CoSMiC Scholars : Utilizing library resources Laksamee Putnam Research & Instruction Librarian [email protected]
CoSMiC Scholars : Utilizing library resources
Laksamee PutnamResearch & Instruction Librarian
Laksamee Putnam [email protected] Cook Library Reference:
410.704.2462. IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746. Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU Albert S. Cook facebook profile!
First…
What is the purpose of the library? Discussion. Research skills. Discussion. General search strategy In our library Practice
Follow along with my slides here: http://slidesha.re/cosmicslides
Agenda
Type in this URL and respond to the question above:
http://bit.ly/cosmicpollpurpose
View other responses: http://bit.ly/cosmicpoll1
What is the purpose of the library?
Besides storage for books Besides a place to study late Besides the largest place on campus with
computers
The purpose of the library mirrors the purpose of this academic institution as a whole
What is the purpose of the library?
To help make you an informed consumer
To hone your research skills
What is the purpose of the library?
Research Skills
Images from Flickr Creative Commons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leeadlaf/2030250742/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/45205149@N04/5992673335/
Research Skills
“It was a dark and stormy night.”
“Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer.”
Interpreting the Assignment
Reading Background Information
Using Online
Databases& Indexes
Gathering Sources
Drafting Paper or Presentation
Identifying & Listing
Vocabulary
Citing Sources
Refining a Topic
Evaluating Sources
The Research Process
Selecting a Topic
research skills ≠ needle in the haystack
Keywords are critical!
Sample topic: How successful is breast cancer treatment?
First, break the question down into keywords: How successful is breast cancer treatment?
More on keywords…
Expand your list to include synonyms then add to it once you have done some background reading.
How successful is breast cancer treatment?
successful breast cancer treatmenteffective breast neoplasm therapyremission breast carcinoma [specific name]
Putting it all together…
successfuleffectiveremission
breast cancerbreast
neoplasmbreast
carcinoma
treatmenttherapy
tamoxifen
successful OR effective OR remission
AND
“breast cancer” OR “breast neoplasm” OR “breast carcinoma”
AND
treatment OR therapy OR tamoxifen
Now what?
Where do you go first?
Ok you’ve got keywords
Why or why not start your search online? Type in this URL and respond to the question:
http://bit.ly/cosmicpollweb
View other responses: http://bit.ly/cosmicpoll2
Web “Pre-searching”
Why not start your search online? The Invisible Web
http://goshen.libguides.com/beyond_googling
Can you trust this information?
TED video: Online filter bubble – Eli Pariser http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_f
ilter_bubbles.html
Web “Pre-searching”
Why start your search online?
Find background information
Help solidify research topic
Find new terminology to use as keywords
Find links and/or citations to other sources
Web “Pre-searching”
Go to one of the websites below and analyze it http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
Try these websites out
Currency Reliability Authority Purpose/Point of View
Check for CRAP
Currency How recent is the information? Can you locate a date when the resource was
written/created/updated? Based on your topic, is this current enough? Why might the date matter for your topic?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Reliability What kind of information is included in the
resource? Does the author provide citations & references
for quotations & data Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Authority Can you determine who the author/creator is? What are their credentials (education,
affiliation, experience, etc.)? Who is the publisher or sponsor of the
work/site? Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Purpose/Point of View Is the content primarily opinion? Is the information balanced or biased? What is the purpose of the information? Is it to
inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
Catalog Search for books
Databases Subject gateways Search for articles
Citation help Make sure your own paper passes CRAP
In our library
Try to find some resources for your current classes!
Try to find a book!
Try to find a website!
Try to find an article!
Practice!
Laksamee Putnam [email protected] Cook Library Reference:
410.704.2462. IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746.
Questions?