Listen up! :) Wilson Omnifile journal database now allows you to listen to its full text articles in the html format. To listen to an article, simply open the HTML version of the article, then click the "Listen" button near the top of the page. The JStor journal database also allows listening to its full-text PDF articles. Save the PDF file to your PC, open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader, and then from the Acrobat menu, click on View, Read Out Loud, Activate Read Out Loud. Then click on View, Read Out Loud, and select either "Read this Page Only" or "Read to End of Document." For more information about how to utilize these features, please contact a reference librarian.

You can now search our top ten databases at once from the library home page or from the main page of Trinity Online Resources (TOR). Searching multiple databases brings back results quickly and can suggest alternative avenues of research in resources that you might not have considered using initially. The Top-Ten search can also offer some guidance if you’re not sure which database is the best place to start your research  For more specific results, try a Top-Ten Advanced Search! 

When it collects data on the American population, the Census Bureau organizes that data according to a number of different geographies: states, counties, "Metropolitan Statistical Areas" or MSAs," "Census Designated Places" or "CDPs," Census tracts, block groups, and blocks.

The Bureau defines a Census tract as "a small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county delineated by a local committee of census data users for the purpose of presenting data...designed to be relatively homogenous units with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions at the time of establishment, census tracts average about 4,000 inhabitants."

Perhaps the key to this definition is that the Bureau aims to keep tracts at about 4,000 people.  Hence, if the net population of any area changes dramatically over the years, the Census tracts associated with that area are likely to change size and shape to accomodate these changes and stay within the "4,000 people" goal.

Trinity College is located in Census tract 5027. If you go here, you can see what Tract 5027 looks like relative to other nearby tracts in Hartford.  The horizontal line forming the southern border of 5027 is New Britain Avenue.  (This map comes from the fantastic site put out by the Hartford Public Library, HartfordInfo.  Be sure to check out this site in more detail!).  Want to know what Census tract you live in? Type in your address here.

Often, you will see a Census tract number as part of a much larger number, for example:

090035027

Refers to the state of Connecticut. In contrast, 08 would refer to Colorado.

Refers to Hartford County.  In contrast, 007 would refer to Middlesex County.

These preceding numbers come from the U.S. Federal Information Processing Standard, and are often referred to as "FIPS codes."  You can find the entire list of FIPS codes here.