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POPC 1600: Icons and Other Things (Fall 2025)

Icons and How to Find Out About Them

Let's Get Started (if you haven't already)

  • Some questions to ask yourself about the person you'd like to study:
    • Who are they and what all do they do - are they well-known in one particular industry or are they active in multiple industries?
      • Ex. Elvis was primarily known as a musician, but was an actor for a time
    • How long have they been active?
    • Do they often work with others who might affect their impact

Primary vs. Secondary Sources - What's the Difference? (in a nutshell, please)

  • Primary sources are pieces of raw information or first-hand evidence
  • Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources
  • Examples of primary sources on popular culture icons:
    • recorded interviews (i.e. on DVD, streaming)
    • written, quoted interviews (e.g. in print)
    • autobiographies
    • photographs
    • their creative works or a record of their work
  • Examples of secondary sources on popular culture icons:
    • biographies - books, articles, or documentaries
    • books about their work or their involvement in their particular industry
    • encyclopedic entries
    • reviews of their work or activity

What do you do if you can't find something in BPCL?

  • Try to find a source that covers an aspect of your topic
    • For example, if your icon is Serena Williams and you can't find anything about her in the BPCL, think bigger-picture.
      • Do we have anything about female sports figures? Do we have anything about tennis players or just tennis in general? Do we have anything about African American athletes?

When you find something you'd like to look at

  • If you know what you want before you visit the 4th floor - Click on the "Place Hold" button in Library Search
    • you must be logged in to Library Search in order to do this
  • Bring your BG I.D. with you - very important!
  • Once you get to the 4th floor, go to the Reference/Service Desk, if it's the first time, we will ask you to fill out a User Agreement Form that we will keep on file for a year
  • We will need the call number or another identifier in order for us to find the item

Using LibrarySearch

LibrarySearch - what is it?

LibrarySearch is University Libraries' multi-use search tool.  It helps you find physical items in the library that you can check out, but it also helps you find electronic items that the library subscribes to, like full-text articles.  Use the link below to help you find what you need to find information on your icon assigment.

There are more videos available on using our new library system, LibrarySearch.  Please take a look if you have questions or ask for help at one of our Research and Information desks.

Searching for items in the Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL)

There are two ways to search for items in the BPCL:  

  • use Library Search from the University Libraries home page and choose Browne Popular Culture Library from the drop-down at the right of the search box OR
  • Go to the BPCL home page and use Library Search from there - this will automatically search just materials in the BPCL collection - see the document below for some tips