ENCYCLOPEDIAS provide an overview and summary of a subject and often include bibliographies for further reading. These are very useful tools for an understanding of the many aspects of a subject and to get you started.
GENERAL ENCYCLOPEDIAS
The Canadian Encyclopedia
REF 971.003 CAN
DICTIONARIES
DICTIONARIES provide details about words: meanings, spelling, pronunciation, etc. Some of the Library’s General Dictionaries include Oxford, Random House and Merriams Webster’s. Dictionaries are shelved under the call number REF 423. Some dictionaries may be borrowed from the general collection. GENERAL COLLECTION
WebCat & Library of Congress Subject Headings
The WebCat is the Library's computerized catalogue. It is the listing of books, videos, and journals available in the Library. You can locate material on specific topics by performing a Subject Heading search. Portage College Library uses Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Some sample headings for Truck Transport you can perform a search on in the WebCat:
Trucks
Automobiles
Cars
The Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification System to group books and videos together by subject on the library shelves. The call number on the WebCat corresponds to the number on the label on the spine of the book (e.g. 155.4 BEE).
Examples
629 - Trucks
Diesel: fundamentals, service, repair
621.436 TOB
Diesel equipment [2 volumes]
629.225 SCH
The diesel engine [videorecording]
629.2506 DIE 1997
PERIODICALS: MAGAZINES, JOURNALS, NEWSPAPERS ELECTRONIC DATABASES
Periodicals are published at regular intervals, generally more frequently than annually. Each issue is numbered and/or dated consecutively, and normally contains separate articles, stories, or other writings. Scanning current issues of periodicals in your subject area can be useful when you are trying to think of a topic.
The Edmonton Journal
The Globe & Mail
Lac La Biche Post
National Post
World of Wheels
An electronic database is used to find articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Portage Library subscribes to a number of Web-based electronic databases. For a complete listing of these databases, please see this list and consult with a library staff on the appropriate database(s) to use for your research needs. The databases that you will find useful for your studies are:
Access to databases is restricted to the Portage College students, faculty and staff
WEB SITES
The Internet is a rich source of material. The sites listed here are just a starting point. If you are looking for a specific topic, try typing keywords into one of the basic search tools such as Yahoo, AltaVista, Google, etc.
Owner Operator Independent Driver Association
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The more than 126,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
National Drivers Association
Canadian Trucking Alliance
"The Canadian Trucking Alliance is a federation of provincial trucking associations. We represent a broad cross-section of the trucking industry—some 4,500 carriers, owner-operators and industry suppliers. With our head office in Ottawa and provincial association offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton, CTA represents the industry’s viewpoint on national and international policy, regulatory and legislative issues that affect trucking."
Find Truck Driving Job Nationwide with NAtional Drivers Association
Academic OneFile has extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects. With millions of articles available in both PDF and HTML full-text with no restrictions, researchers are able to find accurate information quickly. Includes full-text coverage of the New York Times back to 1995. Updated daily.
MasterFILE Premier
Covering virtually every subject area of general interest, MasterFILE Premier also includes nearly 500 full text reference books, biographies, primary source documents, and an Image Collection of photos, maps and flags. This database is updated daily.
Oxford English Dictionary [20 volumes]
REF 423 OXF 1989
If off-campus, contact Public Services Librarian for username/password.
Guides
ConsumerGuide used car & truck book
REF 629.22 CON 1999
Lemon-aid SUVs, vans, and trucks
629.223 EDM 2002
