Catalog, NetLibrary eBooks, Database and ILL Basics

Catalog, NetLibrary eBooks, Database and ILL Basics

The library has many databases to choose from. Our annual fees are approaching $20,000, so we really hope

you take advantage of the rich and varied content available to you. One of our primary goals as librarians is to

make sure our patrons know how to use our resources. PLEASE don’t ever hesitate to ask for help … there

are NO stupid questions!!

On campus access to databases is available via the Library Databases link on the Library Home page.

When on campus, simply select a database link to open it’s main search page.

Off campus access is facilitated through an authentication log-in. (Our subscriptions restrict database

access to our current NCTC faculty, staff and students, so users must go through this authentication

process.) When off campus & you click a database link, you see this screen :

* Students

simply use your

network log-in :

firstname_lastname

8digit ID number

Database variety

Our database collection provides a variety of content. Some are subject specific (such as Cinahl,

which is all health/nursing publications), and some are multi-disciplinary and will provide some sort of

information on most topics. Most databases go beyond just looking in journals and magazines and

also include reference materials.

Although each database is searching through a different set of sources, most of the basic search

functionality is the same from one database to another. This handout displays screen shots from

EbscoHost Academic Search Premier, but the screens look the same in the other EbscoHost

databases. Also, the basic steps shown here will apply to all the databases, although their screens will

look different.

Before we head to the databases … a quick look at the library catalog … where you look for the items we own. To access the library catalog, click the library catalog link on the library menu. The basic search screen opens:

“Anywhere in record” is used for keyword searches. This is usually the best search option to start with. The NCTC library catalog contains records for

all the items in the Thief River Falls campus library collection AND all the items in the East Grand Forks campus library collection. To search only the Thief River Falls collection, open the “Library to Search” menu by clicking the drop down menu arrow.

Select the TRF Catalog.

Enter search terms in the “Search For” window.

1. The search type is set for a keyword search, “Anywhere in Record” 2. The TRF Catalog is selected on the 1 3 4 Library to Search menu

3. Search terms are entered 2 4. Click the Search tab

The search results page opens: 38 items have been retrieved Each line is a different item. A variety of information is displayed for each item.

* Author (if one author)

* Title

* Type of item

* Publication date

* Available or not (items on loan show “unavailable”)

* Location in the library providing collection (General Books) and Call number (616.02774 Fo)

There are 20 items per page … so be sure to use the scroll bar on the right side of the window to view the rest of your results on the page.

Notice that there are a variety of items: This item is an eBook. Please note: eBook records list the East Grand Forks info also … even though the search was specific to the TRF Catalog. This item is a videotape in the AudioVisual collection. This item is a book in the reference collection.

Use the Next Page tab to advance through results

To view more detailed information about a title, click the title … it is a link to the full record for the item.

The record usually contains some information about the contents of book. The subject headings provide specific terms that might be more exact for your topic. Consider using some of these terms for additional searches. This search was for „cloning‟, but other terms you could use are: Stem cells

Biomedical research and Biotechnology

To access an electronic book, click the title link on the results list. Then click the

Electronic Resource Link

By clicking the link for an eBook, you are leaving the library cataloging and entering NetLibrary, one of NCTC’s licensed databases. If you are off campus, you will need to log in … As with the other databases, simply enter your NetMail username and password.

To access your eBook selection, click the View this eBook link

Please note: Each eBook file may only have one user at a time. If someone else is using the book you are trying to access, a message will appear telling you it is in use.

The contents information is in the left window.

|

The window on the right displays

the page you are viewing. When the eBook file first opens,

the book cover is displayed.

Click the index link to view the index.

To see if cloning is listed in the index, you need to look it up in “C” entries. Use the “Next>>” tab to turn the pages until you get to the “C” entries

Cloning is listed.

If you‟d like to go to page 180, enter 180 in Page box, and click the Go tab.

You are now viewing the page you selected, page 180. Use the Next >> tab to advance to next page …

The next section of this handout introduces the basics of the EbscoHost Academic Search Premier database. It is one of many licensed databases you may access. To get started, click the Library Databases link on the library homepage menu.

Select the database you would like to use by clicking it„s link. The list of databases is long. Be sure to use the scroll bar on the right to view the complete list. This handout shows screens from EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier.

Our database collection provides a variety of content. Some databases are subject specific (such as CINAHL, which is all health/nursing publications, or Business Source Premier, which is all business and company related. ). Some databases are multi-disciplinary and will provide some sort of information on most topics. Most databases go beyond just looking in journals and magazines and also include reference materials. Although each database is searching through a different set of sources, most of the basic search functionality is the same from one database to another. As mentioned, this handout displays screen shots from EbscoHost Academic Search Premier, but the screens look the same in the other EbscoHost databases. Also, the basic steps shown here will apply to all the databases, although their screens will look different. All databases have great help pages. The help tab is usually found in the upper right of your window. The help sections go far beyond what can be outlines in this handout. Use them!!

Once you select the database you want to use, the authentication screen opens. Enter your NetMail username and password.

Basic Searching Staring a search can be as simple as entering your terms and clicking the search tab:

You may choose limits here (full text, scholarly, etc…), or you may refine your search later.

After clicking the search tab, your results screen appears:

There are 1,936 items (sorted in descending date order). To narrow this results set, you may use the options on the left OR Use the limiters on the right

Manipulate these options in order to reduce the number of items in your result set. For example, limit to full text and limit the publication date to 2005-2010. Click Update Results.

The new result list has 455 items

To refine even more … you can select a subject heading on the left. You may decide you want to look at the WIND turbines set.

Selecting WIND turbines presents a new result set with 86 items… still all full text, and dated 2005-2010. To view detailed information about an article, click the title link or click the full text link to view the article.

Title link view … presents an article abstract, Full text link view … subject headings, etc … provides the full article

Access various functions via these icons The citation icon returns you to the title link ( e-mail, save, cite, etc…) view (at left ). The 4th icon from the left presents citations in various styles (APA, MLA, etc …) for the given article.

The APA citation is listed here. The MLA citation is listed here. You may cut and paste this into your work cited page. HOWEVER… review all the placement and punctuation, just to make sure it is accurate. You don‟t want to lose points because of someone else‟s mistake !!!

Please continue to the next page to learn about the

Interlibrary Loan Request link in the EbscoHost databases.

If you search an EbscoHost database, and don‟t limit your search to full text, you may find good articles you want, but you‟ll only see the abstract (summary) of the article….the full text is not available. You may request the article through Interlibrary Loan. The request form is linked from the EbscoHost databases. The link jumps you into the Interlibrary Loan function in the library catalog.

In EbscoHost databases, an Interlibrary Loan You are taken into the library catalog. link can be used to request an item that is not You need to log in to your library account to use provided in full text by clicking the the Interlibrary Loan function. Interlibrary Loan and/or Request link. Enter your ACTIVE14 digit library account number, and your last name for your password .

The request form is filled in automatically … but you must check the copyright statement box at the bottom of the form … And click go.

A note about ILL … If possible, documents will be delivered electronically … to the your NCTC student e-mail address. You will receive an e-mail with directions to access your article including a PIN number This log-in information for access is valid for a limited time, so be sure to be alert if you have requested an article through Interlibrary Loan. If you do not access it in time, your login information expires and you won‟t be able to request the same article a 2

nd time!!!!!!

If the article can not be delivered electronically, it will come to the library and be forwarded to you.

Publication Search

Use the publication tab

to search for a specific

publication, a specific issue

of a publication, or to search

for publication titles related

on a given subject.

To

To see if Community College Journal of Research and Practice is included, type the title in the search box

and select ‘Alphabetical’

for the search type;

then click the Browse tab.

The title appears on the results list.

Info is presented

about availability … in this

case, full text is available

from 1/1/1997 to the present, but

there is a 12 month delay.

Click the title link to see more.

Detailed information about the publication appears. Available years are linked on the right.

See specific issues by clicking the link for a specific year:

Clicking 2008 opens the list of issues:

Click the

link for an issue

to see a table of

contents.

Results for Vol. 32 Issue 9 – Sep 2008.

Note that these articles are not available in full text, because the issue falls within the 12 month delay.

Results for Vol. 32 Issue 3 – Mar 2008 do have the full text links

You can also search the publications area by subject , and get a list of relevant titles.

Enter your topic and select the ‘By Subject & Description’, click the Browse tab

Your list is presented …

Navigate to the specific

publication by clicking

the title link.

THANK YOU FOR COMING … AND YOUR ATTENTION!

P:INSTRUCTION/HANDOUTS/2009.11.11.EbscoAcSrchPrmr.ILL.NCTCstudent