992.

Student selected topic: Slave Revolts

Books available in COAST (all dates)

Books available in COAST (after 1992)

If you note the location of the entries listed after 1992, you will find that 2 items are videos, 2 items are children's books.  That leaves 1 item for a student to use.  Do you see the difference that one limitation makes on an assignment?

 

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