Library 150: Information Literacy & Research Skills E. Chisato Uyeki Fall 2006: Week 2 September 29, 2006
Getting Started NIS accounts? Changing your password Office Hours today: 12-1:30 Any questions?
Today’s Class: Finding Books Search strategies Library catalogs: CSULA Library Catalog (OPAC) All CSU Union Catalog (Pharos) WorldCat & Open WorldCat Evaluation Criteria Interlibrary Loan
Search Techniques Alternative Terms / Synonyms Use synonyms for better-quality results Example: teenagers Alternatives: youth, adolescents Related Terms Use words for similar concepts Example: smoking Related terms: tobacco, cigarettes
Search Techniques Truncation Need at least three letters to start politic* retrieves: politic, politics, political, politicians, etc. Check the HELP section of each database for the correct symbol
Search Techniques AND: Narrows a search Means ALL keywords must be in search results Reading AND children
Search Techniques OR Broadens a search Either one, the other, or both keywords must be in search results Women OR Females
Searching the catalog Keyword vs. Subject Heading Searching Books = Broad Topics Reserves Periodicals by name Basic Search Basic Search Advanced Search Help
In-class Exercise Groups Lekeith and Deisy Jessica and Yelena Michelle and Noe Karen and Antonio Sandra and Gabby Esmeralda and Latasha Miriam and Lamar Maria and Luz
Broaden Your Search Use OR with synonyms, alternative terms car OR automobile to include related terms driv*(e, er, ing) OR vehicle operator Use a more general term (go from freeway to road) Search by Keyword Use truncation
Narrow Your Search AND retrieves only items where the two concepts overlap Example: smoking AND teenagers Use Advanced Search to limit by place (United States, California, etc.) format (printed materials, scholarly articles, etc.) time period (last 5 years) language (English) Person or group of people (girls, Asian Americans)
Sophisticated Searching Techniques Keep a record Consider alternative perspectives Discipline-based resources And, Or, Not, & Truncation Subject terms Citation searching/chasing Diversify types of materials Refine & revise search terms
Evaluating your Results Critical evaluation: Who created it? (authority) For whom? (audience) When was it created? (currency) What does it include? (scope & treatment) How does it relate to other works? Does it help answer your question? Adapted from Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe’s “Evaluation of Information”
Other catalogs All CSU Catalog Search: (urban OR city OR cities) and automobile* and change Interlibrary Loan Open WorldCat same WorldCat Los Angeles and automobile* and change