Civic Engagement at Scholars
Discovery at the Library of Congress
In the Spring 2006 semester, Discovery offered students for the first time 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 seven consecutive Friday mornings. Transportation will be provided on these seven Fridays. Metro cards will also be available for trips to the Library on other days of the week.
The class will also meet on Wednesday mornings for 50 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 new 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 Bob Garber at McKeldin Library (phone: 301.405.9281; e-mail: rgarber@umd.edu ).
Spring 2008 Discovery at the Library of Congress Syllabus
