SAIS Library offers over 200 databases relevant to the curriculum. Below we highlight some databases that are useful for starting your research. Please consult the Library’s subject-based research guides and/or use A - Z Online Resources to find more specialized resources. Periodical Articles
Google Scholar covers multiple subjects, but be sure to configure the Scholar Preferences to work with JHU online resources
Books JHU Libraries Catalog for books at any Johns Hopkins library
WorldCat for identifying books outside of Johns Hopkins. It includes virtually anything cataloged by most U.S. libraries and a growing number of non-US libraries (including archival resources, documents, web resources, maps, etc.)
Google Books is a project-in-progress allowing you to search the full text of books (not all books!)
Encyclopedia Articles Articles in encyclopedias can be a good way to start your research. Titles include:
Encyclopedia Britannica entries include links to journal articles and related websites
Access Science
International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Routledge Reference Resources: Politics and International Relations for access to more than 20 specialized encyclopedias
News Sources See LexisNexis, ProQuest Newspapers, World News Connection. See also Guide to News Sources.
Dissertations Dissertations and Theses indexes virtually every PhD dissertation completed in the U.S. and many master’s theses. Many titles are available in full text PDF.
Working Papers / Policy Briefs Options include CIAO (Columbia International Affairs Online), Policy File, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Papers, Centre for Economic Policy Research Working Papers, World Bank e-Library, Source OECD, and Congressional Research Services Reports.
Country Research EIU Country Profiles and Reports, Europa World, and Political Handbook of the World.
Statistics Key sources of data include International Financial Statistics, Global Development Finance, World Development Indicators, UN Common Database, Source OECD, and the EIU Data Services. Use LexisNexis Statistical (using the “Search Abstracts” portion of the database) to identify publications that may have the data you need. For more databases, see: Selected Statistics Sources in the SAIS Library.
Other Tips Use RefWorks to keep track of (and keep notes on) the references you find in the course of your research. Also helps build bibliographies.
Look for the  icon in most databases. It will help retrieve online fulltext access to the publication you want. If not, you can use FIND IT to link to SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan and ask JHU to borrow the title from another library. The Reference Desk is open Monday – Friday, 9 – 5, or call us at 202-663-5901. Email us a Reference Question
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