This FAQ is part of a small guide related to researching with Special Collections databases and materials. Please see additional sections in the Table of Contents at the bottom of this FAQ to access the rest of this guide.
A finding aid is a written document created by archives to describe a collection that is available to researchers to use for their scholarship, learning, genealogy, etc. A finding aid describes the collection in a way that helps the researcher: 1) know the contents of the collection, 2) understand how the collection's contents are organized, 3) identify materials relevant to their needs, 4) understand how the materials can be used, and 5) understand if anything has been digitized.
Finding aids can be browsed or searched through in the CSUSM Archives Search database.
