Sources
What is gray literature? Grey literature is information produced outside of traditional publishing and distribution channels, and can include reports, policy literature, working papers, newsletters, government documents, speeches, white papers, urban plans, and so on. Many of our databases have "format" or "source" filters for gray literature such as "reports"
You can also use Google to find gray literature.
To find grey literature, try keywords such as report, "think tank," "white paper," policy, statistics, or limiting by domain to (.org, .edu, .gov)
- North American City Reports This link opens in a new windowSurveys, budgets, statistical records, case studies, planning documents, training manuals, policy guidelines, reports, and news from the world’s major cities. Provides research with particular importance in areas of climate change, political instability, and rapid growth.
- World Cities This link opens in a new windowFull text of surveys, budgets, statistical records, case studies, planning documents, training manuals, policy guidelines, reports, and news from the world’s top cities, capital cities with populations greater than 20,000 people, major cities in the Global South, and cities with particular research importance - such as those dealing with climate change, political instability, or rapid growth.
Graphic adapted from "Ways to Evaluate Sources" from the Tulane University Libraries.
