TMU Libraries Omni Search
TMU Libraries Omni Search For optimum use, sign in. This search engine searches for books and audio-visual materials that are also listed in the library's catalogue, as well as journal articles (many of which are available electronically), theses and dissertations, newspaper coverage from some recent and a selection of archival newspapers, and digitized content such as out-of-copyright books and journals that are available from sources such as The Internet Archive (www.archive.org) and The Hathi Trust.
Refine your search using the filters available on the left.
- Omni Research Tips and FAQ
There are useful suggestions on how to use this search tool effectively.
TMU Libraries--Books, E-books and Video/Audio Formats
Omni replaces the traditional catalogue that used to search for books, e-books, dvds, and other resources except for journal articles. Now, Omni can be used to look for known books, or when using the default (a keyword) search to find some relevant titles for an assignment. Whether using a Simple or Advanced search, you can use the filters on the left to limit to Resource Type: Book chapters, or, Books & eBooks. You can use the Browse Search with the drop down option for Library of Congress Subject Heading. This type of search is ideal for finding Books and Ebooks in our collection. It will display a selective index of subject headings most relevant to your search When you find book records, you can use the Subject terms in the record to link to similar items. If you want to find books, e-books and articles at the same time, consider using Omni, Advanced Search and Subject Contains ...
Some useful subject searches using Omni Browse Searching & Library of Congress Subject Heading:
Decolonization
Historical films History and criticism
History in motion pictures
Motion pictures and history
Nationalism
Postcolonialism
Self-determination, National
[Name of a country or geographic region] Colonization
[Name of country] History Autonomy and independence movements
[Name of a country or geographic region] History [may have subdivisions for time period, type of content etc.]
[Name of country or geographic region] Politics and government
Algeria History Revolution, 1954-1962
Africa Politics and government 1960-
Great Britain Foreign relations 1945-1964
India History Autonomy and independence movements [searches for these terms in advanced search: subject contains]
Indochinese War, 1946-1954 United States
Punjab (India) History Partition, 1947
United States Foreign relations 1953-1961
United States Foreign relations Vietnam
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Sources
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Mass media and the war
The Name of the film as a subject heading or in subject contains
Battle of Algiers (Motion Picture) [searches for these terms in advanced search: subject contains]
Battaglia di Algeri (Motion Picture) [searches for these terms in advanced search: subject contains]
The Name of a person searched as a subject
Jinnah, Mahomed Ali, 1876-1948
Mountbatten of Burma, Louis Mountbatten, Earl, 1900-1979
Mountbatten of Burma, Edwina Ashley Mountbatten, Countess, 1901-1960
Keyword/default search for name of a person
Saadi Yacef (former FLN commander)
Zohra Drif (married name is Zohra Drif-Bitat)
Keyword/default search for topic
A Sampling From the Collection
Films for the Colonies by Call Number: PN1993.5.G7 R45 2019ISBN: 9780520300392Publication Date: 2019
The Franco-Algerian War Through a Twenty-First Century Lens by Call Number: E-Book, Online; Access restricted to TMU communityISBN: 9781474262811Publication Date: 2019
History Goes to the Movies by Call Number: PN1995.2 .H84 2007ISBN: 9780415328289Publication Date: 2006
History on Film/Film on History by Call Number: PN1995.2 .R667 2012ISBN: 9781408282557Publication Date: 2012
The Last Thousand Days of the British Empire by Call Number: DA16 .C53 2007ISBN: 9780713998306Publication Date: 2007
Past Imperfect: Time and African Decolonization, 1945-1960 by Call Number: E-Book, OnlineISBN: 9781800345461Publication Date: 2021
Post-Colonial Studies: The Key Concepts. 2nd ed. by Call Number: Online versionISBN: 9780415428569Publication Date: 2008
Race, Class, and the Politics of Decolonization by Call Number: Ebrary online bookISBN: 9781137540775Publication Date: 2015
Quick Facts
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
remain useful sources of quick information. In addition to free sources such as Wikipedia, consider some of our licensed electronic content from publishers such as Oxford University Press, as well as printed items.
Try using Omni, Advanced Search and Subject contains: [type a topical word or words] and either dictionaries, or, encyclopedias
Example Subject contains searches:
- africa encyclopedias
- africa history chronology
- cold war encyclopedias
- decolonization dictionaries
- great britain colonies dictionaries
- great britain colonies encyclopedias
- postcolonialism encyclopedias
Biographical information
Consider these resources:
- American National Biography (1999, 24 vols.), and, Supplement (2002-) (for people who are deceased)
- Dictionary of African Biography (2012, 6 vols.) Available in print at the Toronto Public Library
- Encyclopedia of World Biography (2004) 4 supplementary vols. also available
- International Who's Who (for living persons)
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004, 61 vols.) Supplements for recently deceased (2001-2004) & (2005-2008)
- Who's Who (Great Britain, for living persons)
- Who's Who in America (for living persons)
- Current Biography (1941-2015) Toronto Public Library has more recent years.
- Abridged Biography and Genealogy Master Index (1988)
Historical Maps and Atlases
Try Omni Browse Search, and Library of Congress Subject Heading:
The David Rumsey Map Collection makes accessible historic maps of North and South America
- Oxford Reference This link opens in a new windowOxford Reference, previously known as Oxford Reference Online Premium, comprises more than 120 dictionaries and reference titles covering a comprehensive subject spectrum including: General Reference, Language, Science and Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and Professional content.
Country Studies (brief histories, statistical overviews)
Europa World Year Book (print, latest held 2016)
EIU Economist Intelligence Unit (online)
OECD Library (online)
Statesman's Yearbook (print, latest held 2024)
World Almanac and Book of Facts (print, latest held 2018)
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (2001; more recent eds. at Toronto Public Library)
Some Free Online Resources
CIA's World Factbook - brief information on the history, government, economy, military of 267 countries
The Indochina War 1945-1956, An Interdisciplinary Tool (L'Université du Québec à Montréal) This resource includes the online version of the Historical Dictionary of the Indochina War published by University of Hawaii Press and the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, 2011.
New York Public Library-Digital Collections - includes images, postcards, printed ephemera, books
Other Libraries
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) has ongoing subscriptions to many biographical resources as well other dictionaries and encyclopedias that are not available at TMU. Many of the resources are located at the Toronto Reference Library situated just north of Bloor Street on Yonge Street.