Library Research in an Electronic Age Jocelyn Berger & Beth Evans Brooklyn College Library, CUNY

Library Research in an Electronic Age Part I: The Physical Library and the Virtual Library

More Similar Than You May Think: Both exist independently of the classroom space Both supplement the work that goes on in the classroom Both have extensive holdings in many disciplines Both require learning special skills to negotiate

Library Research in an Electronic Age Part I I Meeting Faculty and Student Needs

The profiles: Faculty Students

Faculty Profile: Have clear research goals Have other research material already available Have greater mobility and support for obtaining material not at college library Have interlibrary loan privileges at college library

Student Profile: May not be clear about their research goals Have limited other research material already available May not have mobility and support for obtaining research material not available at the college library Do not have access to interlibrary loan at the college library

The needs: Faculty Students

Faculty need: Specific Research Monographs Research Articles Subject Specialized Indexes to Current and Past Research Table of Contents Listings Citation Indexes

Students need: Introductory Information on Multiple Topics Information Written in Lay-person Language News About Research Multi-Disciplinary Indexes

Library Research in an Electronic Age Part III Print Vs. Electronic Sources

Print Sources Books Journal Articles Government Documents Ready-Reference Materials- This includes directories, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, yearbooks, and handbooks, etc.

Finding Print Sources Consulting a Librarian Indexes Library Catalog ‘References Cited’ lists or Bibliographies of other published works.

Evaluating Print Sources Accuracy Authority Currency Scope

Electronic Sources CD-ROMS Internet Internet - Fee-Based

CD-ROMS America: History & Life Biography and Genealogy Index Books in Print Disclosure Econlit ERIC Film Index Int’l Health Reference Center Infotrac Medline MLA International Bibliography The New York Times PSYCHLIT

Internet Sources Commercial Web Pages - Search Engines, Online Newspapers and Journals, Hoovers. Education Web Pages - VirtualCore Pages Government Web Pages - www.census.gov Personal Web Pages

Internet Sources - Fee-Based Presented on the Internet, but users are charged for access to the service. Possible Features: Availability of full-text, e-mail delivery of documents, use of a password allowing for access from any Internet computer. Examples: Academic ASAP, Encyclopedia Britannica, FirstSearch, and Lexis-Nexis.

Evaluation of Electronic Sources Accuracy Authority Currency Scope

When to Use Print Sources When desired information is easier to find in print format. When desired information is not available in electronic format.

When to Use Electronic Sources When desired information is easier to find using electronic sources. When desired information changes frequently - i.e. latest scientific research, stock prices, technology-related issues, and weather forecasts.

Faculty assisting students: Know what types of resources both the physical and virtual libraries have to offer Bring classes in to the college library for course-aligned instruction for using the physical and virtual libraries Come in and speak with a subject bibliographer Provide clear guidelines for appropriate resources for particular research assignments Emphasis for students that quality, ease-of-use and trustworthiness of resources will vary

Visit the Brooklyn College Library Home Page: academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/library/bclib.htm