Exclusive Trial Access & Webinars – Policy Commons & History Commons

We would like to remind you that the NU Library has secured trial access to Policy Commons and History Commons, available until June 3, 2025. These platforms provide exclusive access to policy documents and historical archives, supporting research across various disciplines.

Explore Exclusive Resources

Policy Commons – The Global Policy Database
Gain access to over 17 million reports from 41,000+ think tanks, governments, and research organizations, covering public policy, social sciences, and economic research. Features include:

• Global Think Tanks, Public Health, Local Governments, and more
• Advanced tools for discovering, organizing, and citing policy literature
• The ability to upload and preserve policy documents

History Commons – A Digital Archive for Researchers
A comprehensive collection of European and North American historical materials, including:

• European Archives: Cold War Eastern Europe, Nazi Germany, British Society (1939–1951)
• North American Archives: African American Newspapers, Civil War, Women’s Magazines, WWI Camp Newspapers

Access both databases through our A-Z Databases List under the "New / Trial Databases" section (NU credentials required).

Exclusive Webinars – Learn How to Maximize These Resources

To help NU researchers fully utilize these platforms, the NU Library is offering specialized training webinars led by experts from Coherent Digital.

Policy Commons Training - [27 March 2025 - 17:00 Astana, KZ]

AGENDA:
Introduction & Overview (5 minutes)

• A brief introduction to Policy Commons, its purpose, and how it supports research in policy studies, social sciences, and related fields.

Exploring Policy Commons (40 minutes)

• Navigating the Collection – Understanding the scope of grey literature and policy research available on the platform.
• Effective Searching – Strategies to quickly find relevant materials using advanced search techniques like following custom searches, using proximity search, Boolean operators, and more.
• Research Tools & Features – How to create curated lists, set up alerts for new content, extract data from tables, and follow key sources.

Q&A & Closing (10-15 minutes)

• Open discussion for questions, clarifications, and additional tips to enhance research efficiency.
• All participants who attend the training will be given a certificate

Register Now

History Commons Training - [10 April 2025 - 17:00 Astana, KZ]

AGENDA:
Introduction & Overview (5 minutes)

• A brief introduction to History Commons and its European collections, highlighting how these resources support historical research.

Exploring Policy Commons (40 minutes)

• Overview of the Four European Collections – Understanding their scope, significance, and key materials available.
• Navigating Historical Documents – How to locate and interpret reports, archival records, and primary sources from European institutions.
• Search Optimization – Effective strategies for finding relevant materials using metadata, filters, and advanced search tools.
• Research Tools & Features – Organizing sources with lists, setting up alerts for newly added content, and utilizing tools for historical analysis.

Q&A & Closing (10-15 minutes)

• Open discussion for questions, clarifications, and additional tips to enhance research efficiency.
• All participants who attend the training will be given a certificate

Register Now

We encourage all faculty, researchers, and students to take advantage of this limited-time trial and training opportunity.