The WWW contains many useful sites, but because not all are equally credible and accurate, their evaluation becomes an important part of the research process.  Many of the same methods used to evaluate print sources should also be used to evaluate WWW sites.  Just as you can't believe everything you see in print, so it goes with the WWW-- seeing a site online, doesn't guarantee it's a good source.  It is your job as a World Wide Web user to evaluate a site's quality and relevance.   Please refer to WEB SITE EVALUATION for helpful tips.

If you have any questions about a site you're exploring, ask a librarian for assistance.
 

WEB SITE EVALUATION

The following sites explain how to evaluate what you find on the Web:

Thinking Critically About World Wide Web Resources
(http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/index.htm)

Evaluating Internet Resources/MCC
(http://www.middlesexcc.edu/library/control.cfm?ID=775)

POLITICAL PARTY WEB SITES

Communist Party USA--  http://www.cpusa.org/

Democratic Socialists of America--  http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html

The Democratic National Committee--  http://www.democrats.org/index.html

The Green Party--     http://www.greenparty.org/

The Libertarian Party--  http://www.lp.org/

The Natural Law Party--  http://www.natural-law.org/

The New Party--  http://www.newparty.org/

The Reform Party--  http://www.reformparty.org/

The Republican National Committee--  http://www.rnc.org/

Socialist Party USA--  http://www.sp-usa.org/
 

VOTER INFORMATION WEB SITES

Federal Election Commission-- http://www.fec.gov

League of Women Voters of New Jersey--  http://www.lwvnj.org/

OpenSecrets--http://www.opensecrets.org

Project Vote Smart--  http://www.vote-smart.org
 

NEW JERSEY INFORMATION

NJ Community Resources--- http://www.njcommunityresources.info/index.html

New Jersey State Web site--  http://www.state.nj.us/

New Jersey State Legislature--  http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/

County and Local Governments--  http://www.state.nj.us/localgov.htm

Union County--  http://www.unioncountynj.org/
 

ASSOCIATIONS

American Political Science Association--  http://www.apsanet.org/

Center for American Women and Politics--  http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~cawp/

Public Citizen Congress Watch--  http://www.citizen.org/congress/

Rand--http://www.rand.org/
 

ONLINE JOURNALS

The American Prospect--  http://www.prospect.org/

CityScape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research / HUD--  http://www.huduser.org/periodicals/cityscape.html

Harvard Political Review--  http://www.hpronline.org

The Nation--http://www.thenation.com/

The National Review--  http://www.nationalreview.com/

Political Research Online--  http://pro.harvard.edu/

Public Agenda Online--  http://www.publicagenda.org/

Roll Call--http://www.rollcall.com/
 

LISTSERVS/DISCUSSION GROUPS

Listservs and discussion groups are other important sources of information that complement more traditional sources (books or journals, magazines, etc.).  Listservs are e-mail group messaging systems relating to a specific topic or subject-- listservs route e-mail messages to all subscribers or members of the list.  There are no costs for subscribing.  Though there are listservs and discussion groups on many topics, listed below are a few on the subject of politics.  Joining a listserv gives you an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in your field because it can provide cutting edge discussions on theories and developments within your area of interest or expertise.

Though most lists are open to the general public, there are highly specialized lists that have restricted access regarding participation.  CAUTION:  listservs can generate a great deal of e-mail activity; be selective in subscribing.   It is advisable initially to join one or two to monitor the number of messages and activity generated daily.  This will minimize the risk of disabling your e-mail system due to high volume.

Once a list receives your request to join, instructions will be sent to your e-mail account explaining the list's rules and policies.

Political mailing lists:

congress-l

Discussion list for topics relating to the United States Congress.

To subscribe, send message to:  listserv@lists.ou.edu

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe congress-l your full name

CAMPEL-L

List for news and info about U.S. campaigns and elections.

To subscribe, send message to:  sertelt@aol.com

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe campel_l your full name

DEM-NET

List for issues concerning the US Democratic Party.

To subscribe, send message to:  Listserv@NETCOM.COM

GOV-ETHICS

List concerning government ethics.

To subscribe, send message to: majordomo@ai.org

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe gov-ethics your name@your e-mail address

H-POL

List dedicated to US political history.

To subscribe, send message to:  Listserv@KSUVM.KSU.EDU

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe H-POL your full name

PSWEB-L

Discussion list on the topic of political science.

To subscribe, send message to:  LISTSERV@WVU.EDU

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe PSWEB-L your full name

PUBPOL-D

Open discussion about public policy.

To subscribe, send message to:  listserv@VM1.SPCS.UMN.EDU

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe PUBPOL-D your full name

REPUB-L

Discussion list for Republican politics.

To subscribe, send message to:  listserv@MARIST.BITNET

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe REPUB-L your full name

STATEPOL

Discussion list for state politics.

To subscribe, send message to:  listserv@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU

Leave the subject field empty.  Text field:  subscribe STATEPOL your full name
 

DATABASES

(Available through the UCC Libraries web site.  Remote access [off-campus access] to Library databases is limited by licensing restrictions to the UCC community.  Ask a Librarian for usernames/passwords for remote access to databases.)

ABI Inform (remote access available)

Academic Search Premier (remote access available)

Ethnic NewsWatch (no remote access)

Facts on File (remote access available)

GenderWatch (no remote access)

ingenta (http://www.ingenta.com/  remote access available)

Lexis Nexis Academic (no remote access)

ONLINE CATALOG

Search the online catalog for books, journals, CDs, DVDs, videos owned by the UCC Libraries.  It is possible to search by author, title, subject, keyword (and more).  The holdings of all UCC Libraries are in the catalog, so you have access to materials from all three campus libraries.
 

CALL NUMBER AREAS TO BROWSE

300:  Social sciences
310:  General statistics
320:  Political science
330:  Economics
340:  Law
350:  Public administration
360:  Social services; associations
 

REFERENCE BOOKS

Almanacs

The almanac of women and minorities in American politics.  Martin, M.
Westview Press, 1998.  REF 306.2Ma364 (Cranford)

The almanac of American politics, 2000 : the senators, the representatives, and the governors:... Barone, M.  National Journal, 1999.  REF 328.73Ba268y00 (Cranford)

The New Jersey political almanac.  Griffin, K. (Ed.).  Almanac Research Services, 1993. REF 328.09Ne42p (Plainfield, Elizabeth, Cranford)

Spotlight on New Jersey government.  Prabhu, B.  (Ed.).  Rutgers University Press, 1992. REF 320.4749Sp68e6 (Plainfield, Elizabeth, Cranford)

Dictionaries

Real life dictionary of American politics:  what they're saying and what it really means.  Hill, K.  General Pub. Group, 1994.  REF 320.973Hi553 (Cranford)

The American political dictionary.  Plano, J.  Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1989.
REF 320.973PL693e8 (Cranford)

The urban politics dictionary.  Smith, J.  ABC-Clio, 1990.
REF 320.85Sm61 (Cranford)

Columbia dictionary of political biography.  Columbia University Press, 1991.
REF 920.02Co723 (Cranford)

Encyclopedias

Law and politics:  a cross-cultural encyclopedia.  Strouthes, D.  ABC-Clio, 1995.
REF 340.03St89 (Cranford)

Encyclopedia of minorities in American politics.  Schultz, J.  Oryx Press, 2000.
REF 305.8En19m (Elizabeth)

Encyclopedia of women in American politics.  Schultz, J. Oryx, 1999.
REF 320.082En19 (Cranford)

Encyclopedia of religion in American politics.  Schultz, J. (Ed.).  Oryx Press, 1999.
REF 322.1En19 (Plainfield)

International encyclopedia of the social sciences.  Sills, D. (Ed.).  Macmillan, 1979. REF300.3In8 (Cranford)

Directories

New Jersey legislative district data book.  Bureau of Government Research:
Rutgers University.  REF 328.749Ne45 (Cranford)

The New Jersey municipal data book.  Hornor, E.  (Ed.).  Information Publications, 1999.
REF 317.49Ne42 (Plainfield, Elizabeth, Cranford)

New Jersey legislative manual.  REF 353.974Ne46 (Plainfield, Elizabeth, Cranford)
 

PERIODICALS

The following journals and magazines are in the UCC libraries.  Note:  many additional periodicals relating to politics/public policy are available through the online databases.

American Political Science Review

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Black Issues in Higher Education

Congressional Digest

Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report

CQ Researcher

Foreign Policy Bulletin

Ms.

Political Science and Politics

Political Science Quarterly

The Progressive

Public Affairs Information Bulletin

SIGNS:  Journal of Women in Culture & Society

Utne Reader

INTER-LIBRARY LOAN

If the UCC Libraries do not own a book or journal that you need, you may request an inter-library loan.  The UCC Libraries will obtain a copy of the book, or journal article at no cost to you.  It can take approximately 2 weeks to obtain these materials.  This service is limited to students, staff, and faculty.
 

INTRA-LIBRARY LOAN

The UCC libraries operate as one system.  Therefore, you have access to all of the materials in each of the College libraries.  UCC library materials held on a campus other than the one you are on, will be delivered to you on whichever campus library you designate for pick-up.  Allow 2-3 days for delivery.
 

ACCESS TO OTHER LIBRARIES

Current UCC students, staff, and faculty may borrow materials from:

Kean University, Nancy Thompson Library-- http://library.kean.edu/

Seton Hall University Libraries--  http://library.shu.edu/

You will need a consortium card in order use these libraries; please see a UCC librarian to obtain one. 

HAVE A QUESTION?  ASK A LIBRARIAN.

Please send comments/suggestions regarding this Web page to Elsa Bruguier (bruguier@ucc.edu), Plainfield Campus Librarian.