Research Guide to Current Controversies: Library Resources

To find books, audio/visual materials, or print periodicals on your topic, conduct a keyword or subject search in the Library Catalog.

Try synonyms and related terms:

marijuana      OR   cannabis
"civil rights"  OR   "civil liberties"
prostitution   OR   "sex work"

From the information you find in the Catalog, be sure to note:

• the Location of the item in the Library Building 
• the item's Call Number 
• whether the item is available or has been checked out

To become more familiar with finding materials in the Library's print collection, here's a guide to using Library of Congress call numbers:

Research Guides describe and provide access to the most useful resources available through Truxal Library for particular fields of study, including the best databases to use. Use Research Guides to discover and develop research topics within a particular discipline:

• African American Studies
• Architecture
• Business
• Careers
• Criminal Justice & Homeland Security
• Culinary Arts & Food Science
• Current Controversies
• Dance
• Education
• Gender & Sexuality Studies
• Health & Wellness
• History
• Legal Resources
• Literary Criticism
• Music
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math
• Sustainability
• Theater Arts
• Visual Arts
• World Cultures

Click on the links below to search for articles from periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.) and for information from electronic books and multimedia resources. From off-campus, you will need to log in with your MyAACC username and password or Truxal library barcode.

Not enough info? Try our multi-disciplinary databases:

Need more specific info? Try using a subject-specific research guide, like a Business guide, or one for Education, Law, Psychology, Sustainability, etc. See the list of the library's research guides on this page under the heading Research by Discipline.

No full text available?
Have only an article's abstract or just a citation?

Use the library's Finding Articles from Citations page, which is part of the Finding Materials from Citations Guide.

For assistance, contact the reference desk at 410-777-2456 or truxal@aacc.libanswers.com.

Truxal Library has a wide selection of reference and circulating materials on current controversies.  Try searching the Library Catalog for "taking sides" or "opposing viewpoints" to find books that tackle controversial topics. 

More ways to get help:

• Search our Frequently Asked Questions.
• Send us your question.
• Call us at 410-777-2456.
• Make an appointment with a librarian online via the Virtual Writing Center.

MLA-style and APA-style guidelines change over time, especially for citing sources accessed electronically.  For the most up-to-date information about how to cite sources correctly, visit these pages:

• MLA
• APA

Using a citation generator from a database or website?
Doublecheck to be sure the generator has used the newest rules.