Finding Sources Introduction Types of sources Locating sources Online card catalogues Search engines Online databases Talk About It Your Turn Tech Tools in this presentation Google Answers.com Snap America’s Story

How can you find the information you need? You can find information from many different sources if you know the right places to look. Introduction

A source of information is anything that gives useful information on your research topic. There are many different types of sources available to you, such as: photographs books magazines experts Web pages audio or video recordings newspapers maps Types of sources

As a researcher, you need to know where to look to find good sources of information. Your school library or local public library is a great place to start. Locating sources

One way to locate sources of information at a library is with a card catalogue. A card catalogue is a collection of cards with information about every resource that a library system owns. Many libraries also have an online card catalogue that you can search from any computer connected to the Internet. Locating sources

When you use an online card catalogue, you can search by author, title, or subject. You’ll probably want to begin your search by subject, using keywords from your narrowed topic. Then you can continue your search by author or title. Locating sources Online card catalogue

The online card catalogue will show a list of library resources that relate to your search. There is usually a link from each result to a description of the resource so that you can decide whether it is something you are interested in reading. Locating sources Online card catalogue

If you find a book on your topic online, you can look for that book at your local library or ask the librarian to help you borrow it from another library through an interlibrary loan. Research Tip Locating sources How can you get a book you see online? Another way to find books about your topic is to check the Web site of an online bookseller such as Barnes&Noble or Amazon.com. Choose the Books option and search the site, using your keywords.

Search engines are like card catalogues for the Internet. They guide you to online resources available for your topic. The search engine then locates Web pages that contain your keywords and lists the results along with links to each page. When you use a search engine, you type in keywords about your topic. Locating sources Search engines (Yahoo! Kids) Reproduced with permission of Yahoo! Inc. ©2008 by Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logo are trademarks of Yahoo! Inc.

Abraham Lincoln education = Abraham and Lincoln and education If you’re not getting the types of results you need, try adding search terms and placing “or” between them. Abraham Lincoln education or childhood = Abraham and Lincoln and education or childhood This will broaden your search to find Web sites that contain either one of those terms. Tech Tip Search engine hints When you use a search engine, it automatically puts “and” between your search terms.

Tech Tool: Google Google is a popular and powerful search engine. You are probably already familiar with how to use it. There are many other search engines you should also be familiar with. Each offers unique features.

Tech Tool: Answers.com Answers.com might be a good place to begin your research. This search engine displays information from almanacs, dictionaries, and encyclopedias.

Tech Tool: Snap Snap has search results down the left side. On the right, a preview window shows what each site looks like. This preview may help you decide whether the site contains the information you want.

Online databases are collections of information found on the Internet. Databases work like filing cabinets. By using keywords related to your topic, you can find the information you need. Locating sources Online databases

EBSCO is a database available to students. You can use it to search for magazine articles, books, and more. Locating sources Online databases

Online databases are part of what is called “the deep Web.” Files from these sources may not show up in your results when you use a search engine. Online databases are often password-protected, and your school must subscribe to them for you to have access to the files. Ask your school librarian whether any online databases are available for your use. Research Tip “The deep Web”

Tech Tool: America’s Story America’s Story is a database provided by the Library of Congress that is free to all users. It tells the stories of American people and historical events using features such as images audio clips video recordings maps historical documents

Tech Tool: America’s Story You can search by selecting from listed categories or by entering your own search terms.

a page from one of Lincoln’s grade-school notebooks images of Lincoln as a teenager election posters the contents of Lincoln’s pockets on the night of his assassination For example, by choosing “Meet Amazing Americans” or entering “Abraham Lincoln,” you can find Tech Tool: America’s Story

Locating sources Online databases Other online sources you might find helpful are: a collection of information from the Smithsonian Institution students exhibits on information included in the Annenberg Foundation video resources scientific information on a variety of topics that are currently in the news

“Abraham Lincoln” Also, check the features of each site. There may be ways to search for specific subjects, such as “life science,” or for information specifically for your age group. instead of Research Tip Using online databases “Abraham Lincoln childhood” When you search a narrower online resource such as a database, you might want to use a broader topic. For instance

Discuss these questions with your classmates. Talk About It 1.How have you searched for information in the past? Why did you use that method? How successful were you? 2.Have you ever used a card catalogue or online card catalogue? 3.Do you usually use Google as your search engine? If so, why? 4.What are some new ways you will look for sources now that you have viewed this presentation?

Your Turn On a computer or on paper, follow these directions. 1.Choose a narrow topic you would like to know more about. 2. Create a list of five different sources you could use to find information about your narrow topic. You should include the following: at least one book at least one article no more than two Web sites

Your Turn A narrow topic I would like to know more about is: Sources I found:

Your Turn: Possible Responses A narrow topic I would like to know more about is basic crochet stitches. Sources I found: Crocheting for Dummies by Karen Manthey and Susan Brittain 300 Crochet Stitches (The Harmony Guides, v. 6.) published by Collins & Brown “Crochet: Snazzy Belt with Mini-Purse” by Mari Lynn Patrick, Woman’s Day “Basic Crochet Instructions” “Learn Crochet Beginner Basics” crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/ Learn_Crochet_Beginner_Basics.htm

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