Books & Media  |  Magazines & Journals  |  Indexes & Databases  |  Newspapers
Other Libraries  |  Web Sites

BOOKS & MEDIA

Locate books, videos, CD's and other media programs by and about African Americans in the online public access catalog (OPAC) by Author, Title, Subject, or keyword in title & topic. (If you want to browse the book collection, E 185 is the basic call number for books about African Americans.)

Here are a few of the subject headings you can use for a SUBJECT search in the online catalog to find specific titles and call numbers of books and videotapes about African Americans.

MAGAZINES & JOURNALS

Current Print Subscriptions

The current issues of the magazines and journals that the CCC Library receives are on the display racks near the Information Commons. Titles related to African American Studies include: Black Collegian, Black Enterprise, Black Scholar, The Crisis, Ebony, Essence, Journal of African American History Journal of African American Psychology. See the Periodical Holdings list for additional titles.  

The most current issues may be used in the Library only. Older issues may be checked out of the Library. Lift the tilted display shelf to find the issue from the previous 6 -12 months. If you want issues older than those available here,  you will need to fill out a Periodical Request slip at the Circulation Desk.

Bound Periodicals

Many older magazines and journals were bound in hard covers for preservation. They are kept on the low shelves at the far end of the Library, next to Stack #28. These volumes may be used in the Library only.

Magazine & Journal Indexes & Databases

Use a periodical index to locate specific articles in older issues of magazines and journals. The CCC Library has both print and computerized indexes. Printed indexes list articles by Author and/or Subject. The Library's computerized indexes are databases that also contain the full-text of the majority of their citations; they can be searched by Author, Title, Subject and Keyword.  Ask the librarian at the Reference Desk for assistance with subject headings for your research topic and/or for help in using the computerized databases as needed.

Some of the indexes and databases that might be most useful in researching topics in African American Studies are:

Ethnic Newswatch (available via the Library's Database page)

Expanded Academic Index ASAP (available via the Library's Database page)

Index to Black Periodicals (printed index on Index Table #9b)

NEWSPAPERS

The Library subscribes to several newspapers, including The San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Times. The current issues are in the hanging rack at the end of the Periodicals Display Rack.

Older issues are available on microfilm and/or CD-ROM. The printed indexes to these newspapers are on Index Table #9a. Use the computers in the Information Commons to index the New York Times CD-ROM. Ask a librarian to show you how to use the newspaper indexes, and how to operate the microfilm reader/printer machines.

OTHER LIBRARIES

The African American Museum and Library of Oakland and the San Francisco African American Historical & Cultural Society contain books, magazines, newspapers, photographs and archival materials about people of African descent, especially those of the San Francisco Bay Area. They also offer special programs and exhibits. Call for hours and program listings.

Richmond Public Library has a good collection of books, magazines and other materials concerning African-Americans. Any resident of Richmond (or the rest of Contra Costa County) may borrow these items, upon obtaining one of their library cards.

Students at California community colleges may purchase a UCB library card at a discounted rate upon showing their community college student identification. Ask a CCC librarian for assistance for a map of the UCB campus showing the location of the main and branch libraries.

INTERNET / WEB SITES

There are many sites on the Internet where you can information pertaining to African Americans. Use a search engine to help you locate them. Some search engines also provide an directory of sites arranged by broad subject area. These lists are usually broken down into even more specific aspects of a topic. They are great places to browse for interesting sites.

For a list of Internet sites about this subject area that have been reviewed by faculty and/or librarians, see the CCC Site Guide for African Americans.

Go to the Contra Costa College homepage 
Website created/maintained by Ellen Geringer
Send questions or comments about this page to egeringer@contracosta.edu