Social Work Resources

David Weeks
Reference Librarian
Winthrop University
June, 2008

Some useful print sources:

Encyclopedia of Social Work 20th ed. 2008 Ref HV35 .S6

This 4 volume set is a good general source for issues related to social work. It includes a subject index and bibliographies.

Social Work Dictionary Ref HV12 .B37 2003

Dictionary of basic terms related to social work. Includes the NASW Code of Ethics as well as a chronological history of the field of social work.

Social Work Speaks Ref HV88 .N118 2006

A  collection of the policy statements issued by the NASW. Includes over 60 topics, with a history and commentary on each. Also contains bibliographies for most topics. 

Indexes:

JSTOR computer database

JSTOR is a collection of electronic journals in the Arts and Sciences.  It contains many journals in the social sciences that would be of interest to the social worker.

Social Work Abstracts Ref HV1 .A23

Gives citations and abstracts for journal articles related to social work. Contains an author index and a subject index. We have volumes from 1965 - 1977.

Social Work Abstracts Computer Database

Electronic version of Social Work Abstracts contains citations and abstracts of material from 1977 to the present.

Sociological Abstracts Ref HM1 .H67 (shelved along the outer wall)

Gives citations and abstracts for material related to sociology. We have volumes from 1953 to the present.

SocINDEX computer database

Online index for sociology and related fields.  Contains full-text articles

Indexes for related fields:

Academic OneFile computer database

Academic Search Premier computer database

Two general databases designed for the college student; provide citations, abstracts and some full text.

ERIC Computer database 

Index of material related to education. Covers 1966 to the present and provides some full text.

MEDLINE computer database

An index of journal articles related to medicine and health.

PsychINFO Computer database

Indexes, provides abstracts, and contains some full text for psychology related material from 1887 to the present.

Internet sites:

Sites on the internet vary greatly in their reliability. If you find something that you think might be useful, you must evaluate it carefully. Ask for one of our handouts explaining how to evaluate web sites. With that said, here are a few web sites that may be of interest to the social worker:

NASW Online http://www.naswdc.org

The official home page of the National Association of Social Workers.

The Urban Institute http://www.urban.org

Conducts research on economic and social policies

Information for Practice http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/ip/

Electronic newsletter for social work professionals

Librarian's Internet Index http://www.lii.org/

Has an excellent section on "Society and Social Issues".

Current Social Work Journals

Below are journals related to social work that Dacus Library currently subscribes to. These can be found on the current periodical shelves located behind the reference office. Check DOC for the availability of older issues as well as journals we subscribe to in electronic format.

Children & Schools (formerly Social Work in Education )

A professional journal of NASW which publishes materials relevant to social work services in education through the life span.

Health & Social Work

A professional journal of NASW committed to improving social work practice and extending knowledge in the field of health (both physical and mental health).

Journal of Social Work Education

A professional journal of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Social Work

A professional journal of NASW committed to improving practice and extending knowledge in social work and social welfare.

Social Work Research

A professional journal of NASW committed to advancing the development of knowledge and informing social work practice.

A final word:

These are just a few resources that you may find useful. Don't forget to search DOC for books related to your topic, and if you aren't finding what you need, ask a librarian for help.