This research guide relays some basic information on library and information resources pertaining to the concerns of this department, as provided by University Libraries and/or sites on the World Wide Web.

1. To Shelf-Browse for Books (using main Library of Congress Subject Divisions)

Books on subjects associated with this field are shelved under the call number ranges listed below. Use TOPCAT to search for specific items in the collection, or more narrowly-defined subjects.

Education:  Education (General), L7-L991 ------- History of Education, LA5-LA2396 ------- Theory and Practice of Education, LB5-LB3640 ------- Teaching (Principles and Practices), LB1025-LB1050.7 ------- Special Aspects of Education, LC8-LC6691 ------- Special Education, LC3950-LC3990.4 ------- Exceptional Children and Youth, LC3950-4806.5 ------- Gifted Children and Youth, LC3991-LC4000 ------- Handicapped/Learning Disabled Children And Youth, LC4001-LC4806.5 ------- Individual Institutions, LD-LG ------- College and School Magazines and Papers, LH1-LH9 ------- Textbooks, LT6-LT1001

Social Sciences:  Handicapped (including blind, deaf, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped), HV1551-HV3024.

2. To Find Journal and Magazine Articles (using indexing/abstracting/full-text services)

The following services are recommended for first-year students and non-majors, as well as advanced students and researchers:

• Academic Search Premier and MasterFILE Premier: These two all-subject WWW-based services (they are part of the EBSCOhost system) feature indexing and abstracting of many journals and magazines WKU Libraries receives in hardcopy, plus a large selection of articles in full-text.
• Career & Technical Education has full text articles about career, vocational, & technical education.
• ERIC (EBSCOhost): Covers over 1000 journals plus research reports and other types of literature on all aspects of education.
• Digital Dissertations Full Text: For access to doctoral dissertations and master's theses.
• Education Full Text: Indexes articles since 1983, abstracts articles since 1994, and selected full text since 1996.
• Educational Administration Abstracts (EBSCOhost): Indexes and abstracts articles in educational administration, including educational leadership, educational management, educational research, and other areas of key relevance to the discipline. Older paper issues are located in Reference at LB2805 .E32 (Ref. Per. Ind.).
• Google Scholar: A free Web-based Google service that restricts searches to the scholarly literature. Now features linking to full-text of articles held by WKU.
• PsycINFO (EBSCOhost): Provides indexing and abstracts for over one million articles in 1,500 journals, plus dissertations, books and book chapters, from 1887 to the present.
• Teacher Reference Center (EBSCOhost): Indexes and abstracts over 270 trade journals and magazines for teachers and administrators.
• KYVL (Kentucky Virual Library): This collection of databases provides the convenience of searching the EBSCOhost databases, as well as others such as Novelist, using a wide variety of search options and the same interface. Links to Kentucky library catalogs, government information, and teacher resources are also available.

Special resource:  TDNet Electronic Journal Finder [use to access Libraries' electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as some indexes and databases containing full-text articles; includes a comprehensive A-Z listing of titles]

3. Monographic Reference Works in Helm Library and the Educational Resources Center

The following are recommended for use:

• Education Index Helm Ref L11.E3x
• Encyclopedia of Special Education Helm Ref LC4007.E53
• To browse for handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, etc. devoted to issues in special education, search the Reference shelves in Helm and the ERC within the LC3950-LC4806.5 and HV1551-HV3024 range of call numbers. Special Education teacher resources can also be found in the Educational Resources Center within this call number range.

4. Exceptional Child Education Faculty Web Pages

• Exceptional Education Department http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/
• Dr. Janet L. Applin http://www.wku.edu/%7Ejanet.applin/
• Dr. Nedra Atwell http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/%7Enwheeler/
• Dr. Andrew Bruce Battles
• Dr. Marty Boman http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/marty.html
• Dr. Janice Ferguson http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~jferguso/
• Ms. Jo Randolph
• Adjunct Faculty:
  • Jane Boman
  • Pete Hoechner
  • Marcus Pedigo http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/marcus.html

5. Related Professional Societies (for professional news, careers/jobs, memberships, etc.)

• American Council of the Blind: http://www.acb.org/
• Association of Learning & Curriculum Development http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/
• Council for Exceptional Children: http://www.cec.sped.org/
• International Dyslexia Association: http://www.interdys.org/
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: http://www.ldanatl.org/
• National Down Syndrome Society: http://www.ndss.org/

6. Web Sites Recommended by Exceptional Child Education Faculty

• ADA Hot Links and Document Center: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm
• ADPRIMA: 504 Plans and IDEA Information: http://www.adprima.com/specialed.htm
• Disability Resources Monthly Guide to Disabilty Resources on the Internet: http://disabilityresources.org/
• EDLAW: http://www.edlaw.net/frames.html
• Education Resource Organization Directory (USDE): http://bcol02.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/
• Education World: http://www.education-world.com/
• Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center: http://www.adagreatlakes.org/
• GreatSchools, Inc. created by Schwab Learning http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1057
• Internet Special Education Resources: http://www.iser.com/index.shtml
• Kentuckiana for School Teachers: http://www.wku.edu/Library/dlps/guides/kyed.htm
• Kentucky Department of Education: http://www.kde.state.ky.us/
• LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org/
• Learning Disability Resources: http://www.dldcec.org/ld_resources/default.htm
• Mark Sheehan's Special Education Page: http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/sped.html
• National Center for Learning Disabilities: http://ncld.org/
• National Council on Disability: http://www.ncd.gov/
• National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children: http://www.nfgcc.org/
• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities: http://www.nichcy.org/
• Network Computing & Communications (WKU): http://ncweb1.wab.wku.edu/ncc/
• Office of Special Education Programs (USDE): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html?src=mr
• Pam Petty's Education Site: http://www.pampetty.com/
• RTI Wire http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/rti/rti_wire.php
• Special Education Network: http://www.specialednet.com/
• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI): http://www.seriweb.com/
• SPED Online: http://www.spedonline.com/

University Libraries Liaison: Roxanne Spencer (x4659 / roxanne.spencer@wku.edu) last updated 8/26/2008
page maintained by Charles H. Smith