Discovery at the Library of Congress
College Park Scholars
Sample Discovery at the Library of Congress Syllabus
In the Spring 2006 semester, for the first time, Discovery offered students the opportunity to work directly with the people and resources of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. This course -- CPSP 339W -- which is jointly offered by College Park Scholars and McKeldin Library -- will introduce you to Library of Congress' librarians, archivists, and specialists who will assist you in identifying the primary research resources available at the Library of Congress to answer your research question.
The focus of your research will be answering a question which you, yourself, initiate and develop. Working with the Discovery instructors and your fellow students you will fine tune your research question and at the Library of Congress begin assessing what kinds of materials may answer it.
As a group, the class will work at the Library on consecutive Friday mornings. Transportation will be provided on these Fridays. Metro cards will also be available for trips to the Library on other days of the week.
The class will also meet one afternoon a week, for 75 minutes, to study five research methods, and to share progress and brainstorm new ideas and approaches for that week's research.
The following topics were explored by students previously in the Library of Congress Discovery course: Federal Courts, Congress, and Democracy, Dead Sea Scrolls: The Copper Scroll, Effect of Poor Oral Health on Pregnancy, Racial Profiling against Muslims: 9/11 to the Present, and The United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Maternal Health.
Consider taking this course -- CPSP 339W. With the assistance of both Scholars staff and the campus' McKeldin's librarians' experts, utilize this, perhaps, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a Researcher's Card at the Library of Congress and study what you would like to study in the world's greatest library!
For more information please contact:Greig Stewart
Executive Director
College Park Scholars
1125 Cumberland Hall
301-314-2777
gstewart@umd.edu
