International Strategy and Security

Welcome to the research guide for International Strategy and Security (ISS). You will find books, news resources, research databases, and tips for citing and searching for information. I am your Librarian Liaison, Laurie Borchard, if you have questions about this guide or need in-depth research assistance, you can stop by the library or make an appointment with me.

Goals of This Research Guide

1. Provide quick access to relevant academic resources for your major. 
2. Connect you with your Librarian. 
3. Assist you with the information you need to write papers, complete class assignments, and get help with your research.

Using This Research Guide

This guide is organized into five sections, focusing on types of information sources and relevant topics for your major. You can start by clicking the links below or using the side navigation tabs on the left side. Each section will provide links to library databases, websites, books, and academic journals. 

Definition of Library Terms

The following are common terms used in academic libraries. 

Database - an organized collection of data or publications accessible online. Library databases include ebooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, statistics, reports, and more! 

Liaison - each librarian here at Cal Maritime works closely with academic majors and departments. We call ourselves "liaison librarians" ensuring that students have the knowledge, resources, and support for academic success. 

OneSearch or Library Catalog - an online search tool used to find all the physical and electronic items held by the Cal Maritime Library including items in all of our databases. 

Research Guide - this website you are on is a research guide, it is a specially curated website librarians create for specific majors, courses, and general topics. 

Searching for Information 

A lot of the information you will find in our catalog and databases is actually NOT freely available anywhere else. Google is awesome for quick answers and a great place to get started, but what the library has to offer simply does not compare. Our databases are curated, well-organized collections of books, eBooks, academic journals, data sets, statistics, videos, images, and more. 

Things to Know While Searching

• The library pays a lot of money to provide access to these specialized collections.
• You may need to login using your CSUM credentials to access the content. 
• You can access our collection anywhere (even off campus) and at anytime, 24/7.
• DO NOT type entire questions into a search box. Use keyword or phrase searching and put quotation marks around names, titles, and phrases. 
  • Ex. "U.S. Foreign Policy" AND China