SD45 LIBRARIES
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Using Primary Sources 

Picture
Primary Sources are items that were created or used in the period under study. They are direct sources of information that tell us about people, places, and events. Primary sources can include eyewitness accounts, diaries, letters, photographs, official documents, news articles, and artefacts such as clothing, tools, furniture, artwork, and buildings. They reveal the perspectives of the time, and interpreting the information you get from them is up to you.
When evaluating primary sources, consider the following:
  1. What is the primary source? Is it a photograph, letter, official document, artwork, etc.?
  2. Who created it? 
  3. When was it created? How can you tell?
  4. Where was it created?
  5. Why was it created? What was the creator's purpose?
  6. So what? What conclusions about the past can you draw from this primary source?

Watch this video from The National Archives (UK) about analyzing primary sources.
Where can I find primary sources?
Many museums and archives have created digital databases of their collections, including:

  • Library and Archives Canada
  • Royal BC Museum & Archives
  • Museum of Vancouver Digital Collection
  • West Vancouver District Archives
  • The National Archives (UK)
  • The British Museum Digital Collection (UK)
  • The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (USA)​
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Photo Credit: ​http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/nclc.04610/
West Vancouver School Libraries are located on the territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. 
  • Welcome
    • About Rockridge Library
    • About WVSS Library
    • About Sentinel Library
    • Collection Policy
  • Read
    • Borrowing Policy - WVSS
    • Library Catalogue
    • Your Library Account
    • Community Library Links >
      • West Van Memorial Library
      • North Van District Library
      • North Van City Library
      • Vancouver Public Library
    • English Language Learners (ELL)
    • Online Book Recommendation Sites
  • Research
    • Research Process
    • Research Questions
    • Inquiry Questions
    • Note Taking Tips
    • Evaluating Sources
    • Note Taking Methods
    • RO Assignments
  • Resources
    • Databases
    • Encyclopedias
    • Ebooks
    • Magazines and Newspapers
    • News & Current Events
    • Primary Sources
    • Teacher Resources >
      • Focused Education Resources (ERAC)
      • Follett Lightbox eResources
      • Video Streaming
  • Citing Sources
    • Citing Sources with Noodle Tools
    • In Text Citations (APA)
    • In Text Citations (MLA)
    • Annotated Bibliography
    • Footnotes
    • Citing Images
    • Credit Lines for Images
    • Working Bibliography Sheet
    • Formatting research paper (APA)
    • Formatting research paper (MLA)
    • Interviews
  • Academic Integrity
    • Academic Integrity
    • Plagiarism
    • Copyright
    • Creative Commons