Use the MCC Library Catalog to find out what physical and electronic resources the Library has available. Enter your search below to get started!
To access any database in this Research Guide from off campus, you will need your myMCC login. If you need to reset your password, go to the myMCC login page and click on Password Reset/Find Username.
Questions? To contact an MCC Librarian, click on
Regular Library Hours
Monday through Thursday,
8:00am to 6:00pm
Friday,
8:00am to 4:30pm
MCC Closed
Friday July 29
Labor Day – Monday, September 5
Professional Development Day – Tuesday, October 11
Election Day – Tuesday, November 8
Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25
Researching local and community issues may be challenging. Just because you know of a local issue, that does not mean that there is scholarly research readily available on it. You will likely have to use local newspapers or other local periodicals (Chicago Tribune, Northwest Herald, etc.), or interviews, etc. for specifics on recent and very local topics.
For more scholarly sources, consider researching the broader topic (and your sub-points/arguments) for background and other examples of your topic in different communities. How has the problem been managed elsewhere? What causes and effects have been researched? What pieces of that can be applied to the local situation? Once you have a understanding of the larger topic you can apply that research back to the local issue, developing conclusions and suggestions based on the research you have found.
As always leave yourself plenty of time for research and be sure to seek the assistance of a reference librarian if you need more help!
McHenry County, Illinois by 
Encyclopedia of Community
County and City Extra
ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United StatesThese databases consist of reference eBooks, which are useful for background information on your topic.
The databases below are good for finding articles on your topic. Other databases may be useful for your topic as well, depending on the topic! For example, research on local organic farming may begin with a look at articles in local newspapers with Newspaper Source.