Library Foundations Workshop

July 9-11, 2000

Cynthia Mae Helms, Head

Dept. of Information Services

James White Library

helmsc@andrews.edu

BASIC INFORMATION

Abstract - Summary

Database - A collection of information stored in an electronic format that can be searched by a computer. (Multilingual Glossary)

Hyperlink - A predefined linkage between words or graphics that lead to related text. (Multilingual Glossary)

Icon - A small symbol on a computer screen that represents a computer operation or data file. (Multilingual Glossary)

Internet - A system of linked computer networks, international in scope, that facilitates data communication servers; simply known as the "net." (Netlingo)

MARC - Machine readable code (Acronyms Dictionary)

Online - Being connected to the Internet (Netlingo)

Search Principles

Keyword vs. subject heading:

Subject headings or descriptors - standard terms as listed in thesaurus

Keyword - words in various fields such as title, author, subject headings, notes

Example: will/s; aids

Boolean operators

And - search for records with all the words

Or - search for records with any of the words

Not - search for records that do not have the second word

Truncation - search for variant endings of a word (usually an asterisk *)

UNDERSTANDING DATABASES

Free vs. paid - see list of Online Databases (black bullet-free; gold bullet - subscription)

Help patrons focus on useful web sites by making them available on library's web site

Vendors

SilverPlatter

Ovid

ProQuest - ABI Inform

EBSCO - Academic Search Elite

OCLC - WorldCat and many other indexes

Individual companies such as Thomas Register, Hoover's Online

Databases sometime assume different names under different vendors:

Psychological Abstract - print ; PsycLit - SilverPlatter; PsycInfo - OCLC

Types

Catalog - JeWeL (we use Innovative Interfaces)

- to find books, videos, sound recordings, slides, periodical titles (but not articles!)

in a particular library

Periodical Indexes - Academic Search, Reader's Guide, etc. - periodical articles

Dictionaries - Oxford English Dictionary

Encyclopedias - Britannica Online

Web sites - NetFirst

Dissertations - Dissertation Abstracts

CATALOG

Card catalog - cataloger produces 3 cards

Main entry (author)

Title card

Subject card/s

Computerized catalog - cataloger fills in the fields in one record using the MARC format. Result: 1 record with hyperlinks

Note: public mode vs. MARC format

Application

Search Principles

Keyword

Boolean operators

Truncation

Search Techniques

Link - author, subject

Limit by language, date, format, etc.

To Copy Materials Found

Mark or Tag

Options:

Download to disk

Email

Print :

One record a time. Cursor should be in the correct frame.

OTHER DATABASES

EBSCO

Academic Search Elite - periodical index

Note: Citation

Abstract

Full text

Full page image

Other special features

OCLC Databases

Catalogs

WorldCat - union catalog of 66,000 libraries throughout the world

Note: Libraries with item

Interlibrary Loan

Periodical Indexes

General: Reader's Guide, ArticleFirst, WilsonSelect

Subject : Sociological Abstracts, Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo

Full Text: Electronic Collections Online, WilsonSelect

Free Databases

AskEric - http://ericir.syr.edu

PubMed - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed

Other Full Text Sources

JSTOR

Project Muse

SEARCH STRATEGY

• Plan the search

• Choose the subject area

• Choose the right database

• Apply search principles and techniques

• Narrow or broaden the search as needed (50 results-good number)

• Select relevant items

• Locate the articles

• Find more sources by

- referring to the bibliographies

- using subject headings of highly relevant articles

- looking up other works of authors whose names come up frequently

• Keep accurate records of

- databases searched

- terms used

- where each article was found-bibliography? database?

- mode of acquiring article-in house? Interlibrary Loan?

- complete citations

Always look for the Help screens!

Acronyms, Initialisms, & Abbreviations Dictionary. 27^th ed. Vol. 2, Part 1. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000.

American Library Association / Association of College and Research Libraries. Multilingual Glossary: Definitions. < http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/is/publications/glossary/gd.html > June 6, 2000.

Netlingo. < http://www.netlingo.com > June 13, 2000.