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Past Makes Perfect: A Mini Handbook for Student Historians is an openly licensed textbook written and published in 2025 by Melissa Chim, Scholarly Communications Librarian at Excelsior University in Albany, New York. An avid history enthusiast and scholar, Melissa holds an MLIS from St. John’s University and an MA in History from Queen Mary University of London.
My background is in history, and I really wanted to create something for students who love history but may not know the ins and outs of being a history student! I wanted to share the tips that I’ve learned about some of the really fun parts of studying history, such as visiting an archive. If students come away from reading this textbook feeling confident about pursuing history as their field of study, I’ll feel like I’ve done my job!
This textbook is intended for undergraduate and graduate history students. It focuses on how and where to perform historical research (and most of the researching tips can be applied to any discipline!). Part 1 introduces students to primary sources and defines what a scholarly source is. It also discusses some tips and tricks on how to research in libraries, archives, and online. I also included a set of interactive scenarios so students can test their knowledge in Part II.
As a librarian, I regularly work with students who are juggling jobs and families while also going to school. I wanted to give students like these all of the information that they’ll need in bite sized pieces while they’re on the go. The “mini” aspect of the textbook also allows students to go back and reference information quickly instead of having to search through hundreds of pages. I think the concept really resonated with both students and educators; the textbook has 800 views and counting!
Back when I was a student, I interned at the library and archives of the wonderful Brooklyn Historical Society in New York. They organized their collections in a system called Past Perfect, which is still around today! I thought a fun way to honor my time as a history student would be to turn Past Perfect into Past Makes Perfect. The title also lets students know that with just a little bit of practice they, too, can become expert historians!
Participating in the Ketida/Ketty pilot was a great experience! I loved that we were a small group in the already small world of library publishing. We met over Zoom every few months to update each other on our progress and celebrate our wins. Getting to try out Ketida’s Open Textbook Planner was a great opportunity. I liked that it gave me a space to organize my thoughts while I created the textbook’s content.
Past Makes Perfect: A Mini Handbook for Student Historians is an openly licensed textbook written and published in 2025 by Melissa Chim, Scholarly Communications Librarian at Excelsior University in Albany, New York. An avid history enthusiast and scholar, Melissa holds an MLIS from St. John’s University and an MA in History from Queen Mary University of London.
We recently asked Melissa to share her experience authoring this new book, including her participation in the Open Education Network’s Ketty Pilot (formerly Ketida). The pilot, she says, provided publishing tools, knowledge, and a supportive community to “celebrate our wins.”
We’re celebrating these wins, as well. Kudos, Melissa!
Melissa Chim, author of Past Makes Perfect:
A Mini Handbook for Student Historians
Melissa Chim, author of Past Makes Perfect:
A Mini Handbook for Student Historians
What motivated you to create Past Makes Perfect: A Mini Handbook for Student Historians?
My background is in history, and I really wanted to create something for students who love history but may not know the ins and outs of being a history student! I wanted to share the tips that I’ve learned about some of the really fun parts of studying history, such as visiting an archive. If students come away from reading this textbook feeling confident about pursuing history as their field of study, I’ll feel like I’ve done my job!
Do you have a specific student audience in mind?
This textbook is intended for undergraduate and graduate history students. It focuses on how and where to perform historical research (and most of the researching tips can be applied to any discipline!). Part 1 introduces students to primary sources and defines what a scholarly source is. It also discusses some tips and tricks on how to research in libraries, archives, and online. I also included a set of interactive scenarios so students can test their knowledge in Part II.
Why a “mini” textbook?
As a librarian, I regularly work with students who are juggling jobs and families while also going to school. I wanted to give students like these all of the information that they’ll need in bite sized pieces while they’re on the go. The “mini” aspect of the textbook also allows students to go back and reference information quickly instead of having to search through hundreds of pages. I think the concept really resonated with both students and educators; the textbook has 800 views and counting!
What inspired you to title your book Past Makes Perfect?
Back when I was a student, I interned at the library and archives of the wonderful Brooklyn Historical Society in New York. They organized their collections in a system called Past Perfect, which is still around today! I thought a fun way to honor my time as a history student would be to turn Past Perfect into Past Makes Perfect. The title also lets students know that with just a little bit of practice they, too, can become expert historians!
What was it like to participate in OEN’s Ketty Pilot (formerly Ketida) to develop this book?
Participating in the Ketida/Ketty pilot was a great experience! I loved that we were a small group in the already small world of library publishing. We met over Zoom every few months to update each other on our progress and celebrate our wins. Getting to try out Ketida’s Open Textbook Planner was a great opportunity. I liked that it gave me a space to organize my thoughts while I created the textbook’s content.
Any tips for aspiring authors or lessons learned from this project?
One tip I would give to aspiring authors is to celebrate the small wins! Life happens, and you might find yourself getting off schedule. Take a moment to appreciate all of the hard work you do, even if it’s just choosing a chapter title. Another lesson I learned is don’t be afraid to pivot. I was originally going to make this textbook average length, but the mini format really spoke to me!
Key takeaways you’d like readers to gain from this book?
I hope this book will give students confidence in performing historical research both online and in person. I’d like for students to be able to use the tips I’ve given at any stage of their research. Being prepared, and being able to answer the “how?” and “where?” questions regarding historical research are key takeaways. I hope students find the book practical too, like my tip on always bringing a sweater with you when visiting a library or archive!
Why did you select CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 as the license for Past Makes Perfect?
I was drawn to using the NonCommercial ShareAlike license to inspire authors to build upon and adapt my work. I like that the license encourages a sense of community among authors while not allowing any one person to use the work for financial gain. I think that this license also shows history in action; hopefully authors and students will see how this work grew from the original textbook into different versions based on who adapted it and when!
What part of this experience have you found particularly rewarding?
I think the most rewarding part of this experience was working with the OEN community. The Zoom and email check-ins were very helpful and kept me on track. We were always informed about any technical updates and encouraged to provide our feedback.
Anything you’d like to add?
Thank you for allowing me to take part in this pilot!