History: How...? -- Vendors' help sites

What's on this page

This page is divided into sections devoted to getting help

  • from the VT Libraries about our resources and services
  • directly from our vendors about platforms and interfaces that are used 
    1. by across many disciplines (eg, Ebsco, ProQuest, Gale, Adam Matthew, JSTOR, MUSE, SAGE)
    2. by major ebook aggregators (ProQuest, Ebsco, HathiTrust, ACLS, Internet Archive)
    3. to locate current and archived new sources
    4. to locate government and legal information
    5. to locate research data
    6. to use our online mapping/GIS tools (Social Explorer, SimplyAnalytics, PolicyMap)
    7. to access and use the features of streaming video
    8. to measure scholarly impact.

But you might just do a keyword search on this page for the name of a vendor whose platform vexes you.

1. General help pages from widely used providers

Get help using VT Libraries

VT Libraries help services

The library homepage includes a QuickLinks menu, directing users to pages highly used by undergrads, grad students, and faculty.  A site map link appears below the maroon swoosh on the bottom of library webpages.

The Ask a Librarian links appearing throughout the site direct you to people who can help you by phone call, text, or email -- along with a searchable directory of answers to frequently asked questions.

Our various research guides page direct you to resources in academic subjects as well as tools and techniques for using the resources and services of the Virginia Tech libraries and other other academic libraries. 

Odyssey, our "learning object repository," offers a growing list of how-to videos and handouts, addressing topics that include

2. Ebook platform help

3. News/journalism (incluidng historical periodicals) databases help pages

4. Law, policy, & government database help pages

5. Research data providers' help pages

The Virginia Tech Libraries belong to non-profit, university-based repositories like ICPSR (numerical data), QDR (qualitative data), and Roper Center (public opinion polls).  Those repositories typically offer information more broadly about research methods, data-related issues, and instructional materials. We also buy data collections from commercial vendors.

Locally, the library's Data Services unit offers both expertise and facilities to support your data-related work across the research lifecycle.

6. Mapping and related visualization tools help pages

7. Streaming video providers' help pages

8. Research and impact metrics help

The following are vendors' own support resources.  For advice on representing the significance of your work, see the Tell Your Story: Impact & Engagement guide.