Each year, Fall brings with it the "Oscars" in outdoor literature.  After a season of scrambling, whitewater, equine ramblings, or the like, outdoor enthusiasts can treat themselves to a comfy chair and a good book.  There may be others, but I am aware of two sets of awards given out in the Fall.  The National Outdoor Book Awards are to be released November 12.  Numerous award categories are represented, including books related to history, biography, design, guidebooks, and children.

Also released every Fall are the Banff Centre's Banff Mountain Book Festival (they have an awesome film festival too, by the way).  Categories are similar, but be aware that you might not find the more Canada-specific titles in the KCLS catalog.  You can always request the purchase of a title, though.

I always find at least a few titles that inspire me, and awe me.  Now, get out your snowshoes and crampons!

African American Experience
Covering the modern and historical African American experience, there is a Primary Source Index under Resources.

Daily Life Online
Daily life in other cultures and through history, with information drawn from the acclaimed series of books from Greenwood Press, there is a Primary Documents link under Resources.

Latino American Experience
Covering the modern and historical Latino American experience, there is a Primary Source Index under Resources.

New York Times - Historical Newspapers
Full text and images from the New York Times are available dating back to 1851.

Nineteenth Century Newspapers
Full text and images from a variety of US newspapers from the 1800s.

Primary Sources Reference Collection
A collection of online books that collect primary sources. These are also listed in the main library catalog.

World Conflicts Today
Reports on major world conflicts, each with primary sources available.

American Indian History and Culture
Covering Native American history, there is a Primary Sources option under Browse.

American Song and Music Online
Original music from the time and place being researched, sometimes about the event itself, are available for online streaming.

AP Images
Newsworthy photographs, including historical photographs.

Discovering Collection
The collection includes books on history and searches can be limited to primary sources. Heritage Quest
Though aimed at genealogical researchers, this database contains many primary source local history books.

Newspaper Archive
Historic newspapers from small and large towns.

Sanborn Maps
Historical maps of Washington state cities and towns.]]> http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/what-databases-have-historical.html http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/what-databases-have-historical.html Collections. Online. Teachers. Databases History Day Primary Sources Research Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:05:48 -0800 A. The Handbook of Vintage Remedies.
B. The Complete Coracle Handbook: Boating the Portable Way
C. The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook
D. The Complete Anchoring Handbook: Stay Put on Any Bottom in Any Weather
(answer after the break)]]> http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-handbooks.html http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-handbooks.html Collections. Online. Quiz Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:08:24 -0800 What are primary sources?
Primary sources are sources of historical information that were created at the time of the historical event or later by witnesses to the event. They may be government records, diaries, letters, photographs or paintings, newspapers, interviews, or speeches: anything that is a first-hand account of a historical event.

What primary sources can I find in the library?
You can find reproductions of many primary sources: pictures of original documents, photographs, or transcriptions (re-typings or copies) of documents. If the historical event is relatively recent, you may even find some original documents.

Where are the primary sources?
They might be in books, magazines, databases, or on web pages. They might be in a format that also includes secondary sources.

What use are secondary sources?
Most research projects that require primary sources will also require some background research using secondary sources that can give a broad overview of the topic. These secondary sources will cite their own, often primary, sources in their bibliography. You can use the author's research to get your own research started.

Where can I find some good primary sources?

The library catalog: Search for your topic in the library catalog. Many of the books will include or help you find primary sources. Or try a keyword search for "primary sources" to see books and electronic books in the library collection. You may need to search for a broader topic to find a book that includes what you want, like searching for World War II instead of Iwo Jima.

Library databases: Go to http://www.kcls.org, click on Databases, then click on Primary Sources in the Subject List of Databases. This will list some major sources you can use online (with your library card). Many other databases will have a search option for primary sources.

Web sites: Find out what organizations study your topic. If they have a web site, they may have online versions of primary sources. Libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and government agencies are all good starting places. Adding the phrase "digital collections," "archives," or "papers" to a general web search can often help you find an organization that has collected primary sources.

I still need help!

Talk to a librarian about what you need to find. Library staff are familiar with many ways to find primary sources.

A few great places for primary sources online:

American Memory from the Library of Congress
Primary sources for US history.

National Archives and Records Administration
The US Government's archive of government records through history.

HistoryLink
Primary and secondary sources for Washington State history.

Washington History
Historical books, newspapers and photographs from early Washington State history. ]]> http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/primary-sources-in-historical.html http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/primary-sources-in-historical.html Collections. Online. Teachers. Databases History Day Primary Sources Research Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:56:41 -0800 A. Mischief Maker's Manual
B. The Skateboarding Field Manual
C. The Vixen Manual
D. The Good Girl's Manual
(answer after the break)]]> http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-owners-manuals-ii.html http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-owners-manuals-ii.html Collections. Online. Quiz Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:06:16 -0800 A. President for Life: How You, Too, Can Start Your Own Country!
B. America, the Owner's Manual: Making Government Work for You
C. The Must-Have Mom Manual: Two Mothers, Two Perspectives, One Book that Tells You Everything You Need to Know
(answer after the break)]]> http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-owners-manuals.html http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/09/bogus-books-owners-manuals.html Collections. Online. Quiz Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:04:00 -0800